GUN VIOLENCE IN AMERICA: FOR WHO THE BELL TOLLS NEXT.

Just five people shy of Sandy Hook elementary school mass shooting incident that claimed 26 lives, the Uvalde Texas Robb elementary school mass shooting at 21 victims, now ranks among the highest grossing gun carnage in America. It is sad that such frequent blood spilling has tragically become part of our culture as a society. May the souls of the killed now rest.

25th AMENDMENT: ITS NOW ALL CRICKET.

Madam Speaker Nancy Pelosi once questioned former President Donald John Trump's fitness to remain in office due to what she claimed was his declining mental capacity. Does anyone know what Madam Speaker presently thinks about the incontrovertible case which America is now saddled with? Just curious!

WHO WILL REBUILD UKRAINE?

The West should convert frozen Russian assets, both state's and oligarchs' owned, into a full seizure and set them aside for the future rebuilding of Ukraine. Like the Marshal Plan, call it the Putin Plan.

A HERO IS BORN.

I am staying put. I will not run away and abandon my people. The fight is here in Ukraine. What I need are weapons and ammunitions, not a ride out of town like former Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani - President Volodymyr Zelensky.

IT IS WHAT IT IS.

"There is too much hate in America because there is too much anger in America." - Trevor Noah.

WORD!

A life without challenges is not a life lived at all. A life lived is a life that has problems, confronts problems, solves problems and then learns from problems. - Tunde Fashola.

NOW, YOU KNOW.

When fishing for love, bait with your heart and not your brain, because you cannot rationalize love. - Mark Twain.

JUST THE FACT.

In our country, you can shoot and kill a nigger, but you better not hurt a gay person’s feelings - Dave Chappelle

DO YOU?.

“What you believe in can only be defined by what you’re willing to risk for it." - Stuart Scheller.

HEDGE YOUR CRISIS.

Never get in bed with a woman whose problems are worse than yours. - Chicago PD.

PROBLEM SOLVED.

'The best way to keep peace is to be ready to destroy evil. If you Pearl Harbor me, I Nagasaki you.' - Ted Nugent.

OUR SHARED HUMANITY.

Empathy is at the heart of who we are as human beings. - Cardinal Matthew Kukah.

WORDS ON MARBLE.

"Birth is agony. Life is hard. Death is cruel." - Japanese pithy.

REPENT OR PERISH - POPE.

Homosexuality is a sin. It is not ordained by God, therefore same sex marriage cannot be blessed by the church - Pope Francis.

CANCEL CULTURE IS CORROSIVE.


FOR SAKE OF COUNTRY.


MAGA LIVES ON: NO RETREAT, NO SURRENDER!

TWITTER IS BORING WITHOUT HIS TWEETS. #RestorePresidentTrump'sTwitterHandle.


WORD.

"If you cannot speak the truth when it matters, then nothing else you says matters.” - Tucker Carlson.

#MeToo MOVEMENT: A BAD NEWS GONE CRAZY.

"To all the women who testified, we may have different truth, but I have a great remorse for all of you. I have great remorse for all of the men and women going through this crisis right now in our country. You know, the movement started basically with me, and I think what happened, you know, I was the first example, and now there are thousands of men who are being accused and a regeneration of things that I think none of us understood. I’m not going to say these aren’t great people. I had wonderful times with these people. I’m just genuinely confused. Men are confused about this issue. We are going through this #MeToo movement crisis right now in this country." - Harvey Weinstein.


RON DELLUMS: UNAPOLOGETICALLY RADICAL.

"If it’s radical to oppose the insanity and cruelty of the Vietnam War, if it’s radical to oppose racism and sexism and all other forms of oppression, if it’s radical to want to alleviate poverty, hunger, disease, homelessness, and other forms of human misery, then I’m proud to be called a radical.” - Ron Vernie Dellums.


