By BASHIR ADEFAKA
Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for ensuring a level playing field in the just concluded gubernatorial election in Anambra State won by former Central Bank Governor, Charles Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)
In a statement signed by its Chairman Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary Cassidy Madueke, BMO said that it was a conduct that is now a tradition under the Buhari administration.
“We were really not surprised to hear Professor Soludo singling out President Buhari for praise in his acceptance speech shortly after he was declared Governor-elect because we have heard similar post-election speeches from impressed members of opposition parties over the years.
“Soludo’s position is not different from what the outgoing Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, said when he flew into Abuja a few days after he won his second term in 2017 to thank the President for keeping his promise to ensure a free and fair election.
“And we dare say no Nigerian should forget how former Governor of Bayelsa State Seriake Dickson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) turned up at the Presidential Villa to commend President Buhari for his non-interference in the December 2015 gubernatorial elections in the State, against a formidable ruling party candidate, Timipre Sylva.
“We recall that he was emphatic that there was no attempt to use what is known as ‘federal might’ in the PDP years to sway the election in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in contrast to what prevailed in Nigeria’s political space in the pre-Buhari era.
“This has since been the situation, so we were also not surprised to see that Nigerians are now appreciating this with the deluge of commendations in the social media for the President after Soludo was declared victorious”.
BMO urged other politicians, including State Governors, to take a cue from the President’s disposition on electoral matters.
“Like many Nigerians, we are appealing to Governors to learn from the example shown by President Buhari in the conduct of local government elections.
“It is a fact that State Independent Electoral Commission (SIECs) operate more like an extension of government houses in virtually all the States of the federation and this is more often than not, reflected in results of local government elections which do not reflect the wishes of the people.
“This is why Nigerians have had a cause to demand that SIECs be scrapped, but we want to hold up the off-season gubernatorial election in Anambra State as an example of non-interference by the Executive which we believe State Governors should take a cue from”. it added.
The group pledged that President Buhari will continue to show a demonstrable commitment to free and fair elections in the country, as well as leave behind a credible process that will stand the test of time.
