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The Better Nigeria Group, BNG, following the Presidential and National Assembly elections on the 23rd of February, 2019 and its aftermath, is convened this day by well meaning patriotic Nigerians who truly want nothing but a better Nigeria.
Following hours of deliberation and consultation with relevant stakeholders and sampling of opinions of Nigerians BNG resolved and wishes to state the following:
1. That the outcome of the presidential election which took place, on the 23rd February 2019, does not reflect the choice and the mandate of Nigerians. The spate of deliberate irregularities aimed at tilting the results toward the incumbent and the candidate of the All Progressive Congress and the subsequent declaration of victory for same candidate is an assault on our democracy. It is no news that this declared results does not reflect the mood of the citizens and how they voted.
2. That this brazen impunity should not be allowed to stand unchallenged otherwise amongst other things, our democracy will be dead forever. The electoral process is the beacon of democracy and remains so. Elections must not only be credible, but must be seen as credible. The sham of an election which took place on the said date and the subsequent declaration leaves so much to wonder about credibility.
3. In a country that already is struggling with severe erosion of societal values, it will be its greatest undoing to allow such broad daylight electoral fraud to stand unchallenged. Nigeria as a nation would have lost all moral standard required to try anyone for fraud or even overt robbery. It will be rewarding everything wrong that a society that wants to make progress should stand against.
4. The death of innocent citizens who have set out to perform their basic civic responsibility, in the hands of agents of government, whose primary responsibility is to protect them, is highly condemnable. We mourn with the families of those who lost their lives in the violence marred event and assure them that those responsible for their demise shall face the consequences of their action in no distant time. This blood letting will never go unpunished. We shall amongst other things continue to demand for justice for all who died.
5. Fellow Nigerians the following questions beg for answers: How are we able to imbibe into young people that it is more honourable to fail than to cheat when the government cheats brazenly? How are we able to curb examination malpractice in our institutions if government cheats? For the good of society, it is important that the necessary institutions enshrined with the responsibility to look into these complaints must do so and the right thing be done. This daylight rape on our hard earned democracy, if allowed to stand, shall signify the end of hope for a better society.
6. We therefore wish to support the candidate of the PDP, His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to immediately resort to approach the court for redress as this strengthens our democracy..in a bid to claim the mandate which the people overwhelmly gave to him through the ballot box. We frown seriously at the perceived contemplation that going to court means reneging on the peace accord, for we understand that the courts are a part of a democratic process and reaching out to them for perceived grievances, does not in any way mean war. It is important that the PDP candidate realises and consistently keeps in his memory, that it is not about him but those who have given him the mandate. While we understand that he may be under tremendous pressure not to approach the court, we want to remind him that anything short of that shall be tantamount to abandonment of the people’s mandate and shall be a huge disappointment.
7. We are disappointed at the seeming cowering of some of the International observers and the international community in rushing to congratulate the President, we are surprised at their action aimed at trying to give some legitimacy to the charade the whole world witnessed on the 23rd of February. We will like to remind them that there really cannot be true peace in the face of so much injustice. Not to ask for justice so that there may be peace, is only a short term measure and can be likened to dressing a dirty wound. It will never heal. The possible long term impact of allowing this to stay unchallenged, is so huge that the country may never recover from its impact.
8. Nigeria has struggled to keep the confidence of her citizenry on the electoral process and her democracy. Sadly, before, this election, a large chunk of the population had always resorted not to vote because they think their votes will not count. Another chunk, merely came out to vote hoping that their votes may count. Of course, this trend will worsen and grind our democracy to a halt if this charade is allowed unchallenged. The accountability of those in power comes from the power of the electorate to determine who leads them. Once this is taken off, dictatorship thrives and tyranny becomes the order of the day.
9. Let us all be reminded of the possible impact that this sham may have on our already very fragile unity. An election where certain ethnic nationality was denied the right to vote because it was believed that they will be voting for the opposition candidate, only feeds the bigotry tendencies of these unpatriotic elements and gives energy and sympathy to such calls for referendum and secession. The least required to be done to curb this and prevent it from occuring again, is to not allow this charade to stay.
10. We also want to draw the attention of the world and all relevant stakeholders to the incessant harassment of citizens perceived not to be supporting the President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government.
11. Lastly, we call on all stakeholders of project Nigeria to keep faith and rise to the occasion to defend our democracy and the processes that sustain it. Most especially, we call on the judiciary to consider this case for its merit. The people shall be watching keenly as the events unfold. Hence the destiny and future of Nigeria shall now be in the hands of the judiciary.
In conclusion, the Better Nigeria Group shall not relent in mobilising all Nigerians in demanding for a better Nigeria through the restoration of the people’s mandate and subsequently restore their confidence on our democratic institutions.
Signed:
*Mazi Dickson Nnamdi Iroegbu* for *BETTER NIGERIA GROUP (BNG)*