WHAT REALLY MATTERS IN LIFE - STEVE JOBS

“I reached the pinnacle of success in the business world. In others’ eyes, my life is an epitome of success. However, aside from work, I have little joy. Non-stop pursuing of wealth will only turn a person into a twisted being, just like me. God gave us the senses to let us feel the love in everyone’s heart, not the illusions brought about by wealth. Memories precipitated by love is the only true riches which will follow you, accompany you, giving you strength and light to go on. The most expensive bed in the world is the sick bed. You can employ someone to drive the car for you, make money for you but you cannot have someone to bear sickness for you. Material things lost can be found. But there is one thing that can never be found when it is lost – Life. Treasure Love for your family, love for your spouse, love for your friends. Treat yourself well. Cherish others.” - SJ

EVIL CANNOT BE TRULY DESTROYED.

"The threat of evil is ever present. We can contain it as long as we stay vigilant, but it can never truly be destroyed. - Lorraine Warren (Annabelle, the movie)


ONLY THE POOR WISH THEY HAD STUFF?

“I’m not that interested in material things. As long as I find a good bed that I can sleep in, that’s enough.” - Nicolas Berggruem, the homeless billionaire.

Saturday, January 3, 2009

GHANA, CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS MILESTONE!

To President John Akufor, Icheoku says this one is for you - the election of Professor John Attah Mills, pictured left, as president in waiting of Ghana! For remaining that erudite British-trained lawyer whose respect for the rule of law now extended to respect for the wishes of the Ghanaian electorates! For respecting the wishes of the Ghanaian people who preferred the opposition candidate as opposed to your own government party's candidate, despite your stellar performance in office! You are a pride of every blackman particularly in Africa whose leaders' penchant for sit-tight, poll manipulation, imposition of candidate or annulling a free and fair election because the outcome did not meet up with their pre-ordained expectation, or sometimes, even trying to change the horse mid-stream to elongate their tenure and when all their dribbling fail, imposes a sick weakling on a country.
To you, President John Akuffor, pictured here right, be all the glory of Ghana's successful election. You stood firm as the decent man you are and respected the wishes of the Ghana people. By this singular act of political decency, you have transcended into the realm where Nelson Mandela hitherto, was a lonely occupant. You have become a shining beacon of hope for Africa, by becoming an elected African leader to voluntarily allow a free election to take place in your country; you did not try to thwart the wishes of the people or perpetuate yourself in power either directly of by proxy and this is very commendable of you!
To the people of Ghana, Icheoku says you should be proud of the milestone accomplishment in democracy, you achieved today. You are now the only truly functioning democracy in Africa and we are proud of the decency of your president and electoral commission chairman. Please Ghana, do not ever drop the ball but keep the flag of democracy which you have hoisted, flying! It is for all Africans!
To President-elect Professor John Atta Mills, 64, of the opposition party National Democratic Congress, Icheoku says congratulations on your victory and please do not let the fire of democracy which President John Akufor has lit quench under your supervision. Your victory was possible because there is a sitting president who cherishes honor more than all the golds in the former Gold Coast. Know ye that you are now the president-elect of all Ghanaians and you should not disappoint the sacred trust which their vote now confers on you. The baton which President John Akufor has handed over to you must be passed on to the next guy when the time comes. Icheoku has no doubt that being the very educated gentle man you are that you will not be found wanting at the end of your term in office.
Professor John Attah Mills was born on 21 July 1944 at Tarkwa in western Ghana (see map of Ghana right showing Tarkwa). He graduated in law at the University of Ghana in 1967 before further legal studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. He won a Fulbright scholarship at Stanford Law School in the US and later returned to Ghana where he taught law for nearly 25 years at his Alma mater the University of Ghana. He became a national tax commissioner under Mr Rawlings before being promoted to the vice-presidency. He is a keen hockey player and at one time was a member of the Ghana hockey national team. John Attah Milla also enjoys swimming and is married to his wife Ernestina Naadu Mills and has one son, Sam Kofi Atta Mills.

To the current government's New Patriotic Party's candidate, Attorney Nana Akufo-Addo, pictured here left, who have already congratulated President-elect John Attah Mills for his victory at the polls, Icheoku says, you are a civilized gentle man, who understands that politics is not a do or die affair. Thank you for choosing the part of honor and for placing Ghana above your personal interest. If all non-victorious candidates in every election will be as gentlemanly as you displayed, may be more decent and honorable people will find politics attractive.

