Dr. Tunde Oyemade, a veteran public affairs commentator, in this interview with CEOAFRICA source , takes a look at the just concluded presidential elections, even as he explained why the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, scored a shocking victory over Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos. Excerpt:
The presidential election has come and gone and a winner was announced by the INEC Chairman. How do you see the conduct of the election in your area?
I participated and voted in my area. The election was peaceful. Later, I learnt that in some places, Area Boys and thugs came and threatened that some people should not vote for the opposition parties. But, I saw policemen in videos shown in social media where thugs were destroying ballot boxes. Then some soldiers shot down four of them. In many places in Lagos, hoodlums came out and disturbed the elections in many places. The hoodlums attacked several people. However, this did not happen in my voting unit. However, I can say that the police tried and chased them away. At Oshodi area, one gang leader came to disrupt the voting. But, the police intervened and sent him and his boys away. Generally, you will not see PDP, LP or any other party attacking people. All the attackers are from the ruling party. I know this because they said that no opposition party should be voted for. They always said it openly. But, we have been praying that God should touch the hearts of the hoodlums so that they would stop attacking people. Let everyone vote according to his conscience. That is what is called free and fair election.
From what transpired so far, what is your view on the process that led to the result of the election?
Well, we were told by INEC that the election would be free and fair. I do not know the problem with BVAS. I was told that BVAS works well. But the problem was that INEC staff did not transmit the results. INEC has to tell the people what happened during the transmission process. I suspect that a lot of the INEC staff compromised in the transmission process, including those at the various collation centres.
Would you say that the INEC Chairman was right to have announced Bola Tinubu the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner and referred aggrieved parties to the electoral tribunal instead of reviewing the process as the law empowered him?
The INEC chairman was wrong to have announced a winner immediately. He is supposed to have used seven days to review the result sent to him. I know the work they have is enormous. But, I suspect that the INEC chairman conspired by announcing the resolution and issuing Certificate of Return to Tinubu the next day. He should have waited. They announced other results from several places after that day. That means that the election was inconclusive, what would he do with the additional results? He should have waited since he knew that more results were expected.
Do you think that either Atiku or Peter Obi stand a chance of defeating Tinubu at the courts bearing in mind that the Supreme Court has always favoured the president-elect?
There was a lot more confusion in this election than before. The transmission has caused a lot of problems. INEC should allow the PDP and LP to check the results properly. The tribunal should prevail on INEC to grant LP and PDP access to inspect its server/portal so that they can assemble enough evidence to prosecute their cases. We have been seeing results in the social media favouring both the LP and PDP. The best thing is the tribunal and the Supreme Court to grant both parties access to the information they need for justice to prevail. I pray that God will grant them wisdom to let justice prevail in this presidential election.
What would you say accounted for the defeat of Tinubu in Lagos State by Peter Obi?
People are tired of Tinubu and the APC in Lagos. Because of the problem of thugs and the freedom given to area boys to operate and intervene in election, people believe that the APC and the Lagos government support the area boys and by extension supporting thuggery in Lagos. There are so many touts in Lagos. The courts have ruled that there should not be VIOs in the metropolis of Lagos. But, they have continued to exist and operate. The people and Lagosisans are tired. There are many abandoned projects in Lagos. They have not completed the rail lines, but they rushed to commission it. After President Muhammadu Buhari commissioned the rail project, they have not used it because it is not completed. They have continued to harass the poor people and market women.
Do you think that in the governorship election, the Lagos governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu could be defeated?
It is very likely. The APC is using threats on people. Lagos was not like this before. The state has become worse now. Lagos was good before. But, thugs have changed it for the worse and the people are suffering. It is the authorities in power that are supporting the thugs. Touts beat up drivers and conductors and even kill them because of money. People are suffering too much in Lagos. Only the touts are enjoying themselves in Lagos. The ordinary people are suffering. That is why people want a change in the administration of Lagos.
How do you see the support being given to Sanwo-Olu by both CAN and its affiliate blocs in Lagos?
Don’t mind them. Are they the voters? When the head is corrupt, the body is corrupt. When the head of a fish is rotten, the whole body is gone. Not only the Christians, but Muslims and people of other religions do not agree with them. When one person has gone to sleep, people say that Lagos has gone to sleep. The religious leaders are involved in politics. This is wrong. Christian and Muslims leaders have no business negotiating with politicians. But when they have problems, they can give the politicians advice.
What is your take on the Supreme Court judgment on cash sway policy?
I cannot understand the politics that are playing out. The Supreme Court has given its judgment and it must stand. I suspect that the CBN and the Federal Government are playing politics. I don’t know what the politicians are doing. They are treating Nigerians like slaves. But, I know that God will deliver us from their bondage. They must follow the judgment of the Supreme Court. President Buhari, Godwin Emefiele and Abubakar Malami are treating people like slaves. They must obey the Supreme Court. All the Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) have said that they should obey the Supreme Court. Even the layman on the roadside knows that they are wrong. They are putting us in bondage. But, God will not allow them. He will arise and scatter their plans. If the judgments favour them, they comply. If judgments do not favor them, they do not obey. The money in the banks belongs to the people. But, they deny people access to their money and the people are suffering. This is a dictatorship. I know that God will intervene. The word of God said that we should pray for those in authority. God will deliver us from this clear case of slavery and dictatorship.
What is your advice to Nigerians at this period of the nation’s history?
My advice is that Nigerians should continue to pray for this nation. So that truth will prevail in this nation.
