The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the
Federation, Abubakar Malami, has given reasons why the President, Muhammadu Buhari, would not sign the new electoral law insisting that
the law has not captured the interest of all Nigerians.
He stated this in a phone-in program on Radio Kano while
responding to questions on Sunday.
He said the new electoral law has an excessive cost implication,
is discriminatory, as well as supportive of insecurity adding that signing it
into law will only initiate a new crisis that will lead to court cases.
“What you should understand about the leadership of the
country most especially as it regards President Muhammadu Buhari on any law
presented to him for signing, the President is entitled to certain rights.
“When you talk about politics he has rights, if you talk
about the economy, the business community also have rights on him, if you are
talking about 60% of Nigerians that are not politicians, if you talk about the
economy he also has rights, if you are talking about security, there is also
what is expected from him. The President has to consider laws that are
sustainable.
“The job of the President is that of politics, economy,
business, security, legislation, politicians and non-politicians. This is
because the leadership of the country is not for the politicians alone, it is a
leadership that affects the social life of the people, their religion, economy,
security and others. This is contrary to the leadership of the legislators
which is solely political.
“Therefore, the lawmakers are only concerned about their
political inclination while the President is concerned about the entire lives
of Nigerians made up of politicians and non-politicians.
“Any bill signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari is
in the interest of all Nigerians irrespective of their inclinations. He is
after satisfying the interest of the over 200 million Nigerians he is serving
and not a particular sector,” the Minister stated.
He further described the financial burden in the new
electoral bill not signed by the president.
“For example, one of the reasons is that there are 18
political parties and a law is founded that will allow for direct primaries.
The difference between this and the general election is small because it allows
for all Nigerians to come about and say their opinions.
“This means that you will repeat the general elections 18
times. Today INEC requires N305 billion for the 2023 general elections. Now if
the general election, which is not the newly proposed electoral system, will
cost this much, how much will it cost to do the same election in the APC? It
might cost at least N200 billion because it will involve everyone.
“Although the good side of the law is that INEC is required
to monitor it. Therefore, if it is assumed that every political party will
spend N200 billion, how much will then be spent in conducting the same primary
election in 18 political parties just to produce a qualified candidate?
“Let’s assume there are about 60 million politicians in the
country, what about the remaining over 160 million Nigerians who have nothing
to do with politics? Are you fair to them? All the people want are good
projects, good roads from Abuja to Kano, portable drinking water, good
education, school feeding programme and the rest of them. Are you fair to the
160 million Nigerians using their wealth just to conduct primary elections to
produce a party candidate, despite other demands by the public?
“My answer to this is that, to spend this N305 billion that
will be given to the INEC and the about N200 billion to be given to the
political parties is not fair to the remaining 160 million Nigerians who have
no business about politics and political appointments. Their business is just a
better life in Nigeria. This is the issue of cost implications,” Malami said.
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