To the monster Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, Icheoku says you should now cover your horrifying face in ashes and hide it under a sack-cloth filled with shame, for the sham election, nay selection in Nigeria that imposed Umaru Yar'Adua on Nigerians. Look at Ghana and be very ashamed of yourself for not living up to the calling when duty called; because your devilish third term ploy was thwarted, you imposed a very sick weakling Umaru Yar'Adua on Nigeria and today, the result is a Nigeria that has almost stalled completely. Shame on you Olusegun Obasanjo.

To the other Nigeria despicable fellow, Nigeria's INEC chairman Maurice Iwu, Icheoku asks, do you now see that the word integrity still exists as examplified in Kwodo Afari-Gyan of the Ghana electoral commission, pictured here right? With 50.23% of the votes, the electoral commission today January 3, 2009 declared the opposition candidate Attah Mills the winner of a tight presidential run-off in Ghana. In his glorious voice, Afari-Gyan declared, on the basis of the official results given, it is my duty to declare Professor John Evans Atta Mills the president-elect of the Republic of Ghana"! The present government party New Patriotic Party candidate Nana Akufo-Addo, 64, secured 49.77% of the votes.
With Kenya's Mwai Kibaki, Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe, Nigeria's Olusegun Obasanjo/Umaru Yar'Adua, the coup de tat in Mauritanian and Guinea as the poster-boys for undemocratic governance in Africa, Ghana has now proved that there is still some glimmer of hope in Africa. Icheoku says, congratulations to all Ghanaians!

Juxtaposing Ghana's President-elect, Professor John Attah Mills campaign slogan "I believe in Ghana" can any past and present leader of Nigeria so declare that he sincerely believes in Nigeria? However, Nigerians must not slumber but persist in their quest for the Ghana's example that one day, they may be able to elect a president-leader of their choice and stop being held hostage in a gulag by a cabal-imposed president. Another implication of the Ghana's election result is that Muhammad Buhari of Nigeria should not loose hope about winning the Nigerian presidency, since the President-elect John Attah Mills failed twice in his past presidential election attempts in Ghana. Until that day when Africa shall be free to elect her presidents, may what happened in Ghana be a symbol of hope that, that day shall one day come. Finally, Icheoku says, Ghana enjoy your well-deserved democracy!

6 comments:

  1. UN chief commends Ghana on vote

    John Atta Mills attended a church service to give thanks for his victory
    United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has praised the presidential election in Ghana as a democratic achievement and an example to others.

    He congratulated the people and government for the orderly outcome of the vote which saw a narrow victory for opposition candidate John Atta Mills.

    But losing candidate Nana Akufo-Addo is considering whether to challenge the result in the courts.

    He told the BBC that results from some areas were questionable.

    He said that intimidation had stopped his party, the ruling New Patriotic Party, from campaigning freely.

    Mr Atta Mills has said he will be "a president for all".

    Officials say there was no evidence of vote-rigging.

    Analysts says Ghana's poll could help salvage the tarnished image of constitutional democracy in Africa after last year's flawed elections in Kenya and Zimbabwe and military coups in Mauritania and Guinea.

    'No evidence of fraud'

    Electoral officials announced the result after the last constituency to vote, Tain, showed him extending his lead over Mr Akufo-Addo.



    Street celebrations in Accra
    The ruling party had boycotted the Tain constituency vote.

    The electoral commission said the results of the run-off showed Mr Atta Mills had won narrowly with 50.23% of the votes, against 49.77% for Mr Akufo-Addo.

    "On the basis of the official results given, it is my duty to declare Professor John Evans Atta Mills the president-elect of the Republic of Ghana," the commission's head, Kwado Afari-Gyan, said in the capital Accra.

    He said the commission had considered allegations of vote-rigging by both sides but "did not find the evidence provided sufficient to invalidate the result".

    Outgoing President John Kufuor earlier urged both candidates to respect the final result.

