… We must start with honest conversations- Ex-President

… let’s advertise positions of INEC Chairman, REGs -Falana

John Alechenu

Former President GoodLuck Jonathan, Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang and prominent Nigerian lawyer/ activist Femi Falana (SAN) among others on Thursday suggested ways in which democracy can be improved upon and sustained not only in Nigeria but across Africa.

The elder statesmen spoke separately during the Haske Satumari Foundation annual colloquium with the theme: “Electoral And Judicial Reforms: The Imperatives on Nigeria’s Democracy, Governance, Leadership and its selection processes,” held at the Yar’Adua Centre Abuja, on Thursday.

former President Goodluck Jonathan who was represented by former Vice President, Namadi Sambo during the event said for Nigeria to move forward, citizens must be encouraged and provided platforms like the Haske Satumari Foundation Colloquium, to freely hold conversations about their country.

Jonathan who declared the event open expressed hope that the outcome of the colloquium will help in the development of Nigeria.

In his intervention at the event, Plateau State Governor Caleb  Mutfwang , using Nigeria as a case study, said for democracy to achieve its objectives we mustn’t allow the judiciary “conduct” our election and decide who governs us.

READ ALSO: Jonathan Ihonde: Red Salute to an ubiquitous leader, by Owei Lakemfa

Mutfwang said, “Our leadership recruitment is a fraud. Some of us get into positions of leadership simply by the mercy of God. Not because of fat Bank account.

“We must develop rules that are clear and transparent. Our process is far from being transparent. To strengthen democracy, electoral reform is important.

“Also, comprehensive judicial reforms became expedient because every election circle had its legal regime.

“For the judiciary, there is an urgent need to safeguards its independence and integrity. What we witnessed is partisan interference,” Mutfwang said, adding that the judgment that came out as a result of the 2023 elections petitions, even professors of law became confused with the legal jurisprudence.

“Both the lawyers and the judges must up their game. Time has come when lawyers must tell their clients “you have a bad case. Judges and lawyers should not determine who wins the election.”

Speaking specifically on democracy in Nigeria, Mutfwang said, “We can’t afford to return to the dark days of military rule. We didn’t have a clean constitution in 1999. Falana is here. That’s what the military brought and we must not return to military rule.”

Suggesting a way forward essentially in the area of electoral reforms, Femi Falana (SAN), accused some of his colleagues in the legal profession of sabotaging the electoral process with frivolous applications to stall cases.

Falana said, “Electoral system is good. What we should remove is the intervention of the court.

“Let’s make the electoral process transparent, transmit the results from the polling unit to the server and insist on electronic transmission.

“If you must know, judges are not suited to determine who wins election. Because they were not there.

“The winner should be determined by the electorates and not judges”

“Pre-election matters should be decided before the election. All pre-election matters should be concluded before swearing in.

Tinubu was sworn in, he became ECOWAS leader and we were still determining whether he won the election or not. So, it is a mockery of the system.

“As soon as the election is concluded, all the electoral materials should be made available to the aggrieved party.

The rigmarole that goes on in an election has to stop,” Falana said, adding that in appointing INEC chairman and Residents Electoral Commissioners, the position should be advertised.

“The best three names should be sent to the Senate for screening. We must go back to the Uwais panel report. All election petitions should be concluded before swearing in,” Falana added.

The Mayor of Entebbe in Uganda, Facrice Rulinda, said Africa must look at things that can work for its democracy adding that even in the US, not everybody elects their president.

“In Africa, we talk about one man, one vote. Civic education is lacking. The people must know that their vote is their voice, so they should not sell it,” Rulinda said, adding that only action will lead to African integration.

The Convener of the colloquium who is also the founder of the Haske Satumari Foundation, Kudla Satumari, said the conversation will help in shaping political discussion in Nigeria as the country prepares to amend the constitution and the electoral act.

“Some of the discussions will be valid in the electoral amendment process. The keynote speakers made valid points. We must ensure that all pre elections causes are settled before the election. We must ensure that all cases are concluded before swearing in.

“Also, we must ensure that the Justice Uwais panel report is implemented. All election cases should be concluded before the swearing in. Judges should not determine the true winner of an election,” Kudla added.