An elder statesman, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, on Tuesday called for the postponement of the February 2015 general elections, citing the unending terrorist attacks by Boko Haram in the North Eastern part of the country as the reason for his position.
Chief Adebanjo, who is a chieftain of Afenefere, made the call in Abuja at the 5th National Mirror anniversary lecture titled: “Insecurity as a Threat to 2015 Elections.”
Adebanjo, who was the chairman of the occasion, pointed out that what was currently going on at the North East states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa was equal to a civil war.
He said the survival of the country should rather occupy the attention of the political elite and the entire citizenry now rather than an election.
According to him: “Nigeria is the only country that I see that they are trying to conduct an election while a civil war is ongoing.”
Adebanjo, who was a member of the 2014 National Conference, rhetorically asked: “Are we saying Boko Haram insurgency will be over in two months time?
“We should stop deceiving ourselves.
“How can you have an acceptable election in Borno, in Yobe, in Adamawa under the current climate?”
The elder statesman equally made case for the enactment of a new constitution based on the report of the recently concluded Confab before an election could be conducted.
He described the current 1999 Constitution as “military imposed”, saying: “We need a constitution we can truly call our own.
“A people’s constitution”
Also speaking at the lecture, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) urged Nigerians to close rank and support the military in defeating Boko Haram.
Ozekhome stated that the military deserve all the moral support they can get from the people to win the war, while also urging government to provide them with the necessary arms and logistics.
The Guest Lecturer, Prof. Osisioma Nwolise, from the University of Ibadan, called for a transparent electoral process in order to avert violence in next year’s election.
According to Nwolise: “When you announce false result during an election you are inviting trouble.”