Former Governor of Lagos State and chieftain of APC, Asiwaju Bola Hammed Tinubu has expressed fears over the fairness of the forthcoming general elections in 2015, saying excessive love of power may serve as the bane of the exercise.
Tinubu made the disclosure while delivering a speech at his investiture as Chancellor of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso (LAUTECH), Oyo State at the institution’s 11th special convocation ceremony last Tuesday.
Tinubu who was also award an honorary degree of D.Sc (honoris causa) in Management Sciences at the same occasion, pointed to last year’s Nigerian Governor’s Forum (NGF) chairmanship election as a sample of what may occur during the next general elections, saying such actions would only put the nations democracy at risk.
“Because of their love of power, I fear this government will not allow free and fair elections in 2015”, Tinubu said. “If the balloting during last year’s vote on the chairmanship of the Nigerian Governor’s Forum is indicative, then coming elections will be ones where numbers and maths are immaterial.
He also pointed to the recent election in Anambra State as another example for validating his fears. He proposed several ways to combat the impending calamity, recommending foolproof voters registration system as a way out.
“Already the pattern of abuse and malpractice has been set in Anambra. Without reform, elections may likely be ones where those the people reject will be proclaimed the people’s choice. Such malpractice will place the nation in dangerous straits”, he added.
“To avoid this calamity, we need sweeping electoral reform. Foremost, we need a fully bio-metric voters verification and validation of registration system. Our current system encourages multiple voting, and not verifiable one man one vote.
“As such, it is a veritable invitation card to massive fraud and malpractice. This can be fixed by Biometric Voter verification. To adopt it invites fair elections and guarantees democracy. Not to introduce it, invites rigging and loss of democratic legitimacy.”
Continuing with his speech titled, “Two Faces of Despair – State of The Nigerian Nation”, Tinubu said the country is currently standing at the threshold between greatness and failure, calling for courage on behalf of its citizens to push it through to the side of greatness.
“It [Nigeria] loiters in the hallway between progress and collapse, darkness and light, as if blindfolded; we seem unable to decide the way to go”, said Tinubu.
“We must summon the courage to see what is before us that we may take the right direction”.
He said that for many years, LAUTECH was one of the top, if not the number one, institution of its type and vowed to work with all its stakeholders to take it back to the top spot it used to occupy.
“As Chancellor, I shall do my best for this school. I dare not do less because I follow in the footsteps of men who never saw failure as an option.
“Naysayers will scoff that this pledge is made of the fluff one talks when invested as Chancellor”, he observed. “But, I have not come this far by speaking empty words. I have no intention of assuming that habit at this stage in my life”.
He promised to follow the precedent of the chancellors who served the school before him most especially late Chief MKO Abiola.
“I need say no more than this man was the president Nigeria elected in the fairest election ever held”, Tinubu said.
“Had he been allowed to govern, the nation would be a better place. We march to fulfill his incomplete dream that the people may stand to lift their collective voice in calling forth a government of freedom, prosperity, dignity and justice. Yet, like MKO, we must be mindful of the strong forces that benefit from the way things are”.
He thanked Governor of the State of Osun, OgbeniRaufAregbesola and Governor of Oyo Senator Abiola Ajimobi who are joint supporters of the school, describing them as brothers who govern their states in excellent ways.
He promised on behalf of the two governors that the progress they have applied to other areas in their states will become manifest on the school campus.
Tinubu also thanked the school’s vice chancellor; Professor Adeniyi Gbadegesin, describing him as “an unsung hero”. He lauded the demeanor of the school’s Student Union, saying it is populated by many of the brightest young people one can find.
He encouraged the nation’s citizens to take hold of their own fate by voting wisely, saying it is an important move to rid the nation of traitors usurping its resources.
“It is only after we get rid of the wolf that we can promote an environment that establishes new refineries, increases our industrial capacity, reduces our reliance on importation, properly incentivizes agriculture and Agro allied businesses”, Tinbu explained.
“We shall concentrate on the employment of our citizens, ensure we increase the disposable income of the average Nigerian and thereby increase our capacity to consume goods and services whilst ensuring those goods and services are made in Nigeria.
“We need not change homes because this home is a good one. We need to get rid of the wolf. Let’s dedicate ourselves to kicking the wolf from our doorstep that we may live in democratic governance, economic development, broad prosperity, justice, equality, moral purpose and human dignity”.
Paraded courage and capacity development as the nation’s hope for positive change, saying with those elements, Nigeria would become a nation that all its citizens would be proud of .
“Only the courage, capacity and intelligent governance of thinkers and doers can decide and improve our chances to succeed as a ration”, he said.
“This chance is now in our hands, let’s do it. Enough of this government lets embrace good governance”.
