It’s official. INEC announced that the presidential election has been postponed by one week. It will now hold on February 23. Whereas the reason for similar postponement in 2015 was hinged on security, today’s decision did not offer any tangible reason except for unexplained logistics. It is now clear that Nigeria has not made any positive change, which APC promised Nigerians 4 years ago. We are still where we were in 2015 and perhaps have gone some steps backwards. This is highly unfortunate.
I have questions for INEC and the Nigerian government. Did INEC really make this decision on their own or is there an invisible hand behind this new twist? Who stands to benefit from this decision: Nigerian government or Nigerian people or INEC or a favoured political party? Why did INEC wait until 2.30am on Saturday February 16th to make this decision? If there was any issue that came up, could they not have seen it much earlier and addressed it? For the past two weeks, there had been disturbing rumor that this election would be postponed but INEC kept denying it. WHY? Why did INEC wait for Nigerians to travel to their respective homes only to litter them there? Or is this part of the plans to frustrate Nigerians from coming out in good numbers to vote? Most Nigerians will return to the cities, where they live and work, on Monday, 18th February, and may not have the money or time of energy to travel again within 5 days, just for an election. How about all the international observers? Will they wait for another week or will they return to their countries? Could this also be part of the reasons behind this decision? How about the electoral sensitive materials that have been distributed already? Would they be retrieved or destroyed and new ones printed before 23rd February?
Many people have made their plans already for next weekend. How about those who have fixed weddings, anniversaries, ordinations, burials, conferences, communal events, installation ceremonies, etc, for February 23; can they still go ahead given the usual vehicular restrictions on election day in Nigeria? Why does the Nigerian government always like to make life difficult for the citizens? Why are they so insensitive?
At this rate, the international community will never stop making mockery of us. No wonder nobody takes us seriously anymore. This decision has very devastating consequences for Nigerians and international community. INEC may not answer any of my questions but in philosophy, it is said that questions are often more important than answers. As depressing as it may be, I ask Nigerians to please calm down. Do not make trouble. Perhaps the plan is to provoke Nigerians to violence and unrest for some political reasons. With time, we will know what really transpired.
As a Christian, I believe that God has allowed this postponement for a purpose. Nothing happens without God’s knowledge. Even if the intention is not salutary, I know that God writes straight with crooked lines. I believe that what will be will be no matter how long it is delayed. Let us pray and hope that this would end in praises (as one of my friends often jokingly concludes each time we argue). In the absence of the excitement this election would have brought, let us still enjoy our weekend. It is well…
Michael Ngoka, CM
