Political mafias captured Nigeria’s election, government under Mahmood Yakubu; Citizens must rise now: Attahiru Jega

Professor Attahiru Jega on Saturday sounded a five-alarm warning to Nigerians, saying the country’s fundamental governing instruments have been hijacked by a pack of reckless political actors.

Mr Jega rallied Nigerians to immediately rise and recover control of the country or risk farming out their collective destiny to a clique of selfish individuals who lacked the requisite aptitude to salvage the country’s descent into a failed entity.

“Citizens have an obligation in good or bad times,” Mr Jega said. “They have key roles to play in order to ensure their country survives and good things happen to ordinary citizens.”

The admonition came when the former INEC chairman delivered a convocation keynote at Sa’adu Zungur State University, Bauchi, on Saturday afternoon, which was themed: ‘Safeguarding Nigeria’s future: Prioritising citizen’s welfare and security amidst challenges’.

Mr Jega, who led INEC from June 8, 2010, to June 30, 2015, said the electoral office had been hijacked under his success Mahmood Yakubu, who has continued to face immense public criticism for alleged corruption and manipulation of results in favour of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress.

Mr Yakubu hurriedly declared Bola Tinubu the winner of Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election, despite well-documented evidence of electoral fraud and intimidation. A top INEC contractor said Mr Tinubu indicated readiness to bribe Mr Yakubu and other top electoral officers ahead of the election, according to audio obtained by Peoples Gazette, although it was unclear whether the arrangement was implemented and how steep it filtered through the agency’s personnel chain.

Mr Tinubu’s involvement in drug operations that led to his forfeiture of over $460,000 to the United States in the 1990s, as well as his presentation of a dubious academic certificate to back his candidacy, also significantly aggravated opposition concerns over the process that brought him to Nigeria’s highest office.

Mr Tinubu did not deny presenting a forged certificate to INEC but said his drug penalty case was a civil arrangement that carried no criminal implications for his reputation.

Although poverty has continued to ravage Nigerians since he assumed office, Mr Tinubu has announced key policy changes in fiscal administration that he said would help mollify the crisis for the nation’s 200 million population. Several states have received direct federal support to help relax runaway transportation and commodity costs, although a large section of the country said implementation has been painfully slow.

Still, Mr Jega’s statement, while entirely silent on mentioning Mr Tinubu by name, appeared to echo a key prong of the criticism the Nigerian president has faced since assuming office six months ago. A presidential spokesman was asked to comment on the matter Saturday evening.

“Ultimately, the best way to safeguard Nigeria’s future and secure the welfare of citizens devoid of massive security challenges is to have elections with integrity through an electoral process that is not captured,” Mr Jega said. “Unfortunately, now we are seeing that it is captured by reckless politicians.”

“An election that is not captured will bring out quality people, and as they become elected public officials and representatives who have positive value orientation in governance processes, the institutions will harness societal resources and deliver good quality services,” he continued. “If the reckless people are capturing the political process, the electoral process and government, and people just sit and watch, obviously they will destroy the future for everybody.”

Mr Jega said Nigerians should push to take back control of the country and steer it towards a more federal system, as against the current unitary arrangement.

“Only in this way can the state have the requisite legitimacy, stability, competence and capacity as well as resourcefulness to effectively address the needs of the people and safeguard the future of our country,” he said. “Any state that fails to do this in the modern context will be considered a failed state.”

https://gazettengr.com/political-mafias-captured-nigerias-election-government-under-mahmood-yakubu-citizens-must-rise-now-attahiru-jega/

Says the Chief rigger that brought the nation to where it is presently

The idiot that impose Buhari on us (Nigerians)

It is easy to pass commentary from the sidelines. How many has been punished for the past election malpractices?

Na the poor masses assist them to enter power. Some were given money. Some snatched boxes for them. Now na same masses dey carry 100# fufu for pocket when them dey go restaurant, so they Can quietly bring it out and add to the plate of food they are buying make belle fulk

Mr Jega said Nigerians should push to take back control of the country and steer it towards a more federal system, as against the current unitary arrangement.

This may just be the way forward.
Let there be True Federalism & greater devolution of powers to the States & where every State controls its resources.
It will make many States to sit up & look inwards & strive to be self-sufficient.

But it's only our Leaders &not Nigerians that can initiate this.

Anyone that's ready to die should push forward!
Elections has come and gone!

The winner has won and the loser has lost woefully!
We forge ahead!

Creamypie:
Na the poor masses assist them to enter power. Some were given money. Some snatched boxes for them. Now na same masses dey carry 100# fufu for pocket when so dey go restaurant, so they Can quietly bring it out and add to the plate of food they are buying

Exactly what I hv being telling people here. Poor deserves what they got, they collect token and at d end they will still be ones crying

Nigeria under control of drug cartel mafia boss.

Not just notorious narcotics drug trafficking political Mafia, but buccaneering power grabbers

the people's votes will overthrow soonest

I will be leaving the country soon as a medical professional.

Nigerians can go ahead and kill themselves.

Poor Nigerians are the worst voters. I have stopped helping them.

Na me and my family and relatives I dey face now.

1TrippleCee:
Says the Chief rigger that brought the nation to where it is presently

Exactly..

Brendaniel:


Then 2027, you rinse and repeat and the cycle continues, that is how you may live your entire lifetime in a country that went backwards throughout, then you leave a worse country for your children and children's children because of what?


Politics

I am striving to be better than my parents and hopefully my kids will be better than me.

Despite the country's decline we'll make our millions and have peace of mind!

And when the country improves we'll also improve geometrically!

AbuTwins:


I am striving to be better than my parents and hopefully my kids will be better than me.

Despite the country's decline we'll make our millions and have peace of mind!

And when the country improves we'll also improve geometrically!

The question is not just about your own progress but the progress of your country, do you want your kids to be scared of going on road trips in their own country? Do you want them to be scared of going to their farm lands?

If people like the former CDS and successful diasporans who were not poor at their levels were killed by bandits just because they came to visit their country then you will know why it is very important that the progress of your country should be a top most priority for you.

We cannot in the name of politics be playing with the progress of our country....