Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar has vowed that democracy in Nigeria will survive series of terrorism that has been ongoing in various parts of the country.
“Nigerian democracy can and must withstand terror. Whether the terror is from insurgents or from desperate politicians, in the end, democracy must prevail.”
In a statement released his Media Office in Abuja today, the APC chieftain made specific reference to Tuesday’s bombings in the country, during which several people lost their lives. There was a bomb blast in Yobe State in which several people were injured and explosion at the APC gubernatorial campaign rally in Okrika, Rivers State.
Atiku called on Nigerians to remain calm and prayerful, observing that Nigeria’s democracy is on trial. He made it clear that no matter what efforts were applied to the contrary, Nigerians should never give up their desire for change.
The former Vice President called for a strong bipartisan signal or approach against those who are willing to sacrifice the nation for political gain.
“Our political elders must lift up their voices against violent desperados within their parties, and anyone found guilty should be punished severely and openly.”
Atiku advised Nigerians to continue to remain vigilant, especially at this election period, and to report any suspicious people or activities to the relevant authorities.  [myad]

Senate today, summoned the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega to appear before it tomorrow, Wednesday, even as members of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Senate have raised alarm over what they called a fresh plot by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to again, postpone the March 28, April 11 general elections.
Senate President, David Mark, at the plenary today, said that Professor Jega would be expected to throw more light on the preparedness of the electoral umpire for the elections, as well as explain the distribution of the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and the process of card reader.
However, the Senate minority leader, Senator George Akume suggested that the nation’s security chiefs, including the Chief Of Army Staff, the National Security Adviser (NSA) should also be summoned before the Senate since the major reason for the postponement of February 14 and 28 elections was the lack of preparedness by the nation’s security personnel to provide security during the elections.
The APC senators later walked out of the plenary to address the National Assembly reporters in the Senate where they alleged that the Presidency, in collaboration with the ruling PDP, are again planning to arm-twist the electoral umpire to canvass a shift, using the card reader as an excuse.
The Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba had earlier moved a motion for the summoning of Professor jega, over the planned use of the card reader for the election which he argued would contravene Section 52 of the Electoral Act which prohibits the use of electronic device during election.
Senators Akume insisted at the news conference that anything short of conducting the elections as scheduled, and using the card readers to avoid rigging, might lead to a civil war.
The APC Senators argued that since the card readers are meant for the accreditation of the voters, their usage would not constitute a breach of the Electoral Act as postulated by the Senate Leader.
The opposition senators alleged that the PDP leadership, having failed to use the security challenges and poor collection of Permanent Voter Cards as excuses to postpone the polls again, had started a fresh plot by hiding under the card reader’s usage.
Akume said: “Elections must be held as rescheduled, it is important that the Independent National Electoral Commission must do this in order to avoid unpleasant consequences.
“Nigeria is a huge and complex society, culturally, structurally, and everything must be done to avoid the Somalia experience. There would be too many warlords in this country should we fail to do what is right.
“Nigerians deserve the best. Card readers will add value to the conduct of the elections; we are talking about free and fair elections. Time has passed when people carry ballot boxes and papers to their respective rooms, thumb-print and bring them for counting the following day.
“The whole world is watching this county. We have become a laughing stock, we are becoming a banana republic.
“We are even more patriotic than those who are in government. We want elections and card readers to be applied; they must be used, otherwise, the elections can never be free and fair.
“If a country like Ghana can get it right, using the card reader, why can’t the giant of Africa do it? If Sierra Leone can do it, even Liberia, why can’t Nigeria do it? We are waiting for INEC to do it; INEC must use it.
“Card readers are a must to ensure free, credible, acceptable elections. To do otherwise won’t be acceptable”
The senators also vowed to frustrate any plan by the ruling PDP to extend President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration through the composition of an Interim National Government, saying: “there is no country in the world whose leader can sit down and do what we are doing here, to undermine our democracy. That is tantamount to treason.
“We have nothing like Interim Government in our constitution and of course, there is nothing like coup in our constitution and therefore, we must do the right thing. The president himself has sworn to protect this country and therefore, where he is going wrong, he must be corrected.” [myad]

New York Times has again reflected in its latest Editorial that the emergence of Presidential Candidate of opposition All Progressives (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari and as potential winner of the March 28 election is more of an indictment of the dismal rule by the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan who is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the same election.
“That Mr. Buhari, who helped launch a coup against a democratically elected government in 1983 and ruled until late 1985, has emerged as potential winner (of the March 28 election) is more of an indictment of Mr. Jonathan’s dismal rule than a recognition of the former military chief’s appeal.”
The United States-based New York Times said that the postponement of the February 14 and 28 elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), was masterminded by President Jonathan to frustrate General Buhari.
According to the newspaper, Jonathan appeared to be afraid of the increasing popularity of Buhari, who most Nigerians were likely going to vote for.
The full text of the Editorial, which the paper ran yesterday, Monday titled: “Nigeria’s Miserable Choices” reads:
The Nigerian government was supposed to hold presidential elections this past weekend, which presented voters with the dispiriting choice of keeping a lousy incumbent or returning to power a former autocratic leader. Now they will have to wait at least six weeks to cast votes.
The Nigerian election commission said earlier this month that it had pushed back the vote until at least March 28, after the country’s security chiefs warned that they could not guarantee the safety of voters in northeastern areas of the country where Boko Haram, the extremist militant group, captured international attention last spring when it abducted hundreds of schoolgirls. On Friday, Boko Haram fighters attacked a village in neighboring Chad for the first time, an alarming sign of the group’s expanding strength in a region that also includes areas of Cameroon and Niger.
Any argument to delay the vote might be more credible if President Goodluck Jonathan’s government had not spent much of the past year playing down the threat posed by the militants and if there were a reasonable expectation that the country’s weak military has the ability to improve security in a matter of weeks.
It appears more likely Mr. Jonathan grew alarmed by the surging appeal of Muhammadu Buhari, a former military ruler who has vowed to crack down on Boko Haram. By dragging out the race, Mr. Jonathan stands to deplete his rival’s campaign coffers, while he continues to use state funds and institutions to bankroll his own.
That Mr. Buhari, who helped launch a coup against a democratically elected government in 1983 and ruled until late 1985, has emerged as potential winner is more of an indictment of Mr. Jonathan’s dismal rule than a recognition of the former military chief’s appeal.
Nigerian voters have grown increasingly worried about the stunning rise of Boko Haram, which has committed terrorist atrocities including bombings.
The abductions and attacks by the group have exposed the weaknesses of Nigeria’s armed forces and the dysfunction of the government. Although Mr. Jonathan’s government has in the past been less than enthusiastic, and at times obstructive, in response to offers of American and European aid, he appears to be growing increasingly worried. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal last week, he said he would welcome American troops to fight the insurgency.
Beyond security matters, entrenched corruption and the government’s inability to diversify its economy as the price of oil, the country’s financial bedrock, has fallen have also caused Nigerians to look for new leadership. Nigeria, the most populous nation in Africa, and a relatively young democracy, cannot afford an electoral crisis. That would only set back the faltering effort to reassert government control in districts where Boko Haram is sowing terror. The security forces may not be able to safeguard many districts on Election Day. But postponement is very likely to make the security threat worse. [myad]