The rate at which the Nigerian former president Chief Olusegun Obasanjo is publicly and consciously displaying high sense of favouritism for the opposition party in the land, the People's Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2019 general elections is alarming and can culminate in sending wrong signal to Nigerians and the international community about the coming polls
Chief Obasanjo has in the recent past consistently making different coments about President Muhammad Buhari, his government and the APC purposely to undermine the good effort being made by the APC led federal government to stabilize the country and correct the abnormalities and evil done to the Nation by the opposition party, (PDP) for over 16 years of its misrule in Nigeria in which the former president was part of.
If the intentional moves by the former president is carefully studied and observed, one may conclude by saying it is a well thought plan to form alliance with the opposition party at the expense of Nigerians in a desperate manner to convince Nigerians and the international community to have empathy for the main opposition party (PDP) and its presidential candidate for the coming poll.
The two time Nigerian president had in his latest comments which he made public in an open letter released to media on Sunday 20Th of January 2019 and published by Nigerian dailies of Monday 21st of January 2019 titled, "point for concern and action", described President Buhari as incompetent to lead the country.
He equally expressed doubt about the competency and integrity of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct free, fair and credible elections come February 16th and March 3rd 2019 presidential, National assembly, Governorship and state houses of assembly elections.
Chief Obasanjo also in the open letter made reference to the last 2018 Osun governorship election where he alleged that the election was conclusive but declared inconclusive.
Although, criticism, choice and being different are inherent hallmarks of democracy, however such a desperate action and comment apart from capable of causing confusion in the polity can also misguide and mislead Nigerians and the international community on the 2019 general elections in Nigeria.
One may say that, what we used to call " nascent democracy " in Nigeria ought to be relatively matured by now and raising it head to compete favourably with other democracies in the world that are being governed by their people and for their people without any interference from and by their past leaders.
By now, progress and development which should be our watch word especially for our past leaders should have been spread and seen all over the country.
It is rather unfortunate that the effort of the present government at the center led by President Muhammad Buhari to turn things around in our polity seem abortive, somehow unproductive and being frustrated by the bad comments and destructive criticisms as well as politics of self interest being played by the opposition and its allies.
When it is clear that some of these past leaders were the ones bastardizing the systems and instead of accepting the blames only prefer to choose method of pointing the accusing fingers to the present government to cover up their failure.
If there is no prejudice, sentiment and bias by the so called leaders like that of former president, the country would have been put on a pedestrian of great development while her lost glory would have been restored.
We can say categorically here that the allegations by the former President about the competence of the electoral umpire in the land using the last Osun governorship election as yardstick is an insult on the credibility of the National electoral body.
Firstly, it is in accordance with the Nigerian constitution and the electoral law guiding the affairs of the INEC which the electoral body followed in handling the last Osun Governorship poll.
The electoral umpire has made it clear that it has the constitutional power to declare an election inconclusive by following the guidelines in some paragraphs and sections in the constitution and electoral law.
"The actual position of the law made it clear that in pursuant to pages 22, 23, paragraph 4, section N, 2015 INEC guidelines, issued pursuant to section 153 of the electoral act, 2010( as amended) INEC is empowered to declare an election inconclusive where the margin of victory is less than the number of registered voters in cancelled polling units and this was upheld in the case of Osun governorship election of September 22nd 2018.
Secondly, similar cases like this had in the past happened in some States in the country like Kogi, Bayelsa, Imo and even during the regime of the opposition party in Nigeria.
Further more, the Osun State Election Tribunal is still working on the cases filed by both parties on the said election. During the recount ordered by the tribunal, a highly significant number of ballot papers in favor of APC were voided unjustifiablely. The findings of the respondents were shocking.
Although, the ruling All Progressives Party (APC) has denied any plan to rig the coming poll as alleged by the former president while the INEC has also reacted to the allegation of incompetence to conduct free, fair and credible elections by saying that it will study the allegation and take necessary actions, it is therefore unjustifiable to see INEC as loyal to any party while the electoral body must be allowed to perform its constitutional duties without any interference.
Differences and choice apart, leaders should be mindful of allegations that could jeopardize the avowed commitment and effort of the APC led federal government under the leadership of President Muhammad Buhari and the INEC to give Nigerians free, fair and credible elections as being done in More than 93 different elections conducted so far by the present government.
The current Nigerian civil rule which came into existence in 1999 and will turn 20 by may this year.
By implication, Nigeria will be celebrating 20 years of uninterrupted Democratic rule without any military incursion, the first of its kind within the 59 years of her independence.
With this, nobody must be allowed to rubbish the achievement made so far by the country in their selfish interest.
While the relative effort of President Buhari's government would go a long way in leading Nigerians to take good decisions during the forthcoming elections,
All hands must be on deck to ensure free, fair and credible elections as all eyes will be on Nigeria during the poll, as the say goes, a word is enough for the wise.
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