Photo: Mike Igini, Nigerians will forgive Buhari’s failures if he delivers credible elections in 2023.
A former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) resident commissioner, Mr Mike Igini, has said that Nigerians will forgive President Muhammadu Buhari for all his failings if he delivers credible elections in the 2023 general elections.
According to Igini, Buhari has one last opportunity to redeem his image before leaving power, stressing that this is hinged on his ability to bequeath an election that is deemed to be credible, free, fair, hitch-free and acceptable in the eyes of the electorate and the entire world.
The ex-REC said this on Monday while featuring on an AIT Kakaaki morning program.
According to him, the Buhari administration has failed Nigeria and Nigerians’ expectations in many ways but if he delivers a credible general election in 2023, he will succeed in redeeming his image and make Nigerians forgive him for his shortcomings.
The ex-INEC boss noted that it was the last grand act by President Goodluck Jonathan to willingly relinquish power even in an election that was still disputed that lifted him to a glowing status as a respected leader all over the world.
Igini, a lawyer, lauded INEC’s efforts under the Buhari administration and challenged the president to sustain that tempo to the end.
He also said that INEC’s current decisions to stand strong on the legal provisions that will curtail election rigging and vote buying was laudable.
The provisions for electronic transmission of election results and the use of only bimodal voters accreditation system (BVAS), according to him, are wonderful provisions to turn Nigeria’s electoral system to something credible.
The fiery former INEC chief mocked politicians who are still running around and allegedly buying up PVCs from voters by urging them to do more and buy more, but with the assurance that the cards would be worthless because they would not use them.
“The only place I have my concern is my constituency, the judiciary. I wish they comply and allow this system prosper.
“Do you know that the lawyer that filed an application in Owerri to get an order to frustrate electronic transmission of results and the BVAS system is under investigation by the NBA?
“That is the system we dream to have because the rise or fall of Nigeria rests on political leadership,” he added.
Igini also expressed his disappointment with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for yielding to the pressure of the politicians to adjust the new cash withdrawal limit.
He regretted that rather than CBN holding fast, it increased the limit and still empowering the politicians to get much physical cash and use it to buy poor voters.
Igini said that notwithstanding the CBN’s decision on the issue, he was confident that vote buying will not help desperate politicians to win the election with the new system.
