Stop making enemies for President Buhari, troublemaking Edo politicians warned

By BASHIR ADEFAKA

President Muhammadu Buhari cannot in anyway be connected with wrong of any type, so whoever engages in one and claims he has the backing of the President is on his own.

This disclaimer came by Digital and Social Media Aide to the President, Lauretta Onochie, on Thursday.

Onochie, who did not mention what category, class or group of people concerned, warned such erring politicians to stop making enemies for her boss by their wishful thinking and proclamation that they could be engaging in illegal, unconstitutional and undemocratic political activities and want electorates in Edo or people outside the state to believe they are endorsed by the President and so can do anything.

She said, “DEAR NAME DROPPERS,

“It’s disgusting how people claim that they have Pres. Buhari’s backing especially when embarking on illegal, unconstitutional and undemocratic ventures.

“Our President is a law-abiding Citizen of this great nation. He will never be part of any scheme to break the law or side with anything undemocratic.

“Stop making enemies for him. Though unjustifiable, Pres. Buhari has enough enemies.

“Please stop! Its no longer funny. Stop!” She said.

In the meantime, a social commentator and politician, Great Imo Jonathan, has signalled to President Buhari to see Saturday election coming up in Edo State as going to be part of his legacy and therefore urge him to make it a great experience.

Jonathan said in a letter posted via his social media handle on Thursday that the Edo election will be most significant one to be conducted during his administration outside the 2019 and 2023 general elections and appealed for perfection.

He said, “Our dear President, I am taking time out to write you concerning the upcoming election in Edo State because:

“1. It will be the most significant election that will be conducted during your administration outside the general election of 2019 and the other general election that will take place in 2023.

“2. The tension this upcoming election has generated has made it so significant, both for Nigerians at home, the diaspora and the international community.

“3. This election has generated enough attention, such that it has come under strict scrutiny. It is such that it will be difficult for the world not to know the real winner, even if it is manipulated.

“4. There are APC members who think this election must won by the party by any means. There are those who say you should use what they describe as federal might to help APC win the election. They don’t believe your integrity mantra, because according to them lies and deception is part of politics. Someone even said on his Facebook wall that you have given a matching order to some party leaders to win Edo at all cost. He claims that was your order and it means APC must win Edo election by any means possible. I made an attempt to correct his impression by telling him that I am a Buharist myself and what that means is that we follow your principles of humility, integrity and modesty (HIM). By this principles we are minded to love and support people sometimes beyond the boundaries of political parties when they have something to offer and they subscribe to due process. I made him realize that the Buhari we know is only interested in good governance, progress and development of all parts of Nigeria and that you have demonstrated that through your relationship with opposition party governors like Dave Umahi of PDP who have done well for his people. Hence, we know your utmost interest in Edo State is to allow Edo people make their choices and to wish that the best candidate wins irrespective of party. Because every performing governor in Nigeria is a plus for your government and less a burden for you.

“5. This election is looking more like an ego contest, many of the gladiators involved seem to be on a mission to prove how powerful they are, they are manifestly determined to undermine the will of the people of Edo State except you Mr President goes the extra mile to help uphold the people’s choice. Especially, Mr President is being looked up to, to ensure that the umpire and the supporting agencies do the right thing irrespective of who is involved.

“6. It is important that Mr President pays special attention here because there have been occasions in this country where those that were delegated to handle responsibilities goes out outrightly to undermine the government. As Mr President said few weeks ago, there are people in the last administration and some in your present administration who were given responsibilities to handle who ended up undermining the government. There are people who are so corrupt and so emboldened in their corruption that once money is before them, they can damn the consequence.

“7. It is important for Mr President to know that the outcome of this election, good or bad will be part of your legacy, irrespective of those that will conduct it. Hence, it is necessary for Mr President to go the extra mile to ensure that those that will conduct this election will do the right thing. Because the buck as they say stops on you table. Going by our history and culture, nobody else will be blamed if anything goes wrong and it will be recorded as one of your legacies.

“President Mohammadu Buhari, please pay close attention to this election because it is going to be a landmark event in your administration and you will be judged by its outcome long after you have left power. As much as you are not a spirit and we do not expect you to be everywhere at the same time to ensure that the right thing is done, there are measures you can put in place to forestall any undesirable outcome. Take those measures before September 19th, during and after the election.

“We know you are a fair minded person but we also know there are people in this administration who have acted without regard for you in the past and some them have gone unpunished, thereby emboldening others to want to do same.

“If possible, deploy technology and undercover agents to track activities of those who will conduct the election realtime. Be it INEC, police or the army. These are the institutions that are directly involved and their conduct must be monitored.

“You need to personally speak to those in charge of these institutions and tell them plainly that they will be held responsible if anything goes wrong. Nothing must be spared because your name is involved.

“Remember also that the way your administration has called out some past leaders for what they did when they were in government, notwithstanding the fact that some of those actions were taken by their appointees, you also will be called out one day on Edo State election if you fail to ensure that those that have been given the responsibility to conduct it does the right thing.

“It is unfortunate that many of our politicians see election as a do or die affair. Rather than see it as a contestation of ideas and opportunity to present themselves before the people to make a choice about Who should govern them.

“It has become so bad that some of those who have the responsibility to ensure that the choice of the people are respected have becomes willing tools in the hand of politicians because of their personal greed. It is so appalling that our people no longer believe in the ability of our electoral umpire to conduct free and fair elections.

“Even those who wish to engage in free and open contest are made to think otherwise because there is now a popular believe in our society that you don’t have to depend on the vote of the people to win an election. It doesn’t matter how much we try to deny this, a good and honest conversation with ordinary Nigerian on the street will convince you.

“The ordinary voter is afraid that his or her vote may not count because those that should make it count can compromise. It is such a dangerous thing because our country is missing out on the opportunity of having her best and her brightest come to positions of authority to make a difference because many are losing faith in our electoral process. Many of our good people with the capacity to transform their communities are losing interest and our political space is now increasingly being populated by the worst of us.

“It is time to arrest the ugly situation and the upcoming Edo State Gubernatorial election will be a good place to start.

“Mr. President please ensure that the choice of Edo people are respected and not the wishes of few individuals. That is all that Nigerians expect from you on Saturday, 19th September, 2020. Thank you in advance.

“God bless Nigeria,” Great Imo Jonathan said.