1. INEC AND THE CONDUCT OF THE 2023 GENERAL ELECTIONS
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducted the statutory 2023 General Elections on February 25 and March 18, 2023 with winners declared and presented with certificates of return. The elections had its ups and downs. One of the high points of the performance of INEC was the deployment of the Bimodal Voters’ Accreditation System (BVAS) which increased the integrity of the identity of voters and reduced the incidences of over-voting and the issues of ghost voters. INEC did improve in some of these areas but there were also lapses in the conduct of the elections. Lapses included the inefficient logistics in the preparation for the elections leading to late arrival of INEC officials, inability to immediately upload election results on the IRev portal, security challenges as occasioned by ballot snatching and interference by hoodlums and thugs in some of the polling units. While noting that these challenges need to be checked in subsequent elections, they are not enough to impugn the integrity, credibility, transparency and fairness of the whole exercise. The election recorded an improvement on freeness and fairness in relation to past elections and considering the great competitiveness of this particular election where we had four major leading parties contending for the political offices. We urge INEC to immediately put a process in place where the lapses can be redressed so that future elections will be freer and fairer. We commend the Chairman and staff of the national electoral commission for the considerable efforts committed to the success of the elections. We also commend Nigerians and politicians for their resilience in eschewing violence in the tense period before, during and after the elections. We urge the good people of this country to continue to sustain the peace as peace is a critical factor for the preservation of our democratic journey and the enjoyment of the dividends of democracy. We congratulate the winners of political offices across parties all over the country and we remind them of the onerous responsibility that they have to deliver the dividends of democracy in the shortest possible time since they are aware of the restlessness of the youths and adults who want significant positive changes in the quality of their lives. Those who feel sufficiently aggrieved about the conduct of the elections for one reason or the other should approach the courts for necessary redress. Approaching the courts for necessary redress is the necessary thing to do once INEC has conducted the elections and declared the winners. We implore the judges at the courts to be just and unbiased in adjudicating over the petitions received so that we can have a prosperous and peaceful society guided by the rule of law and the proper tenets of democracy.
2. WE CONDEMN ETHNIC AND RELIGIOUS POLITICS BY SOME POLITICIANS AND SOME SECTIONS OF THE VOTING PUBLIC
One of the salient points of the 2023 General Elections is the introduction of full-blown ethnic and religious politics which we condemn in its entirety because it is an evil omen that does no one any good. Nigerian elections have never been known to be dominated by religious and ethnic cravings because Nigerians have been known to vote along diverse party lines irrespective of where their candidates come from and whatever their religions are. We therefore want our politicians to desist from religious and ethnic politics because it negates the peace and unity that Nigerians so much desire. This is not to say that religion and ethnicity have not been undercurrents in our political equations but rather they should not be the critical factors upon which politicians campaign and upon which voters determine their choice of candidates. Politics should not be a clash of religions or ethnicity but rather a clash of ideas on political governance that brings benefits to the teeming Nigerians who daily hope for a better life devoid of the hardships that have made our lives so miserable over the years. Politics should be about choosing candidates who have experience about governance, who have a proven track record of achievements in governance and who have demonstrated unwavering commitment to a united and progressive nation. Politicians should realise that their campaigns need to appeal, as much as possible, to Muslims, Christians and traditionalists and to all ethnic groups because these are the people who will decide who they want to rule them. We do not want political seasons that widen our ethnic and religious fault lines rather we should concentrate on campaigns that bring about national unity and cohesion under a progressive and peaceful nation. We must also bear in mind that the Electoral Act 2022 prohibits campaigns that are based on religion.
3. WE CONGRATULATE THE PRESIDENT-ELECT, ASIWAJU BOLA AHMED TINUBU, ON THE DESERVED PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION VICTORY
We congratulate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the President-elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and his Vice President-Elect Kashim Shettima, on this hard-fought but well-deserved victory at the Presidential poll of February 25, 2023. Tinubu’s triumph at the elections widely deemed Africa’s largest democratic exercise, is a testament to a renewed hope for a better and forward-looking Nigeria. It is a clear statement that Nigerians place greater premiums on antecedents, clear vision and development over other impressionistic considerations, as the successful bid is one built on years of focus, hardwork and political sagacity. Whilst the nation struts into the future with a new dawn of transformative leadership, we call on Nigerians from all walks of life, irrespective of partisan affiliations, to join hands with the incoming administration to build a stronger and more resilient nation where we can better define our destiny as a people. We believe that Asiwaju, helped by his vast experience, rich and extensive network, clear understanding of the pressing issues and assisted by the brilliant, hard-working and resourceful Vice President-Elect, Kashim Shettima, will begin, in earnest, the work of steering the country into the path of sustainable peace and national security while accelerating the much-desired socio-economic development.
