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| Image: Ikeja Bird |
Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo
has reacted to the result of the presidential election across the country,
writing to President Buhari in the process.
Obasanjo said the results being
declared by INEC does not correspond with the wish of the Nigerian people.
Full text of his speech below:
Nigerian
Brothers and Sisters, greetings to you all.
I
am constrained to speak at this point.
I
crave the indulgence of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His
Excellency General Muhammadu Buhari, to make this statement because I have had
opportunity to keep him aware of what I know is happening and the danger
looming ahead.
On
many occasions in the past, I have not hesitated to point out lacuna in the
action of the President and his government. But as far as the election issues
are concerned, the President has proved beyond reasonable doubt that he will
want to leave a legacy of free, fair, transparent and credible elections.
Until
last Saturday night, February 25, 2023, the good and noble plan and preparation
for the elections seemed to be going well. For the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC), a lot of money was spent to introduce Bimodal
Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), and the Server for immediate transmission of
results from polling units. It is no secret that INEC officials, at operational
level, have been allegedly compromised to make what should have worked not to
work and to revert to manual transmission of results which is manipulated and
the results doctored. The Chairman of INEC may claim ignorance but he cannot
fold his hands and do nothing when he knows that election process has been
corrupted and most of the results that are brought outside BVAS and Server are
not true reflection of the will of Nigerians who have made their individual
choice. At this stage, we do not need wittingly or unwittingly to set this
country on fire with the greed, irresponsibility and unpatriotic act of those
who allegedly gave money to INEC officials for perversion and those who
collected the blood money. Let me appeal to the Chairman of INEC, if his hands
are clean, to save Nigeria from the looming danger and disaster which is just
waiting to happen. If the Chairman can postpone elections four days to the
election, he can do everything to rectify the errors of the last two days - no
BVAS, no result to be acceptable; and no uploading through Server, no result to
be acceptable.
Whereas,
BVAS and Servers have been manipulated or rendered inactive, such results must
be declared void and inadmissible for election declaration. Chairman INEC, I
have thought that you would use this wonderful opportunity to mend your
reputation and character for posterity.
Your
Excellency, President Buhari Muhammadu, tension is building up and please let
all elections that do not pass the credibility and transparency test be
cancelled and be brought back with areas where elections were disrupted for
next Saturday, March 4, 2023, and BVAS and Server officials be changed. To know
which stations or polling units were manipulated, let a Committee of INEC staff
and representatives of the four major political parties with the Chairman of
Nigerian Bar Association look into what must be done to have hitch-free
elections next Saturday. Mr. President, may your plan and hope for leaving a
legacy of free, fair, transparent and credible election be realised. Mr.
President, please don't let anybody say to you that it does not matter or it is
the problem of INEC. On no account should you be seen as part of the collusion
or compromise. When the die is cast, it will be your problem as the Chief
Executive of the nation. The Chairman of INEC may sneak out of the country or
go back to his ivory tower. Your Excellency, thank you for hearing me out.
Compatriot
Nigerians, please exercise patience until the wrong is righted. I strongly
believe that nobody will toy with the future and fortune of Nigeria at this
juncture.
Long
live Nigeria in peace, security, stability and in the hope for greater future.
OLUSEGUN
OBASANJO
February
27, 2023
Source: toriozone.com
#Olusegun Obasanjo
#2023 Elections
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