By Emmanuel Daudu, Abuja
Three days after what many described as historic presidential and National Assembly polls, results are now pouring in from several parts of the country.
Before the exercise, expectations were sky-high in Africa’s most populous nation as millions of citizens elect the country’s next president and lawmakers.
In all, 94 million citizens registered for the election; No fewer than 87.2 million of them have collected their permanent voter cards (PVCs) and were eligible to vote.
Yesterday, 27th of February, 2023 opposition parties have walked out of the venue where results from Nigeria’s tightly contested presidential elections are being announced.
The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party have claimed there is a lack of transparency with the new electronic voting system.
This is the first national election where an electronic device has been used to accredit voters.
The election commission has denied the opposition parties’ complaints.
Also, the European Union, a foreign observer organization accredited by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to observe the election in its press conference disclosed that the elections have fallen below standard and as such should be revisited as issues of election rigging and victimization of electorates overwhelmed the electoral processes.
This prompted the Likes of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to write an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari to as a matter of urgency act fast before the democracy of Nigeria is truncated.
However, the likes of Olusegun Osoba have come out to say that the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s open letter to Buhari is a mere fallacy pointing out that during his time as president, all elections he conducted were judged to be terrible.
“Nigerians have decided and have taken the part of democracy and that stands against all odds”.
Already, youths across the nation are set to commence protests as pressure begins to pile up stating that the will of the masses is about to be denied.
It is against this backdrop the United Nations Habitat Ambassador to Nigeria, and Nigerian Youth Ambassador to the United States, Dr. Raymond Edoh calls on the youth to calm down stating that foreigners shouldn’t decide the country’s fate while he gives groundbreaking analysis.
However, he has disputed the fact that INEC tampered with the results pointing out that it is simply not possible and as a matter of fact, the election was credible.
According to him, “If Peter Obi won in Lagos, and in Kaduna where we have sitting APC governors and Atiku won in Katsina, Buhari’s home state, he also won his zone, Northeast, Kwankwaso won in Kano Atiku won in Adamawa, yet the election is not credible?
” This is a young democracy, we shouldn’t truncate it. No individual or group of people’s interest should be allowed to supersede the interest of the nation.
“I tell us the truth, there is no other nation we can call our own. This is an election and definitely, there must be a winner and a loser. Nigerians through the instrumentality of political parties have presented our best brains with proven records as party candidates. This then means any of these people who emerges is one who can take the country to its greatest height within the time in office. We the youths shouldn’t forget that two people can’t win an election. So, the fact that you lose or your candidate lost the election doesn’t mean he wouldn’t or shouldn’t contest again. By the time we commence protest or violence, there might be no nation to even practice the democracy we are clamoring for. So, National interest, National Security, should be the priority of the youths of Nigeria at this point.
“INEC has spent hundreds of billions in Naira and as such, this must not be let go to waste. I call for Peace, I call for calm, I call for patience, I call for national interest, and let all the aggrieved meet in court and by protesting or causing violence.
“In an election, definitely there should be a winner. For instance, the fact that Kwankwaso didn’t win in this election doesn’t mean he can not contest and win in the coming election.
” There is no hitch-free election. The election that removed Trump and brought in Joe Biden to power in the US was characterized by 10 times more of what we are experiencing now and yet there was a smooth transition. That is the US of world power, a country that is almost 3 times older than Nigeria. So, what are we saying? It is crystal clear that there are issues but then, but they are not material enough to cause crisis of any form.
“To me, there is no need for protest. I urge Nigerians especially the youths to remain calm and take the outcomes in good fate. We are all Nigerians clamoring for a better Nigeria. None of these candidates can not do that. We should keep calm and watch carefully while we await the final declaration by INEC.
“For the European Union statement saying that our election falls below standard. It is none of their business. This is Africa and none should be allowed to insult our government”, he added.
Stressing further, he pointed out that even ECOWAS, Commonwealth, commended INEC, and lots more commendations from Foreign Observers.
“As the Deputy National Commandant, International Police Chaplin Sustainable Development and Law Enforcement, Inc., USA, I served as a foreign Observer in charge of all other observers in the South West. The elections are very credible and nothing happened materially enough to cause issues. The minor hitches of BVAS booting, INEC materials not arriving at polling units in time, and the rest are normal occurrences that are common. Is it human error mistakes? All are normal, everyone can commit such.
” I reiterate, let’s allow peace to reign in Nigeria. The youth shouldn’t allow themselves to be used.
“However, after the declaration, if any party is not satisfied with the outcome, the law permits such parties to go to court and it would be attended to.
” I say no to protest and I urge all Nigerian youth to remain calm, peaceful, and hopeful for a better Nigeria.
“I also saw a clip where in Oguma, Bassa local government area of Kogi State, where youths are agitating to the extent that they stormed the INEC headquarters office in the local government area in a bid to protest. I, Your national youth leader, Dr. Raymond Edoh pleads with you all to calm down, relax, and be hopeful for a better Nigeria. It would shock you all that the winner of this election would do better than any other person that would have emerged”, he said.
Reacting to the threats to the lives of the Resident Electoral Commissioner of Rivers State, Obo Effanga, Raymond urged the youths of River state not to instigate a crisis of any form, pointing out that he was only carrying out a national assessment that was a constitutional thing to do.
“Let’s embrace peace and move on. We are all Nigerians. Let love prevail amidst all odds. Killing him or anyone doesn’t make us better humans or special people. It only hurts us more, the youths, and as such no gain but rather losses. This advice applies to all Nigerian youths. Let love for ourselves and love for the nation prevail”.
Dr. Raymond also lauded the coordinated nature of the youths of Lagos state during the presidential elections, stating that they are indeed the heroes and heroines of the state.
“The youths of Lagos state have proven depth understanding and love for Nigeria’s unity and oneness. We appreciate you all for the peaceful and calm conduct of the elections and I urge you all to replicate this in subsequent elections”, he added.
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