The outgoing Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki has proposed amendment to some Sections in Nigeria’s Constitution, making conduct of future elections free and fair.
He predicted that State capture in elections will continue except the control of security, currently under the exclusive list in the Constitution, is decentralized, voters may be denied the right to determine their leaders in elections.
Speaking during an online interview anchored by UK-based Nigerian politician, Obaseki said Nigerians are beginning to see the need to amend the 1999 Constitution based on deployment of coercion and security forces to undermine democracy.
He said, “what move will you make when you Area Chief security officer on paper? You don’t control the police. You cannot give instructions and they will obey”.
Commenting on Edo State governorship election held on Saturday September 21st 2024, the Governor alleged that police on election duty were receiving commands from Abuja”.
“So, I don’t have police. The Local vigilante we had what happened? They were asked not to operate. So, it comes back to this issue of our federation. It’s either the State matter or they don’t.
“Because at the end of the day, the federal government can just decide on what its wants. It has the military, power, and the force of coercion. And they (federal government) will just takeover the State. And there is nothing that you can do.
“So, this is the nature of the Country that we run. And I hope that Nigerians are now seeing the need for us to amend the Constitution.
“If we don’t, we are going to continue to see this kind of conduct. It’s like the Constitution doesn’t mean anything. There can be State capture at any point in time. People are deprived of their rights”, Obaseki alleged.
He expressed surprise over President Bola Tinubu’s stance in the governorship poll, and wondered why he claim to be democrat with great history since the days of NADECO, yet he did not allow fair play.
Speaking further, Obaseki said, “Let it not sound as if I am sitting here to lament”, according to Obaseki, “the President said he is a democrat. He became President because people voted for him.
“I was shocked that he would encourage this kind of situation where people will go out to vote and their votes are not meant to count. That is not the credentials of the President.
“I knew that there were Local actors and undemocratic elements doing things to corrupt the system to achieve devilish goals”, he said.
Leave a Reply