By Dele Sobowale

“My object all sublime/ I shall achieve in time/ To let the punishment fit the crime.” Sir W.S Gilbert, 1836-1910.

Professor Tam David-West, nearing 80 but still going strong, and as irrepressible as ever, had made the case for those involved in electoral malpractices to be treated as armed robbers. Some have even likened it to treason – an attempt to distort the will of the people illegally. While their anger is understandable, they will not solve the immediate problem. In fact those suggestions will merely delay justice. Nigeria’s electoral laws as they stand, have never been fully tested until now. Violators have gone unpunished and we don’t know how strong a deterrent they will serve against future occurrence. At any rate we don’t have to waste time passing new laws. We should test the ones we have to the limit.

From the Presidential to other elections, including the re-run elections, there is a mountain of evidence, some of it captured on video systems and media cameras which can serve as reliable evidence to prosecute several individuals starting with the officials of INEC, the Police, the DSS and politicians in various states. To start with, every sane person in the world, not only Nigeria, should be asking why, former Minister Orubebe, had not been arrested for publicly constituting himself into a nuisance during Professor Jega’s briefing. And, it is not only Orubebe who should be dragged before the court. All the Police and DSS officers who were at the scene and who stood doing nothing, while Orubebe made an ass of himself should also be sanctioned for dereliction of duty. Unless they can honestly tell the whole world that any Joe Lasisi, or Emeka Audu would have been allowed to commit the same infraction in their presence, on that day, at that venue, and go home freely. All the officers present were not only failing in their duties; they unwittingly became accessories to law breaking by not putting a stop to it the minute the drama started.“Power and money, of course, do drive people crazy. So, why shouldn’t people gain power and wealth through being crazy.” Saul Bellow. (VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS p 195).

Orubebe’s brief separation from sane conduct, in living colours, was, in reality, a reflection of the larger demonstration of power-based insanity elsewhere. Allied to the willingness of some INEC, Police and DSS officials, they generated some results which can only be described as lunatic. Let me provide an example from a state, whose Governor’s election results are heading for the Election Tribunal.

On Election Day, a former Governor could not vote when he reached the polling unit in his state at 10.00 am. Reason? Some hoodlums had gone there before him and snatched all the electoral materials – ballot papers, card readers, ballot box etc. Fortunately, he had some accredited voters with him who recorded his encounter with the INEC officials who were left empty-handed. The Police arrived just as he turned around to go; but only to plead with the ex-Governor and his people to remain calm. Later, after voters had dispersed, the hoodlums returned the materials – complete with results tabulated.

In the same state, a candidate for Governor could not vote in his polling unit which had also been invaded by thugs who carted away electoral materials. Several voting units reported the same experience. Yet, two days after, INEC announced a result for the state. But, this macabre drama has not ended. The same INEC which could announce the results of the Governors election in two days could not announce the results of State House of Assembly for more than a week after. Why? Because the figures were not available. Yet, the “elections” took place on the same day in the same venues throughout the state. That was the story of Akwa Ibom State.

Now, just in case you think you have read everything about this bizarre example, then you are mistaken. Two weeks after the elections, INEC reported that approximately 430,000 voters were accredited to vote in that state for Governor and State House of Assembly. BUT THE GOVERNOR-ELECT WON WITH ALMOST 900,000 VOTES!!! This happened in 2015 in Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria.

Two important posers arise from this experience which serves proxy for others nationwide. First, since there were widespread restrictions on movement on Election Day, how could so many thugs move so freely in any state where the Police and DSS are supposed to be on duty? Clearly, Commissioners of Police on duty in those states will have to provide answers. They will be called to the Tribunal for sure. But, the new IGP better start asking some questions. Second, how did INEC manage to declare a candidate elected with almost 900,000 votes when less than 450,000 voters were accredited for the elections?

Stealing the Governorship in a state which collects almost N300bn revenue every year is worse than having 10,000 robbers invade the state. Every effort would be made, including severe punishment, to rid the country of that menace. Nigerians expect nothing less from the government coming in.

SWEEPING “NGBATI NGBATI” CREW OUT OF ASO ROCK
“Fortune’s favours never last”, Seneca, 4B.C-65AD. VBQ p 64.

Ngbati Ngbati is the nickname for the Yoruba in the North and East. By the end of this month, Reuben Abati, Doyin Okupe, Fani-Kayode, as well as the late comers to Aso Rock, Dr Fasheun, Gani Adams and Afenifere will be swept into the dustbin of political history. Such is life.