VETERAN broadcaster and founder of Civil Empowerment and Rule of Law Support Initiative, Mr. Cally Ikpe in this interview says that despite the myriad of challenges awaiting the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, the incoming administration would be a people’s government. He also explained why he championed a suit challenging those against the usage of Smart Card Readers.
You were behind the law suit challenging calls for the non usage of the Smart Card Readers during the last general election, can we know what informed that and other forms of support displayed by the All Progressives Congress, APC?
I got attracted by the rare anti-corruption posture of General Muhammadu Buhari. He is someone I see as a sure antidote to the impunity that has characterized Nigeria for too long. All his previous attempts at clinching the presidency had me and my entire family supporting completely. Really, who else has the will to confront corruption like him? Like he said, “if we don’t kill corruption, then corruption will kill Nigeria”.
Some mischievous elements had gone to court to challenge INEC’s decision to use the card reader for the general elections.
Particularly, a suit was filed by the United Democratic Party alleging that the use of the card reader amounted to electronic voting which ran contrary to our electoral laws as enshrined in the 1999 constitution.
We simply asked to be joined in the suit. Yes, I am part of an NGO; Civil Empowerment and Rule of Law Support Initiative. I personally swore to an affidavit that the card reader was in no way tantamount to electronic voting; but rather that the biometric system only served to prevent double registration. I was personally irked by the obvious mischief intended.
But the card readers were generally reported to have malfunctioned and is the basis of several petitions at the election tribunal.
Buhari
It was apparent that this was a case of the hand of Jacob and the voice of Esau. Seeing that the elections didn’t seem to favour the ruling party, its people became restless and at all cost wanted to frustrate the elections from holding or in the alternative, opening it up to the usual manipulation which the card reader served to check.
It was also a situation of preparing grounds for the elections to be nullified once the courts rule that card readers amounted to electronic voting.
The case was adjourned to a later date and as we speak it is still pending. I suspect they have developed cold feet. The usage of the card reader has come to stay.
It would better the electoral process as was seen during the election. Things will keep getting better on that, after all, some of the challenges encountered in its usage were attributed to human error.
So, how do you feel now and what are your expectations?
Impunity will be halted. Subsidy fraud will cease. We were going to get to a point where more than half of our total budget will only cater to the welfare of the executive and the legislators while the rest of the citizenry struggle to stay alive.
In the new dispensation, I hope people will not collect money for contracts they have no intention of executing any more. I am sure it hurts you too, that NEPA makes you pay for power they don’t supply.
It takes only a heartless leadership to look the other way while people are exploited in that inhumane manner.
Source Vanguard
Comments
Post a Comment