By Olamilekan FAWAS
For Nigeria to survive after the 2019 elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies must be objective and non-partisan in the way they conduct themselves during the poll.
Former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and frontline presidential aspirant on the platform of the party, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, disclosed this in Kaduna on Monday.
The former Kaduna State governor warned that there would be crisis if INEC does not conduct free, fair and credible elections and if security agencies are not professional in their conduct.
“The moment INEC and security agencies are partisan, that will spell doom for the country”, he said.
To Makarfi, the conduct of INEC and security agencies, so far, is less than impressive.
Makarfi said the conduct of the government agencies could spell doom as their action or inaction could threaten Nigeria’s peace and corporate existence.
Makarfi also called on the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government to desist from intimidating and harassing opposition governors, noting that there is always “tomorrow,” as “what goes around, comes around.”
He said the Federal Government should not use the comfort of power to denigrate PDP governors or aspirants, adding that the opposition members must be allowed to work according to the dictates of the constitution of the land.
He said the interest of Nigeria was more than that of any individual or group, pointing out that the way and manner the electoral process was managed would determine the fate of Nigeria after the polls.
The two-term-senator said: “INEC and the security agencies must know that the fate of this country squarely lies on their shoulders. It is not even about history being kind to them. It is about how they will end up. Therefore, they must conduct free, fair and credible elections.
“I was shocked when I saw the news in an online medium that the 2019 elections may be postponed, but thank God, I later saw INEC coming out to deny making such pronouncement. That notwithstanding that was the most dangerous news I ever read, that was very reckless.
“You see, the interest of Nigeria is larger than interest of any of us. How we conduct this election and how we manage this electoral process will largely determine the fate of Nigeria.”
Makarfi, while cautioning the APC government against intimidation and harassment of opposition parties, said it was unacceptable that the so-called fight against corruption was being selective.
He said it was unacceptable that while the government would treat APC governors with kid’s glove, the same government would descend heavily on PDP governors even “when the APC governors are worse”.
“When you see some moves like freezing of accounts, monitoring of opposition governors and you never heard where an APC governor’s account is being frozen, it is bad.
“If governors do certain things, is it only PDP governors? The APC governors may be doing worse but you never hear that happening to any APC governor.
“While elections are approaching, you don’t hear of APC members, aspirants’ accounts being frozen but here (in PDP), even accounts of family members of aspirants are being frozen. They (APC) should remember that, there is tomorrow because what goes around comes around.
“A sauce for the goose is a sauce for the gander. If you are doing anything to anybody, do it to everybody.
“Our governors must be left alone to work, our aspirants must be left alone to do their politicking and campaign unmolested like other aspirants,” he added.
The presidential hopeful urged Nigerians to speak out and not to remain complacent over alleged wrongs being perpetrated by the APC government.
“From what I am seeing, I am not comfortable and if Nigerians keep quiet, then it is like harbouring what is wrong. People must speak out.
“For me, I think INEC and security agencies have a lot to do. And so far, I am not impressed but they must remember that the fate of Nigeria lies squarely on their shoulders.
“I am cautioning APC, they should not be smiling and grinning. We must never burst this bubble. They should not be carried away by the comfort of power, and think that they are immune from calamity.
“We are all not immune from calamity; nobody knows when calamity will come. We all have a stake. We all have responsibility, be you PDP, APC or any other political party and especially INEC and security agencies and other agencies that are used to muzzle down the opposition. They must remember that the country comes first, not any government or political party.”
