A coalition of civil society organizations, comprising The Transparency Network, Public Interest Initiative, Nigerian Justice League Initiative, and Foundation for True Democratic Governance and Freedom, has condemned former President Olusegun Obasanjo for his recent call for the dismissal of the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, and other commission officials.
In a statement issued 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.
“Our attention has been drawn to a statement made by former President Obasanjo during a lecture at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum at Yale University, where he advocated for the removal of INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu and officials at all levels as part of necessary electoral reforms in Nigeria,” 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 criticized Obasanjo, labeling him the “ultimate state captor” due to his involvement in coup d’états and the 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.
“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,” the coalition stated.
“He also sought to arrest a sitting governor, Ngige of Anambra State, among other political maneuvers. It is disingenuous for him to now discuss state capture and credible elections.”
The group further accused Obasanjo of manipulating electoral results in favor of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the South West, 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.
Ceceko highlighted that no INEC chairman in Nigeria’s history has made such earnest efforts to reform the commission as Mahmood Yakubu has. “One of Yakubu’s greatest achievements has been the integration of technology into election management in our country,” he noted.
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