Bola Tinubu releases statement on 2015 elections postponement

Bola Tinubu releases statement on 2015 elections postponement

The APC Chieftain said the elections was postponed because GEJ feared he was going to lose. Find the statement below...

What happened Saturday was actually not a postponement due to security or logistical reasons.  What happened was the by-product of overt political interference  undermining the independence of the election management body, INEC. The  elections were postponed not because they could safely be held. They  were postponed because one man, President Jonathan, feared that an  election held on February 14 would for him become an election lost. While the mouth was Jega, the  words were Jonathan. He chose to place our democracy at risk than do  what democracy demands by facing and risking the verdict of the people.  That he would use our security agencies to provide his excuse only adds  insult to injury.

This  act was one desperation of a man in fear of defeat. It was not done for  the national good. It was the wrong thing done for the wrong reason by  the wrong man.

The  rationale stated by the heavily intimidated INEC chairman does not  withstand close scrutiny nor the rigors of logical thought. It is  nothing but a lie draped in a falsehood born by deceit.

Jega  said he hinged his decision on a purported letter stating that due to  an impending offensive the security agencies will not have the personnel  to spare to adequately guard the polling areas in the northeastern  states.

For  the Service Chiefs to be inserted in the electoral process in this  manner and at the eleventh hour reveals nothing but a cynical plot to  thwart elections. President Jonathan has revealed that he only wants  elections where the guaranty is that he shall win. This is not the  nature of democratic elections. Jonathan's government has purposefully  undermined the electoral process because he is not interested in a free  and fair honest where the outcome reflects the sovereign will of the  people. He wants an elaborate coronation dressed in the garb of an  election. The Nigerian people are too smart for this rude trick.

This  postponement is a smokescreen because what the letter says is that they  are advising a postponement of six weeks in the first instance subject  to the amelioration of the security situation in the North East. This is  coming from a Chief of Defence staff that vowed to crush the insurgents  within four months early last year. A year later, nothing has changed.  He is now asking Nigerians to believe this government can do in six  weeks what it could not do in six years.

I  ask Nigerians to question why these Service Chiefs decided to launch a  major operation a week before the elections? What is new about the  security situation in the last two weeks that has not been there these  past several years? The date and importance of the election was well  publicized. Why did they wait till now? They waited because they were  given marching orders by the president to delay the elections.

They  have gone on an offensive already. However, the true offensive is not  against Boko Haram. It is against the Nigerian people and our democracy.

If  elections could hold in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq, why not in  Nigeria where only 14 out of 774 council areas are under siege?

This postponement may be the prelude to even rasher more authoritarian action by this desperate, inept government.
This  postponement has deeply wounded Nigerian democracy. While my party  hoped to go into the election and win it that we may offer a new and  honest deal to the people. This government continues to feed the people a  raw deal.

The  ambition of one man should not be allowed to affect the destiny of 170  million Nigerians.Nigerians have signalled their desire for change and  there is nothing this government can do to erase it.

Thus,  we do not despair. I ask our supporters and Nigerians to remain calm  and do everything to keep the peace. I ask you to renew your  determination in the face of this insult to our democracy and common  sense. It is inevitable that change shall come and we shall bring it  fairly, democratically and peacefully.

They  will attempt more tricks before the six weeks is over. Each time, they  will be defeated by the power of our commitment to a new day in a new  democratic Nigeria.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Source: Bola Tinubu releases statement on 2015 elections postponement