    He appealed for calm and said any complaints of vote-rigging should be dealt with by the courts after the new president is expected to be sworn in on Wednesday.

    'Good fight'

    Addressing jubilant supporters on the streets of Accra around the NDC headquarters, Mr Atta Mills, who had failed twice before to become president, said: "The time has come to work together to build a better Ghana.

    "I assure Ghanaians that I will be president for all."

    He also congratulated "all other contestants, especially Nana Akufo-Addo, for giving us a good fight".

    Although Ghana remains a very divided nation when it comes to choosing a president, it has proved that democracy can work, BBC correspondent Will Ross in Accra says.

    Mr Atta Mills, aged 64, is a former vice-president. He lost two previous elections to President Kufuor.

    Mr Akufo-Addo, also 64, from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) won the first round of the presidential election but not by enough to avoid the run-off.

    On Saturday, he was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying: "I acknowledge the electoral commissioner's declaration and congratulate Professor Mills."

    A spokesman later told the BBC that, contrary to earlier reports, he had not conceded defeat, and that the ruling party would go to court to contest the result.

    The stakes have been raised in these elections because Ghana has just found oil, which is expected to start generating revenue in 2010.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I’ll be president for all — Atta Mills
    By Agency Reporter
    Published: Monday, 5 Jan 2009
    Ghana’s President-Elect, Prof. John Atta Mills, on Saturday said he had accepted the challenge to be the President and gave the assurance that he would be the President for all Ghanaians.

    Skip to next paragraph

    Photo file
    Ata mills

    “There will be no discrimination. Atta Mills will be father to everybody,” he said, as he delivered his victory speech to thousands of supporters, who thronged the Osu Kuku Hill Campaign Office of the Mills Campaign.

    Mills expressed his appreciation to God for brining Ghana so far and said he was also grateful to outgoing President John Agyekum Kufuor for declaring his intention to hand over power to him on January 7, 2009.

    Sporting a white shirt, a black pair of trousers and black pair of shoes, and standing on a dais adorned by Ghana national colours of red, gold and green, he also expressed appreciation to the people of Ghana for the mandate given to him to be President for the next four years.

    Mills said it had been a long struggle with sacrifices and with the elections over, there was only one Ghana.

    “With the elections over, there is only one Ghana. There is no NDC Ghana; there is no NPP Ghana; there is no CPP Ghana. There is one Ghana,” he said to the roar of the milling supporters.

    He congratulated his main contender, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party and leaders of the other political parties that contested the December 7 elections.

    Mills said he hoped that together with all Ghanaians, he would be able to work to build a better Ghana.

    He also expressed his appreciation to the Electoral Commission, security agencies and the media for helping to keep politicians and the parties on their toes during the electioneering process.

    The President-elect advised supporters of the NDC to be moderate in their celebrations and not to do anything that would provoke others.

    “We have to be preparing for the task ahead. This is just one step of a journey of a million miles.”

    He said he would pray for wisdom and humility to steer the affairs of Ghana, adding “May we pray to God to continue to shower his blessings on Ghana.”

    Soon after the President-elect left the dais, a huge bottle of champagne was popped to the enthusiastic crowd to welcome the President-Elect.

    Ghana’s largely peaceful and credible presidential election was a rare example of a functioning democracy in Africa and should be a model for the continent, African leaders and voters said on Sunday.

    Much attention in Africa and elsewhere was focused on the Ghanaian vote after a year of political crises, many of them violent, tarnished Africa’s democratic credentials.

    Opposition candidate, Atta Mills was declared the winner on Saturday after the closely fought election in the gold and cocoa exporter was settled by a run-off.

    “John Atta Mills‘ victory and the conduct of the people of Ghana provides a rare example of democracy at work in Africa,” Kenya‘s prime minister Raila Odinga said in a statement.

    While some violence was reported, international observers say the vote was mostly peaceful, in contrast with many other African countries, where democracy was battered in 2008.

    More than 1,000 people were killed in post-election violence in Kenya last year and in Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai have been deadlocked for months over a power-sharing agreement after disputed elections.

