Nigeria’s coming elections are benchmarks — Kufour

Former president of Ghana, Mr. John Kufour, has defended such expression as ‘do or die politics,’ saying that it may not mean plot to manipulate or rig elections. He said that politicians could be carried away when they are campaigning and therefore say certain things.

He said politicians like to get attention from voters by what they say, and sometinme make statements that are misinterpreted.

Kufour spoke on the findings of the IRI, an international observer group, observing Nigeria’s general elections schedule for next month. According to him, with his group’s interaction with different organisations and individuals, it is convinced that Nigeria is ready for the elections.

He spoke on these and other issues.

How were your interactions with stakeholders in Nigeria?

Nigeria is a very huge country. We have been here for three days. What I will tell you is that within these few days, I believe the delegation has felt the atmosphere charged with the people’s readiness to go to polls. On this basis, I will say the country is ready for election. Additionally, we had the benefit of talking with the stakeholders from INEC, the judiciary, the police, the political parties, women’s group, religious leaders and candidates for the elections. They all said the country is ready. So, I believe that Nigeria is ready.

Were there complaints of intimidation by opposition political parties?

Something like that was brought to our attention when the candidates met with us. I met with about eight of them. They raised this matter. So, when we had the opportunity to meet with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the police, we intimated them of the complaints. It is happening, especially in the states. We were assured that the law enforcement agencies are cooperating for the election. They will ensure that their officials, in the states, operate independent of state authorities, like governors and so on and so forth. So, intimidation that we hear about will not be a feature and will not be tolerated through the election period.

Were you informed about the several ex-parte orders that are considered a threat to the election?

We met the president of the Appeal Court in Abuja. He admitted that the courts were inundated with various petitions and such orders. I think he said there were over 200 of them. Seventy of these petitions were ex-parte, which did not allow space for the other side to go and argue against the orders for injunction. It distorts the political scene and we made the recommendation to the effect that a mechanism should be put in place to weed out frivolous applications. With that, the people’s franchise may be undermined. I believe it is part of the report we made.

Did the police tell you if they are ready for the election?

From what we learnt from the police headquarters in Abuja, I believe and we agreed that the police are truly prepared for the election. We were shown the fleet of vehicles that were acquired for the election. That is just for the North. We were told that there are others in Lagos to oversee the election. In other respects, in terms of personnel, in terms of cooperation among the security agencies, including the police, immigration officers and other uniform services. The police believe that they will be equal to the task of overseeing the process to peaceful, free and fair elections.

Were there reports of some state governors preventing opposition parties from campaigning in their states?

That should not arise. We are not here to adjudicate or justify whatever has happened. We came on fact-finding and we have been here for only three days. Necessarily, we needed to talk to stakeholders and actors on the field. From the interaction that we had, we made a report. The report does not attempt to justify what anybody said or done.

You should not forget that Nigeria is a very big country. It is a state of 150 million people. Definitely there might be some overzealousness on the part of some over enthusiastic policemen. But the important thing to do is for the party aggrieved to make a report to the INEC and the police authorities specifying numbers and days. So, the police can investigate. If after such report has been made and the authorities do nothing, then, perhaps one could come to some opinion as to whether the IGP was telling us the right thing or not. When there are such complaints, report it, so there can be some corrections. Otherwise, people will continue to act with impunity.

Did any of those you meet bring to your notice that there are many Nigerians not registered by INEC?

A citizen who is entitled to register and he or she is not registered might feel aggrieved. He might feel disenfranchised. But then, you didn’t check whether they were within the period of registration. Once the exercise is open, it can only open for a very limited period. You are entitled to register and you did not go, then you turn out to complain. I believe it is a complaint that may not be sustained. But I don’t know the details of the report. What we got to know was that about 67.7 million people were registered. If you are on the register, you are entitled to vote. So, let us see whether the people complaining took the necessary steps to get themselves registered and they were denied. Otherwise, they should be heard to be complaining.

We talked to all the political parties. We talked to stakeholders, like the civil society organisations. And we were puzzled because everybody that came acknowledged the independence and effectiveness of the chairman of the commission. We just couldn’t turn a blind eye to that and we put it down in our report that people heaped praise on him.

But we were also careful to note that he was only the chairman of the commission, a commission whose reach covers the entire country. So, if you care to look at that part of the report, we suggested that the entire commission should rise to the occasion with the chairman to ensure that the elections were delivered freely, fairly and credibly. That implies that it is not a perfect situation.

This was our finding, that the chairman was acknowledged by all. I remember, as he received us, I said the way people were talking about him, he seems like a proverbial Charles Atlas having to carry the whole of Nigeria on his shoulders. That is an impossible situation. But that is what people say of him. People expect so much from him. When we met him, we came away with the hope that the commission would work as one. They should work as a team. With that, they should manage the entire electoral system in the country to ensure that at the end of the day, the process will establish free, fair and credible elections for Nigeria.

He told us that he was cooperating with the law enforcement agencies and in fact, when we visited the IGP separately, he also talked along the same line. It confirms that truly they were working hand-in-hand. Also, the chairman told us that they have worked out a code of conduct for the parties. I believe he will make a statement to that effect. It is to ensure that all the parties will play to the same ground rules. In our report, we emphasised the fact that the parties should ensure that their rank and file would keep to the code of conduct that they have to sign with the electoral commission.

Sir, were you able to meet with President Goodluck Jonathan?

No. To be fair to the president, we came in when the president was out of Abuja. As you know, he is still campaigning around. He is around the Lagos area. I have to go back. We left a message for him. We were in touch with some of his assistants.

You were here in 2003 and 2007. Can you please compare the preparation then and now?

As I said, the atmosphere is charged. People are waiting for the elections and it is not just the people but also the officials. We expect this will set a pace. The election that is coming is a benchmark.

Were there complaints made that some people registered twice?

By the metric registration, it would be very difficult for multiple voting for people. That is why the open ballot system is being introduced. So, you can’t just move from one polling booth to another to vote and rub off the ink in your hands to vote again.

The comprehensive nature of the system, from registration to voting, will determine what happens on the Election Day. We were assured by INEC that they were aware of some people attempting to register more than one time. They believe they have in place enough save guards to address that.

As a politician, who was president before, can you compare the attitude of Nigerian politicians with your experience in Ghana?

Politicians everywhere are the same, in Africa, Europe, America or any part of the world. They (politicians) are people who focus on taking power. So, I don’t think the African politician is any way different from the American or European or the Chinese. The one target for a politician is to get power.

I ask the question because the process and the election that brought you to power did not witness ‘do-or- die’ politics.

You are talking about platform comments. On platforms, we all go loose sometimes. So, you take platform talk with a pinch of salt.

There were no such talks in Ghana?

Who told you? I was going to give an example. But I will not. I don’t want to use platform talk as a serious measure of people. In a way, there is bitter fighting in politics, especially at public rallies. You want to say things that would arouse people. You can get passionate sometimes. You say things you don’t really mean to do when you get the chance.

Jerry Rawlings who you succeeded did not in any way intimidate you.

How would you know?

Tell us.

No. I am not telling you.

Would you say that the campaigns in Nigeria are issue-based?

I believe they are veering towards issue-based campaign. I was listening to radio and watching television. Two days ago, I watched governorship debate and it was on issues. I was also listening to the president talk on issues. I believe there is a general improvement in politicking.