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| Adams Oshiomhole |
When someone first alerted yours
sincerely that Wednesday afternoon (September 7) that the much-awaited Edo 2016
governorship poll would be shifted, I thought it was the most insensate idea to
propose. Yet to be fully dismantled at the iconic Sam Ogbemudia Stadium was the
giant canopy under which President Buhari stood barely 24 hours earlier in what
was thought to be the final mega rally to rouse the Edo electorate to vote APC
in the scheduled September 10 election.
sincerely that Wednesday afternoon (September 7) that the much-awaited Edo 2016
governorship poll would be shifted, I thought it was the most insensate idea to
propose. Yet to be fully dismantled at the iconic Sam Ogbemudia Stadium was the
giant canopy under which President Buhari stood barely 24 hours earlier in what
was thought to be the final mega rally to rouse the Edo electorate to vote APC
in the scheduled September 10 election.
Elsewhere in Benin 24 hours
earlier, the Markafi-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had
also staged a “grand rally” in a hall.
earlier, the Markafi-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had
also staged a “grand rally” in a hall.
Barely an hour
after Buhari’s jet took off that Tuesday evening, the chairman of the
Independent Electoral Commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, landed the Benin
airport aboard Arik Air’s Boeing 737 aircraft from Abuja into the
waiting arms of his henchmen right at the tarmac.
after Buhari’s jet took off that Tuesday evening, the chairman of the
Independent Electoral Commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, landed the Benin
airport aboard Arik Air’s Boeing 737 aircraft from Abuja into the
waiting arms of his henchmen right at the tarmac.
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| Louis Odion |
Besides, for days, columns of troops
in battle gears had been mounting the customary “show of force” round
key urban centres across Edo State to scare prospective troublemakers. Even as
the police headquarters in Abuja announced the deployment of a whopping
25,000-man contingent for the exercise.
in battle gears had been mounting the customary “show of force” round
key urban centres across Edo State to scare prospective troublemakers. Even as
the police headquarters in Abuja announced the deployment of a whopping
25,000-man contingent for the exercise.
Against this backcloth, one would
think INEC had passed the point of no return as far as the September 10 date
was concerned. Alas, what eventually prevailed were the words of the police and
the DDS that the election be deferred to September 28.
think INEC had passed the point of no return as far as the September 10 date
was concerned. Alas, what eventually prevailed were the words of the police and
the DDS that the election be deferred to September 28.
Typically, the blame game
followed next between the security agencies and INEC.
followed next between the security agencies and INEC.
Given the hazy circumstances,
some commentators were inclined to smell conspiracy over the postponement. On
the contrary, I see tardiness on the part of the relevant state institutions.
The controversy could have been avoided if each one was alive to its duty.
some commentators were inclined to smell conspiracy over the postponement. On
the contrary, I see tardiness on the part of the relevant state institutions.
The controversy could have been avoided if each one was alive to its duty.
My first take-away is that the
biggest casualty is perhaps no other than President Buhari himself. That the
commander-in-chief could grace a rally and twenty hours later the security
services would suddenly wake up and say the election could not hold leaves
the dark impression that he was denied the benefit of proper pre-briefing on
the security situation. Which is a monumental scandal indeed.
biggest casualty is perhaps no other than President Buhari himself. That the
commander-in-chief could grace a rally and twenty hours later the security
services would suddenly wake up and say the election could not hold leaves
the dark impression that he was denied the benefit of proper pre-briefing on
the security situation. Which is a monumental scandal indeed.
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| IGP Ibrahim Idris |
From what is now known, it is
clear the security agencies had become aware of the security concern much
earlier. Contending interests had raised the alarm on the infiltration of
the state by undesirable elements. Last week, the security agencies only hinted
on possible Boko Haram strike on soft targets in some locations across the
country including Edo. But before then, their attention had been drawn to clear
and present threat posed by political desperadoes in Edo.
clear the security agencies had become aware of the security concern much
earlier. Contending interests had raised the alarm on the infiltration of
the state by undesirable elements. Last week, the security agencies only hinted
on possible Boko Haram strike on soft targets in some locations across the
country including Edo. But before then, their attention had been drawn to clear
and present threat posed by political desperadoes in Edo.
For instance, apart from rampart
reports of some identified party leaders being caught conducting voters’
registration illegally in their private residences, the Edo State Government
had accused the five PDP states in the South-South sub-region of planning to
bringing militants to storm the state and unleash mayhem on the D-Day,
particularly in Edo North and Edo South, considered the strongholds of the
sitting APC.
reports of some identified party leaders being caught conducting voters’
registration illegally in their private residences, the Edo State Government
had accused the five PDP states in the South-South sub-region of planning to
bringing militants to storm the state and unleash mayhem on the D-Day,
particularly in Edo North and Edo South, considered the strongholds of the
sitting APC.