    Mauritania‘s first freely elected leader was overthrown in a military coup in August and army officers in Guinea took power after the death of President Lansana Conte in December.

    South Africa, is likely to go to the polls in March in what analysts expect will be its most tense vote since the end of apartheid in 1994, after a power struggle split the ruling African National Congress last year.

    “The Ghanaian election bears testimony to the respect for democracy and good governance in Africa,” South African President Kgalema Motlanthe said. ”The people of Ghana ... have through the ballot paper showed their appreciation for democracy,” he said in a statement.

    Ghana‘s neighbour and fellow cocoa producer Ivory Coast again postponed presidential elections last year and analysts say they are unlikely to be held before the end of 2009 due to delays in disarmament and voter registration.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ghana Election, Lesson For Nigeria, Say CNPP, CD
    By Oladele Ogunsola (Ibadan) and Olisemeka Obeche (Lagos)

    Ghana's election of John Atta Mills as President from an opposition party still fascinates Nigerian democracy agitators, who concluded on Sunday that their country indeed has a lot to learn.

    The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) applauded Ghanaians for conducting a free, fair and transparent poll, which Campaign for Democracy (CD) says takes the shine out of Nigeria's claim as the giant of Africa.

    To former Oyo State Governor, Lam Adesina, the election is an example of a growing democracy worthy of emulation by other African countries.

    "We salute Ghanaians for their exemplary principled stand and unwavering commitment in upholding the sanctity of ballot box, thus making their votes to count, in the midst of a close election of 50.23 per cent to 49.77 per cent, respectively for the National Democratic Party (NDP) and National Patriotic Party (NPP)," CNPP National Publicity Secretary, Osita Okechukwu, said in a statement.

    "Ghanaians have in no uncertain terms entered their names in the hall of fame as beacons of democracy on a rudderless and clueless, undemocratic African continent.

    "Their historic democratic growth is a memorable lesson to democratic pretenders like Nigeria, where democracy is vanishing, where the Electoral Commission is a department of the executive, where the judiciary is manipulated and political culture of do-or-die reigns.

    "Whereas no life was lost in the Ghanaian election; Nigeria lost over 2,000 lives in the 2007 election and 400 lives in Jos North Local Government election in November 2008."

    CNPP commended outgoing Ghanaian President, John Kuffuor, for allowing the election to be determined by voters, instead of manipulating it.

    "We cannot forget the statesmanly and noble role he played by keeping his head above water, refusing to manipulate the election. And he was not swayed in the face of his party's defeat."

    Okechukwu noted that Kuffuor's conduct was in sharp contrast to that of former President Olusegun Obasanjo during the election in 2007 which he called a "do-or-die" affair, and campaigned for Umaru Yar'Adua to succeed him.

    "Our commendation also goes to the judiciary in Ghana for serving the cause of justice, upholding the independence of the judiciary, the doctrine of separation of powers, and resisting the temptation of the (NPP) to collaborate in truncating the election."

    CD President, Joe Okei-Odumakin, said it is rather shameful that while Nigerian politicians are in a cocoon of the politics of do-or-die and acquisition of illegal wealth, their counterparts in Ghana play by the rules.

    "Frankly speaking," she insisted, "the successful outcome of the Ghanaian Presidential election is a big shame on the part of the people who manage Nigerian elections. For the fact that we had the opposition winning the closely contested election after the run-off is an indication that Nigeria had fallen far behind.

    "The outcome of Ghanaian election should cause a sober reflection by every Nigerian, especially our political leaders who have by their self-centered actions and inactions, made the country to retrogress instead of progressing.

    "Obasanjo who introduced and perfected do-or-die politics should take a cue from his Ghanaian counterpart who kept his cool and allowed the votes of the citizens to decide who would succeed him."

    Adesina, who was Oyo State Governor between 1999 and 2003, praised the election in Ghana, saying: ''It is unfortunate that what Nigeria found so difficult to attain in the last two elections was attained in Ghana. I will be the happiest man on earth when such a thing happens in Nigeria.

