By Chuks Okoh
Former national vice chairman ,South west of People’s Democratic Party ( PDP) , Chief Bde George has challenged the chairman Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) , Professor Attahiru Jega to explain how he intends to provide a contingency plan if the cats readers fail In some polling booth for the next general elections .
George said until such explanation is given by the INEC chairman that some stakeholders would fully endorse the use of the card readers to authentic permanent voters cards for the next general elections.
He said the use of the card readers is not hundred per cent full proof because of issues of its malfunction ,like any technology that could have hitches .
Speaking on arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos from London at the weekend, George said INEC has to prove to Nigerians that it is ready for a hitch free election with the use of the card readers .
He said millions of Nigerians would have been disenfranchised if INEC had gone ahead with the earlier dates scheduled for the elections without postponement .
George urged Nigerians to support President Goodluck Jonathan’s re- election in order to complete the tenure allocated to the South South region, to produce the president as a region that is economically important to Nigeria .
He said Jonathan as an experienced leader would implement the recommendations of the National Conference which has spelt out ways to transform the country .
Speaking about INEC’s preparation for the elections , he said :” Two questions I have always asked the chairman of INEC about his preparations for the general elections . If it insists it must use the card readers , what is the contingency plan in the event that the card readers do not work properly at the polling booth?What is the contingency plan if the card readers do not work? Till now, people are still collecting their permanent voters card . So if the elections held the initial time he scheduled it, millions of Nigerians would have been disenfranchised from voting . Our fear is that if voters get to the polling booth and the card readers do not work , what is the alternative contingency arrangement ? These are vital questions that the INEC chairman must provide answers to if he means well to conduct credible elections . He must provide answers to these questions . I hope he is thinking he could just conduct the elections anyhow , and run away .We are heading into a critical election in our history . And he who comes to equity , must come with clean hands .I want to beg Jega not to spoil the good name and reputation he has built up over the years .
“And Jega must answer these questions . ..Whether you are in the ruling party or opposition it does not matter . This is very technical . What happens if the card readers do not work properly . What is the contingency plan?”
On the chances of Jonathan, George said :”‘ The president has been tested and is preferred by many people . Jonathan conceived the national conference , he did not interfere with the conference , he asked Nigerians to discuss the problems of the nation in over one hundred years of existence .
“Now the APC refused to participate and recommendations have been made for all spheres of government , they are now asking Nigerians to trust them.
“How can you trust those that refused to discuss Nigeria. They invited Buhari for a debate, he said he prefers a monologue . Jonathan has done his utmost best He has set in motion a lot of programmes that would alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians .
“The man who came before him, even refused because he was military . Has he asked for forgiveness ? Can a leopard change his spots , Can you trust the people around Buhari . If Buhari talks so much about corruption , we should he should start from those who are promoting him .
“He cannot fool Nigerians anymore . We have tried this democracy for almost 16 years , we cannot toy around with .
“We cannot do experiment anymore . Let us get together , and support the PDP zoning arrangement that other parties are copying . We tried it and it is working . Let the South South people complete their tenure for the sake of peace . What is additional four years in a life of a country . It is not a century . it is ideal to allow Jonathan another (4) years , so that this country can sit pretty peacefully . We do not want any conflagration . Let sleeping dogs lie . Let them give Jonathan the opportunity for the people of his zone to complete their tenure .
“The South South zone is very financially important to Nigeria . Think properly , so that we do not keep deceiving ourselves . Oga Buhari should look at those surrounding him, he talks about corruption, he should remove the log In their own eyes before seeing the others .”
