Former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, and a member of House of Representatives, Bamidele Faparusi, have accused the Presidency of polluting the military to make it force the Independent National Electoral Commission to postpone the general elections, against the wishes of Nigerians.
Fayemi also said more revelations would come on how Governor Ayodele Fayose, former Minister of State for Defence, Mr Musiliu Obanikoro; Sen. Iyiola Omisore; Minister of Police Affairs, Mr Jelili Adesiyan and the military allegedly rigged the June 21 Governorship poll against him.
He spoke on Sunday after a service marking his 50th birthday at St. Martins Catholic Church, Isan Ekiti, in his country home.
The former Governor expressed shock that a sacred institution like the military could be influenced to subvert a democratic process, saying it portends danger for the country.
He said, “It was apparent that military and presidency boxed INEC to a tight corner by merchants of retrogression to get the postponement to achieve their devilish motives.
“I believe what we are expected to do as democrats must be those things that would strengthen democracy. For military to be saying that it would overcome insurgency it had failed to curtail in five years, was that not standing logic on its head? You could see that Nigerians are very unhappy.
“To me, this is more of a civilian coup against democracy because for military to have said that it cannot provide security for INEC to prosecute the election implies that it is hands in gloves with the presidency. This is a travesty and a danger to our democracy
“Military is a product of Nigeria and not the father of Nigeria and it must do everything to protect this democracy.”
Fayemi, however, vowed that he and other pro-democracy activists and all lovers of democracy would resist attempts to derail the country’s constitutional democracy.
The ex-Governor said the audio tape released by Sahara Reporters revealing how some Peoples Democratic Party’s chiefs allegedly rigged the governorship election in Ekiti should not be a surprise to anybody.
“You know that I said I accepted the outcome if truly it was the wish of the Ekiti people because I was privy to a lot of things that happened that put a question mark on the conduct of the election. But more revelations will come in few days to come.”
Bamidele, who described the poll shift as “provocative, unjustifiable and suspicious,” said it would be difficult for the military to overcome the Boko Haram it had failed to overcome in five years, within a spate of six weeks.
“Even the war-torn Afghanistan, Pakistan and Syria conducted elections. So, for INEC to postpone elections just because 14 out of the 774 local governments are being ravaged by insurgents is suspicious and Nigerians must be watchful.”
Another chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Mr. Segun Osinkolu, described the poll shift as a “deliberate infliction of injuries against Nigerians.”
In a press release made available to newsmen on sunday in Ado Ekiti, Mr Osinkolu said, “It is an unfortunate and abberration for somebody or a group of People to hide somewhere and be working on how to continue to draw Nigeria backward when Nigerians both at home and in the diaspora are more than prepared to elect their new leaders at all levels.”
While commending the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, for the preparation, he advised him to get rid of the bad eggs and unscrupulous elements that could sabotage his efforts at giving Nigerians the most credible, free, fair and acceptable elections. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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The Nigerian military seems a sell-out for playing that kind of ball. Election postponement based on military this or that spells bad intention for the military the seem to be playing to the gallery. Jay 2, Abuja.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how a discipline and respected organisations "MILITARY" can so be feel and be sell out by a cabal, so called our leaders. How many six months can we find in 5 years? What they did not solved within 1825 day,who can it be solve in just 48 days? Let wait and sees his magic.what goes round surly most come around. Lameda 4rm kaduna
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