    "It has got to a level that some of us who have suffered for democracy in this country now wonder whether we have not laboured in vain when a National Chairman of a ruling but non-performing party would tell us that they would remain in office for as long as 60 years.

    "Doing what? Looting, squandering our common wealth. There is a serious problem in the land."

    Adesina frowned at the lack of character and principle among the political class in Nigeria that makes people to jump round the parties for government patronage.

    ''Look at what happened recently in Nigeria with All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) abandoning Muhammed Buhari, its Presidential candidate during the election held on April 21, 2007. All in the name of the so-called Government of National Unity (GNU). See what has become of the unholy alliance between the ANPP and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    ''What is the meaning of GNU if not for electoral exploitation and a subtle way of stifling the opposition? You can talk of a GNU if there is a national crisis, like war or any other thing, just for the country to stablise, not in our present circumstance when our democracy should be allowed to flourish and blossom.

    "The PDP is capitalising on the inability of people to appreciate that you don't win election all the time to stifle the growth of democracy in Nigeria."

    ReplyDelete
  4. Yar’Adua Commends Ghana Polls
    E-MAIL THIS PRINT THIS MOST POPULAR PDF VERSION XML VERSION TXT version



    > As VP visits Bauchi tomorrow
    January 5th, 2009



    The election of Prof. John Atta-Mills as Ghana’s next president has vindicated Africa of alleged incompetence and unwillingness to conduct peaceful and hitch-free elections, Nigeria 's President,Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar'Adua has said.

    The President, in a congratulatory message to Mills yesterday, said the election of the opposition leader is exemplary and should serve as a guide for the African continent.

    According to Yar'Adua, the Ghanian polls , 'Has once again allayed insinuations on Africa 's competence to conduct a hitch-free democratic elections.

    Yar'Adua's message was relayed to the Ghanian President-elect through the Nigeria's High Commissioner to Ghana , Mr Musiliu Obanikoro. He added that the way the country was able to resolve the stalemate of the election has made the country and continent proud. 'I am highly delighted to congratulate you on behalf of the President and the good people of Nigeria for this hard won victory. As Africans, Ghana has done us proud. We hope and pray that the spirit with which the election was tough and won will be nurtured and promoted not only in Ghana, but also in West Africa.

    Atta Mills was declared winner of Ghana 's Presidential run-off election of December 28, 2008 by the country's electoral commission on Saturday.

    Meanwhile, Vice President Goodluck Johnatan is to lead an inspection team to Bauchi State tomorrow to assess the football facilities in the state preparatory to the under 17 world football championship tagged Nigeria 2009.

    Principal among the facilities the Vice President is expected to inspect are the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Zaranda and Awalah Hotels, Games Village , BACAS and The Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi.

    While the stadium, the best of its kind in northeast sub-region, is expected to be one of the venues for the championship, the two hotels are to provide accommodation to players and officials. However spectators are expected to be accommodated at the Games Village while BACAS and The Federal Polytechnic will serve as training grounds for the players.

    Zaranda Hotels which is wholly owned by the state Government is already being renovated and upgraded while the Games Village training ground is also receiving attention as carpet grass and other necessary materials are being put in place. All the facilities needed for hosting the event are expected to be in place as the experience in hosting international events like the world cup.

    Chairman,Publicity Committee for the VP's inspection, Alhaji Maigari Muhammad Khanna, confirmed the information about the VP's visit to our correspondent yesterday.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Opposition Parties, Groups Hail Ghana over Poll
    From Chuks Okocha in Abuja, 01.05.2009