4. THE UNPROVOKED AND BARBARIC ATTACK ON MUSLIMS IN THEIR MOSQUE BY ORO WORSHIPPERS IS CONDEMNABLE AND THE PERPETRATORS MUST BE PUNISHED
The unprovoked and barbaric attack by the Oro worshippers on innocent Muslims at Idi Omo Mosque in Ile Ife in Osun State is indeed a sad and unfortunate development. This dastard behaviour by the Oro worshippers is not just a physical attack bringing severe injuries on the Muslims but also an attack on the freedoms of religion an association as guaranteed by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the 1999 Constitution. This attack on the Muslims is indeed a deliberate attempt to truncate the peace and tranquillity that has been enjoyed in the ancient city of Ile-Ife. But the Muslims will not be provoked into truncating the peace in the city but we will ensure through legal and lawful means that the perpetrators of this heinous act will be punished by the law. We will let them know that Nigeria is not a lawless nation where anybody can wake up one day and decide to attack his fellow human beings for no justifiable reason. For this purpose, we call on the Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioner of Police in Osun State to ensure that perpetrators of the mayhem on Muslims are promptly arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law. Our organisation, as well as other concerned Muslim organisations, will not rest until this matter is brought to a just and logical conclusion where the culprits are meted with punishment deserving of their heinous crimes. We also commiserate with the injured Imam and the injured members of his congregation. We wish you all quick recovery as you continue to engage in meritorious deeds in this glorious month of Ramadan. Be rest assured that Almighty Allah will reward you with abundance in this world and the hereafter.
5. THE LINGERING FUEL AND NAIRA SCARCITY HAVE BROUGHT UNTOLD HARDSHIPS ON NIGERIANS ESPECIALLY THE STRUGGLING MASSES
The lingering fuel scarcity that started around September 2022 has not abated even though there have been some improvements in the last one month. Due to this fuel scarcity, Nigerians have had to endure long queues at filling stations that are lucky to have fuel for sale. The scarcity also brought about increases in petrol pump price sometimes as high as N350 per litre. The commuting public has had to suffer huge increases in transportation costs occasioned by transporters who increased their fares blaming the high cost of petrol and the time they spend queuing at filling stations. Yet the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) have not been able to intervene in a meaningful manner. How long shall the suffering occasioned by petrol scarcity continue with the untold effects on soaring inflation that has increased prices of goods and services? How long shall petrol subsidy continue to be paid even when the petrol is not readily available for use? As if this suffering was not enough, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, inundated us with the benefits that a money swap will bring us rather what we have witnessed is the most unbelievable human suffering that can ever be visited on any group of people. Nigerian embraced this policy thinking it would make our economy better but what we have seen is a systematic killing of SMEs who were the most vulnerable to the naira scarcity. In what became an unprecedented situation, we had to start buying our own Nigerian naira at exorbitant prices. This was because the CBN practically took our money from us and refused to give us the equivalent in new notes leading to untold hardship for the masses. We had money we could not spend despite having critical daily expenses like food and medicines to pay for. It took the intervention of the Supreme Court of Nigeria before we could get some respite. The naira swap has been a complete failure that has probably been reversed after much suffering by the people. Going forward, we need laws that will ensure that any head of a government agency that brings untold suffering to Nigerians should be meted by adequate stringent punishment including removal from such office. The Governor of the CBN needs to make a public apology to Nigerians for ruining their businesses and making life difficult for them in the process of the poorly-implemented naira swap policy.
6. THE ONGOING DECIMATION OF BOKO HARAM AND ISWAP MUST BE SUSTAINED TO ENHANCE THE PROSPECTS OF PEACE IN NIGERIA
We commend the efforts of the Nigerian armed forces for their tremendous efforts and the onerous sacrifices they have been making in the ongoing efforts to decimate the Boko Haram and ISWAP. The capacity of these evil groups to terrorise the citizens of this nation through kidnappings and killings has been severely weakened. We also commend the Commander-In-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, under whose leadership this great feat has been recorded. But the onslaught must not stop until every remnant of Boko Haram and ISWAP is decimated and every inch of Nigerian territory is being controlled by the Nigerian government. We urge the military to strengthen and improve on the synergy between its different departments so as to sustain the heat on the evil groups. The local people in the affected areas must continue to work with the military by providing relevant information that will aid the ongoing decimation of these enemies of the state. The peace and security of this nation is critical to its well-being and prosperity and must thus be sustained at all costs. The Federal Government must ensure that the welfare of our security forces is adequately taken care of as well as the provision of modern and effective arms and ammunitions that will give them the edge in battle with the enemies of the nation.
7. WE FELICITATE THE MUSLIM UMMAH ON THE OCCASION OF THE 1444AH RAMADAN
We felicitate the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria and Muslims all over the world on the 1444AH Ramadan that is already in its second half. We congratulate the President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council on Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), His Excellency, Abubakar Sa’ad III, on this year’s Ramadan and the able leadership he has been providing for the Muslims over the years. This is one month that Allah has blessed and made prestigious and in which He bestows bountiful blessings on mankind while observing the Ramadan fast. We urge Muslims to be of good behaviour, observe the fasts with sincerity, engage in noble deeds throughout the month and seek the night of Laylatul-Qadr. We pray that Allah accepts our fast and forgives us in this month and that He makes us inmates of Al-Jannah Firdaus on the Day of Judgement. We pray for peace, progress and unity in our dear nation, Nigeria. We pray for abundance, security and all the good things that will make our lives worthwhile in this life and in the life hereafter. Aameen.
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