By Editor
A coalition of civil society organizations has condemned former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo for his recent call for the overhaul of the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), at the national and state levels.
Obasanjo during a lecture at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum at Yale University, described the 2023 general elections as a travesty.
He accused the INEC of compromising the BVAS.
However, in a statement issued on Monday by the coalition’s spokesman, Dr. Danladi Ceceko, the group asserted that Obasanjo lacks the moral authority to criticize Yakubu, given his own record presiding over some of Nigeria’s most controversial elections.
The coalition included Transparency Network, Public Interest Initiative, Nigerian Justice League Initiative, and Foundation for True Democratic Governance and Freedom,
Ceceko said, “It appears that Obasanjo believes Nigerians have forgotten the elections of 2023 and 2007, where candidates from his party were declared winners despite allegations that elections were not properly conducted.
“Should we remind the former president that the individual he controversially and fraudulently elevated to power in 2007 admitted during his inauguration that the election was marred by corruption and irregularities?”
“Can any indictment be more significant than this?”
The coalition pointedly criticized former President Olusegun Obasanjo, labeling him the “ultimate state captor” over the alleged manipulation of elections during his tenure.
They highlighted the 2003 and 2007 elections as examples of his administration’s questionable electoral integrity.
Describing Obasanjo as the “Father of do-or-die politics,” the coalition referred to his infamous assertion that “even Jesus Christ can’t conduct a free and fair election in Nigeria,” emphasizing the hypocrisy of his current criticisms.
The coalition accused Obasanjo of undermining subsequent leaders after him, including Shehu Shagari, Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Babangida, Abdulsalami Abubakar, and Goodluck Jonathan.
They noted “his public rejection of the party that facilitated his rise to power in 1999, how he openly tore his membership card, as well as his intolerance for opposition.”
“Obasanjo is the same person who attempted to bribe lawmakers to secure a third term and orchestrated the impeachment of sitting governors with minimal legislative support.
“He also sought to arrest a sitting governor, Chris Ngige of Anambra State, among other political maneuvers.
“It is disingenuous for him to now discuss state capture and credible elections,” the coalition alleged.
The group further accused Obasanjo of manipulating electoral results in favor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the southwest, except for Lagos, which was difficult for him to manipulate because of Bola Tinubu’s political strength.
They claimed he made the Nigerian Senate a “laughing stock” by removing several Senate Presidents from the Southeast and engaging in questionable financial practices to influence legislative outcomes.
“Nigerians are well aware of Obasanjo’s history and will not be swayed by his antics.
“The current state of Nigeria is a direct result of the flawed foundation he laid during his presidency,” the coalition asserted.
They also condemned Obasanjo for his active role in institutionalizing corruption, citing the announcement of election results even while voters were still casting their ballots.
He stated that no INEC chairman in Nigeria’s history has made such earnest efforts to reform the commission as Mahmood Yakubu.
“One of Yakubu’s greatest achievements has been the integration of technology into election management in our country,” he noted.
The group pointed out that under Mahmood’s leadership, INEC has implemented numerous reforms, including user-friendly portals for candidate nominations and the submission of polling agent lists by political parties, as well as the accreditation of media and observers, both domestic and international.
The coalition urged Obasanjo to reflect on his own legacy and seek forgiveness for overseeing some of the most problematic elections in Nigeria’s history
