Anomalous Situation
Read Time:2 Minute, 56 Second
Cardinal Archbishop emeritus of Abuja the Nigerian capital says it will be wrong for the “president-elect” to be sworn in on May 29 before the judicial verdict
Cardinal Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja John Onaiyekan in an interview on Channels TV Thursday, said that it would be wrong to swear in the “winner” of the 2023 presidential election, Bola Tinubu as President on May 29 before the judicial verdict.
“The election is not yet over. There are cases in court that have not been disposed of. That is why we are in an anomalous situation; we have a declared President-elect whose result is being challenged, and the court is handling it.
“I am entitled to take the position that I am still waiting for the court to determine who won the election.
“I am one of those who have been saying that it does not make much sense to swear in people when they are still in court.
“We have to review the election process to ensure we have a winner who will be sworn in and everybody would rally around.
“I can’t understand; I am not a legal man or judge; it is a pity that it is taking too long for the Court to make up their mind on this matter,” he said
The soft spoken 80 year cardinal also said that those who rigged the February 25, 2023, presidential and governorship elections in Nigeria know what they did and God knows them.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Tinubu the presidential election winner after scoring over 8 million votes suspected to be rigged.
His victory is being challenged in court by some of his challengers in the election including Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP).
The Presidential Elections Petitions Tribunal sitting at the Court of Appeal said it will begin hearings on May 8th.
The Archbishop said it is a pity that the courts are taking so long to make up their minds on the 2023 presidency matter, hence, the reason a proper view of the election system has become imperative.
According to him, a proper review of the system will see to the emergence of winners in line with the wishes of the people.
Speaking further on the nation’s polity, Cardinal Onaiyekan said basic questions still linger as regards what the nation really wants as regards governance and those who rule; one of such questions being – “Do we really want Democracy?”.
In his opinion, many of the political actors are not interested in democracy, “they want power by all means,” the pulpitarian stressed.
He said this is why many politicians today are only looking to manipulate the system and frustrate the wishes of the people, because they have weaponised poverty that people now take cash and other inducements for votes.
While noting the country cannot wait indefinitely for the courts to decide who the winner of the presidential election is, the Cardinal said the process the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should have worked on was one that would bring out a winner that is acceptable to the people.
In proffering solutions as to stop elections from consistently being contested in court, the Archbishop asserted that Nigeria must take a second look at the constitution of the INEC, asking how independent is the electoral umpire and how will the Commission be able to come out with the wishes of Nigerians.
Akowe with reports from Lagos and Channel TV
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0
Average Rating