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| Lawal-Daura, DSS-DG |
The cold calculation behind such
ploy should be understood. By Edo’s electoral map, whereas the Bini-speaking
Edo South accounts for 56 percent of the close to 2 million registered voters,
Edo North boasts of 29 percent as against the Esan-speaking Edo Central with 15
percent and is perceived the only comfort zone for PDP.
ploy should be understood. By Edo’s electoral map, whereas the Bini-speaking
Edo South accounts for 56 percent of the close to 2 million registered voters,
Edo North boasts of 29 percent as against the Esan-speaking Edo Central with 15
percent and is perceived the only comfort zone for PDP.
While addressing the rally for
the factional candidate of PDP in Benin penultimate Tuesday, visiting Governor
Nyesom Wike, who has built a fearsome reputation as a jungle expert since his
rise on the political scene in Rivers State, was quoted as urging the faithful
to “follow them bumper-to-bumper” on the D-Day. (I am told that is a
coded statement.)
the factional candidate of PDP in Benin penultimate Tuesday, visiting Governor
Nyesom Wike, who has built a fearsome reputation as a jungle expert since his
rise on the political scene in Rivers State, was quoted as urging the faithful
to “follow them bumper-to-bumper” on the D-Day. (I am told that is a
coded statement.)
The puzzle then: wasn’t Buhari
brought into the loop on the sit-rep before his trip to Benin that Tuesday?
brought into the loop on the sit-rep before his trip to Benin that Tuesday?
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| GABRIEL IGBINEDION |
Two, given that the security
agencies were alerted to the threat weeks ahead, how come nothing seemed to
have been done by way of preemption? Or, are the militants mightier than the
combined strength of our security services?
agencies were alerted to the threat weeks ahead, how come nothing seemed to
have been done by way of preemption? Or, are the militants mightier than the
combined strength of our security services?
To begin with, it should not be
the remit of the Inspector General and the DSS boss to directly address the
nation on the security threat to the election. Their observations ought to be
directed to the National Security Adviser who should have briefed the president
even days ahead of the pre-scheduled rally in Benin. Therefore, if a world
press conference would be held to break such weighty news to the nation at all,
the host should be the INEC chairman, possibly flanked by the IG and the DSS
boss.
the remit of the Inspector General and the DSS boss to directly address the
nation on the security threat to the election. Their observations ought to be
directed to the National Security Adviser who should have briefed the president
even days ahead of the pre-scheduled rally in Benin. Therefore, if a world
press conference would be held to break such weighty news to the nation at all,
the host should be the INEC chairman, possibly flanked by the IG and the DSS
boss.
Instead, what the nation was
confronted with penultimate Wednesday was a fait accompli of sorts. Ironically,
whereas the security chiefs, through their respective spokesmen, were busy
raising the red flag at a packed news conference in Abuja, the INEC chairman
was holding court simultaneously with the parties and other stakeholders in
Benin and it was decided that the elections should proceed.
confronted with penultimate Wednesday was a fait accompli of sorts. Ironically,
whereas the security chiefs, through their respective spokesmen, were busy
raising the red flag at a packed news conference in Abuja, the INEC chairman
was holding court simultaneously with the parties and other stakeholders in
Benin and it was decided that the elections should proceed.
If further evidence of official
dereliction is still required on this matter, the level of complicity can be
measured with the harvest of arrests made in the belated raids carried out in
the past few days. By the account of the police themselves, no fewer than 54
suspected militants from the Niger Delta were rounded up within three days from
various locations in the Edo South. Dangerous items including AK-47 rifles and
N9m cash were allegedly found on them.
dereliction is still required on this matter, the level of complicity can be
measured with the harvest of arrests made in the belated raids carried out in
the past few days. By the account of the police themselves, no fewer than 54
suspected militants from the Niger Delta were rounded up within three days from
various locations in the Edo South. Dangerous items including AK-47 rifles and
N9m cash were allegedly found on them.
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| Osagie Ize Iyamu |
Tellingly, some of the arrests
were made at a 2-star hotel located near the Benin airport belonging to the
Igbinedion family. Following their arrest, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, one of
PDP’s surviving godfathers, reportedly made a spirited attempt to secure their
release from police detention, pleading they were guests invited to his 82th
birthday celebration. What a loyal host the Esama chose to be. But the puzzle
is: when did AK-47 become an ornament to be brought to an Owambe (Obitos in
Bini) ceremony? Was it for a 82-gun salute or what?
were made at a 2-star hotel located near the Benin airport belonging to the
Igbinedion family. Following their arrest, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, one of
PDP’s surviving godfathers, reportedly made a spirited attempt to secure their
release from police detention, pleading they were guests invited to his 82th
birthday celebration. What a loyal host the Esama chose to be. But the puzzle
is: when did AK-47 become an ornament to be brought to an Owambe (Obitos in
Bini) ceremony? Was it for a 82-gun salute or what?
