Controversy surrounding the recent flawed election perceived as massively rigged continues to generate more comments and criticisms in and abroad .The latest from Britain the former Colonial Power in which the British High Commissioner denounced the outright rigging the results as not frankly credible although he said is left for Nigerians to decide what to do next urging all parties to follow the constitutional means.
Contrary to media misrepresentation the American Government is also yet to recognise ‘Yar Adua as the President elect .According to Senior Official in the Embassy Mr Russell Hanks the US Government is talking to all sides and do not intend to take side in this conflict. The Opposition parties say they will go ahead with the planned mass action to coincide with the May Day Demonstration to mark this year’s Labour Day on the 1st of May to call for the cancellation of the election and re-run another.
Despite persistent efforts by various groups including the academics, intellectuals and other professionals to find an acceptable solution to this intractable impasse solution is still yet to be found. Although they say truth is bitter in the Nigerian context would be sweet eventually if a solution is found for this unfortunate impasse which is polarising the Nigerian Society deadlocked in a stalemate with neither side willing to give room for manoeuvre so as not be seen as giving in to pressure.
The implication to all this is Nigerians and our Country in particular are unfortunately becoming laughing stock despite the spirited effort to show otherwise. In our effort to save our nascent democracy being scuttled or tampered with for selfish reasons demand great courage pulling our weights together to show the world that we are truthfully sincere and ready to defend this democracy at all cost.
Although it is not a matter of do or die as some of our leaders want us to believe but is a matter of give and take as democracy is the government of the people for the people and by the people. It is not a kind of Military dictatorship which is being imposed on the citizens despite their sincere distaste dislikes and aversion at the way they are governed. In such dictatorship views of the citizens are not taken into consideration it is the few elites who used their power to impose their wills which would prevail by all means whether right or wrong leaving the citizen voiceless and cannot express their feelings.
We hope we are not heading to this kind of situation whereby Nigerians have no right to express themselves in a befitting manner to the injustice perpetrated against them as the police warned. They say obviously if there is the will there is a way. It is our collective responsibility to come out with a fair solution to this very unfortunate impasse which is polarising Nigerians more and more as earlier said. We have to seriously sit down and look at the problem with open mind not to be locked in our biased partisan behaviour which is making us blind deaf and dumb.
Our leaders have more important and bigger role to play in finding solution to this unfortunate problem which is causing concern. Part of their responsibility is that they should be seen as objective unbiased umpires who should be trusted not taking side always standing for the truth and justice ready to defend all Nigerians wherever they are and not be seen as partisan or prejudiced and biased making them lose their credibility as not trustworthy.
Unfortunately some of our National Leaders have come out openly to compromise their positions forgetting that they are leaders of all Nigerians not any particular political party or other vested interest at stake. In this respect Umaru ‘Yar Adua the presumed disputed candidate has a better role to play than any other Nigerian. It is his candidature and the way he was elected many Nigerians and other people in and abroad dispute and still contesting. As his conscience is clear seeing the number of votes he got allegedly rigged therefore he should in the interest of justice and equity come out openly to speak the truth.
If Allah wills that he is going to be the next Nigerian leader nothing will stop him from becoming the leader but in the interest of justice and fair play he should listen to the voices of other Nigerians who have expressed reservation against his election which they equate as selection or even anointment by the out going President Obasanjo.
This would make him unacceptable wherever he goes thus losing his credibility in and abroad. If on his own he comes out and fulfil the wishes of Nigerians by declaring this disputed election which has become the most controversial election ever held as a farce sooner or later whether he is elected or not he would go in history as one of the sincere honest Nigerian leaders who is not power drunk which would even make him more popular and acceptable in and abroad.
As the President elect he should remember he is no longer seen as Governor of Katsina State he would be President of the whole 36 States in the Country. With over 140 million people the President -elect needs the consent and endorsement of Nigerians as he would be governing them all not the PDP. So for his conscience to be clear and his dented credibility restored and his position to be tenable he has to be bold and decisive. He must be seen as acceptable candidate ready to serve all Nigerians.
So the best solution and the only way forward is to re run the Presidential election. If he wins this time again his victory would strengthen his position as the Commander in Chief and Head of State. He would be respected as credible Nigerian leader no longer acting like a partisan State governor or leader of a political party which is of small partisan relevant concern.
Therefore if he wants be seen as transparent Leader who is respected by all Nigerians irrespective of any party alliance he must endeavour to correct the anomalies created by this farcical election which has generated a lot of controversies tearing the country apart.
Since majority of people are doubting the validity of his choice the best way forward is for him to accept people’s choice and call for the re run of the election this would give him the right mandate to govern without unnecessary scepticism which is causing concern for our nascent democracy which they say is the government of the people for the people and by the people.
Behaving in a military style is not conducive to our hard-earned democracy as some of our leaders want us to believe. Therefore ‘Yar Adua should and must be seen as standing for the truth in the interest of justice and fair play as Allah has commanded the believers to stand for justice even against themselves or those who are close to them which is the only way forward.
Once there is a will there is always a way as he himself has indicated his willingness to extend his hands to the opposition for reconciliation. This is the best way but must be bold enough to confront this reality swallowing as a bitter pill which is the medicine.
Wa Akhiri Daawana Anil Hamdu Lillahi Rabbil Alameen.