7th April, 2015
PRESS
RELEASE:
GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION: RESPECT THE
RULE OF LAW
Nigeria successfully held its
presidential election on 28th March, 2015 amid allegations of harassment
and intimidation by law enforcement agents. Gubernatorial and state assembly
elections are now scheduled to hold throughout Nigeria on Saturday, 11th
April, 2015.
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
expresses disgust at the manifestation of impunity as the Federal Government
ignored two court orders prohibiting the use of soldiers during the election.
This is a big minus in the records of President Jonathan. It ranks him in the
camp of noncompliant rulers in democratic practices.
Soldiers were drafted to the states in
their thousands about one week to the day of election. A country that is
fighting a daring insurgency is not expected to use soldiers for a purely civil
exercise. It was an unnecessary diversion and we strongly condemn the manner
court injunctions were ignored.
Although those who canvassed the use of
soldiers for elections had insisted it was for security purpose, the sinister
motive behind the drafting of soldiers for elections became manifest in the
allegations of electoral malpractices perpetrated by soldiers in Benue, Rivers
and other states in favour of the ruling party during the last presidential
election.
Voters were reportedly coerced by
gun-totting soldiers. Opposition party agents were allegedly chased out of
polling units at gun point. Those who refused to leave were reportedly forced
to roll on the floor.
This is highly disgraceful. Such
treatment is inhuman and degrading. It is a violation of voters’ Allah-given
fundamental human rights. We charge the National Assembly to compile reports of
the maltreatment of voters throughout the country with a view to fishing out
the culprits. This should not be difficult because there must be records of
soldiers’ movements during the election. Those found culpable must be taught
lessons tough enough to deter a repeat by others in future.
MURIC says no to impunity.
There must be respect for rule of law. Like Ceasar’s wife, security agents must
be above board. Our soldiers must learn to obey only lawful commands. They must
not allow themselves to be used by politicians. Neither should they be overambitious.
In addition, the Nigerian Army should
not allow itself to be pushed into the murky waters of politics in future.
MURIC strongly denounces the ignominous role played by the Nigerian Army in the
certificate saga of the President-Elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd).
It is most scandalous that the general’s
certificate which the army insisted that it did not have was allegedly found in
its files few days after the general emerged winner of the election.
In conclusion, we demand the full concentration
of the army in the fight against insurgents in North Eastern Nigeria. No
soldier should be used for the state assembly election. Allegations of
high-handedness and partisanship on the part of soldiers during the March 2015 presidential
election should be investigated and the culprits must be punished. We advise
serving soldiers not to ruin their careers by turning professional sycophants
and riggers of elections.
Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
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