A national insult

Sir: I like to join millions of disappointed Nigerians to condemn in unequivocal terms the abrupt, reckless and insensitive postponement of the general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The postponement is a wanton display of lack of shame and unquantifiable affront on the psyche of Nigerians who had hoped to exercise their franchise on the polling day.

Here is a sensitive national agency adequately provisioned to mind the electoral process and had assured the nation of its preparedness to conduct free and fair elections. So, to betray that process at the last minute is the height of hypocrisy and the action calls into question its integrity and neutrality as an umpire.

The lame excuse of logistical problem is empty and unconvincing rationale for its act of recklessness and insult on the sensibility of Nigerians given the circumstantial evidence before this act of national shame. Indeed, there were indications that the current minders of the Nigerian state feared defeat and had sought to postpone the election to optimise their electoral fortune.

Therefore, INEC merely fulfil its part of an ungodly conspiracy to foist a civil dictatorship on the country. Need we remind them that the peoples of Nigerian are the boss and no cabal can undo that. Those who live under the illusions that they can foist unwanted governments on the country should review our very recent history. Generals Gowon, Babangida and Abacha overshot their luck with Nigerians and they were disgraced out of power. The incumbent would not be an exception.

Let it be noted that it is only a free and fair election that can legitimise any government in power; those who force themselves into power merely live on borrowed time.Long live Nigerian People!
Sylvester Odion Akhaine, PhD (London), Associate Professor of Political Science, Lagos State University.