Clearly, the financial burden the
postponement invariably inflicts on everyone is better imagined. Not only INEC
will have to incur costs; the parties themselves have to shop for additional
cash to fund the extended campaigns. Hundreds of election observers, some of
whom came from abroad and had already arrived Benin, had to alter their
itinerary.
postponement invariably inflicts on everyone is better imagined. Not only INEC
will have to incur costs; the parties themselves have to shop for additional
cash to fund the extended campaigns. Hundreds of election observers, some of
whom came from abroad and had already arrived Benin, had to alter their
itinerary.
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| Gov Nelson Wike |
Part of the initial argument
raised against the September 10 date was that it coincided with the day Maths
was to be written in the ongoing General Certificate of Education (GCE) exams.
Now, fresh protest has been made that subjects like Physics are to be written
by some students on September 28! Added to that is a significant fixture
on the cultural calendar of the Bini Kingdom. September 26 had been
pre-scheduled for the coronation of a new Oba.
raised against the September 10 date was that it coincided with the day Maths
was to be written in the ongoing General Certificate of Education (GCE) exams.
Now, fresh protest has been made that subjects like Physics are to be written
by some students on September 28! Added to that is a significant fixture
on the cultural calendar of the Bini Kingdom. September 26 had been
pre-scheduled for the coronation of a new Oba.
The Benin palace had earlier
deferred to the political authority by fixing the epochal event more than two
weeks after the date INEC originally announced for the poll. Given the hurly
burly that usually defines the polling process, holding election barely
forty-eight hours after the crowning of a new Oba would be considered
culturally anomalous, if not abominable, by the Bini traditionalists. Now,
the palace has to endure the inconveniences of making new arrangement for
another date.
deferred to the political authority by fixing the epochal event more than two
weeks after the date INEC originally announced for the poll. Given the hurly
burly that usually defines the polling process, holding election barely
forty-eight hours after the crowning of a new Oba would be considered
culturally anomalous, if not abominable, by the Bini traditionalists. Now,
the palace has to endure the inconveniences of making new arrangement for
another date.
Again, tardiness was on display
when INEC unilaterally fixed September 28, a working day, as the new election
date. I am reliably told that the authorities at the Dennis Osadebey Avenue in
Benin City were not consulted before the announcement. Yet, the concurrence of
the state government is required to declare not only that Wednesday a holiday
but also the preceding Tuesday, to allow workers who registered in their
villages ample time to relocate from the urban centres.
when INEC unilaterally fixed September 28, a working day, as the new election
date. I am reliably told that the authorities at the Dennis Osadebey Avenue in
Benin City were not consulted before the announcement. Yet, the concurrence of
the state government is required to declare not only that Wednesday a holiday
but also the preceding Tuesday, to allow workers who registered in their
villages ample time to relocate from the urban centres.
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| Godwin Obaseki |
Not surprising, apparently unable
to think up new lines to woo voters, the two main parties in the race have
since resorted to trading pure insults and bile for the remaining days. Never
in history has Edo witnessed an election which language was this vile. Surely,
uncommon season breeds rare creatures. Suddenly, some strange masquerades are
beginning to slither out of the raven. Emerging from his political hiding,
Lucky Igbinedion, widely acclaimed as a failed governor in the past, finally
summoned courage few days ago to publicly endorse his erstwhile sidekick and
factional PDP candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu. He was quoted as boasting that,
come September 28, there shall be rejoicing in the household of the
Igbinedions.
to think up new lines to woo voters, the two main parties in the race have
since resorted to trading pure insults and bile for the remaining days. Never
in history has Edo witnessed an election which language was this vile. Surely,
uncommon season breeds rare creatures. Suddenly, some strange masquerades are
beginning to slither out of the raven. Emerging from his political hiding,
Lucky Igbinedion, widely acclaimed as a failed governor in the past, finally
summoned courage few days ago to publicly endorse his erstwhile sidekick and
factional PDP candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu. He was quoted as boasting that,
come September 28, there shall be rejoicing in the household of the
Igbinedions.
Well, it is left for Edo voters
to decide who will gnash their teeth in electoral sorrow on that day!
to decide who will gnash their teeth in electoral sorrow on that day!