    Add To Favorites
    Print This Article
    Post Comment

    Torrents of accolades have continued to trail Ghana’s successful transitory elections which climaxed with Friday’s declaration of 64-year old Professor John Evans Atta Mills as President-elect. The new president is scheduled to be inaugurated on Wednesday, January 7.
    Among groups and politicians that have hailed Ghanaians are the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), Human Rights Groups and a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart, Chief Sunny Iroche. In their separate reactions, they commended the sister West African of Nigeria for successfully holding its fifth consecutive fair and transparent general elections since 1992.
    The CNPP, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, said: “We salute Ghanaians for their exemplary, principled stand and unwavering commitment in upholding the sanctity of the ballot box, thus making their votes count, in the midst of a close election.”
    The conference added: “Our commendation also goes to the Judiciary in Ghana for serving the cause of justice, upholding the independence of the judiciary, the doctrine of separation of powers and resisting the temptation of the National Patriotic Party (NPP) to collaborate in truncating the election.”
    The CNPP was also full of praise for the out-going president, Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor. “We cannot forget the statesmanlike and noble role played by President John Kufuor in keeping his head above waters, refusing to manipulate the elections or allowing himself to be swayed in the face of his party’s defeat.” They recommended President Kufuor for Mo Ibrahim award for good governance.
    The CNPP described the Ghanaian historic democratic growth as “a memorable lesson to democratic pretenders like Nigeria, where democracy is vanishing, where the electoral commission is a department of the executive, where the judiciary is manipulated and political culture of do-or-die reigns”.
    According to the Human Rights Writers Association (HURIWA), in a statement signed by Mr. Emmanuel Onwubiko, Ghanaians especially the outgoing President deserve commendations for overseeing a general election that has been internationally acclaimed as free, fair and peaceful. HURIWA said it was quite remarkable that Ghana’s recent presidential election witnessed the emergence of an opposition politicianas winner while the ruling party’s candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo, accepted defeat.
    The rights group called on President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua to immediately set workable machinery in motion to implement the salient and strategic aspects of the recommendations of the Justice Muhammadu Lawal Uwais-led Electoral Reform Committee.
    Along this line, it stressed the need for the strengthening and granting of true independence to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the sack of its incumbent chairman, Professor Maurice Iwu and other board members of the commission.
    HURIWA argued that the continued stay in office of Iwu and his commissioners would sustain partiality and the kind of irregularities witnessed in the 2007 controversial polls in Nigeria.
    In his own response, Iroche, who is also a banker, commended the Electoral Commission of Ghana while describing the successful election as a manifestation of the maturity of the electoral body. He called on INEC to emulate what its counterpart in Ghana has achieved.

    ReplyDelete
  6. ELECTION IN NIGERIA AND GHANA


    When Nigerian politicians, mischief makers, thugs, trouble makers, elected officials, candidates and International observers/monitors discredit the election authorities like INEC in Nigeria working under the difficult conditions of over-heated transitions like in Nigeria ever unstable nation, it becomes humanly impossible for the natives or ordinary people to respect the law and order in place, if not the election outcome as well.


    How can you expect your citizens to respect poll results declared by electoral umpires that have already been discredited by all manners of foreigners and Nigerians with doubtful intentions towards your country? No election is perfect and also cannot be expected to reflect values foreign to the locale where it is conducted like in Nigeria with their contempt for law and order and where breaking laws and corruption has taken over the nation in every sphere of the nation operation justifying the classification of Nigeria as a FAILED STATE in the mode and league with Somalia, Zimbabwe and Congo.


    The Europeans learned from their mistakes and so, they should encourage Africans to learn from their own mistakes as well. Disparagement or reckless assessments intended to isolate the INEC and the electoral leadership will never cut it.


    Part of the effort therefore is to encourage aggressive information management on the part of African governments of the day to counter any negative misinformation that attempts to discredit our electoral umpires and the institutions we have in place at the given point in time. Lessons can be learned from India, Taiwan, South Africa,Ghana and other emerging democracies which have done well at countering negative press and succeeded in projecting an acceptable level of some electoral purity. And most importantly, we must understand that electoral tribunals (and judgments issuing from them) are part of the overall process of all elections even in advanced democracies.


    Therefore, we must refrain from this infantile tendency to celebrate yet another nullification of an election as further proof of how rotten our elections are. In our system of phased electoral process, INEC is merely the agency of original jurisdiction (much like a trial court with original jurisdiction), with finality of election outcomes residing with the tribunals and other higher courts. Thus, it will not be fair to call for resignation or attacking of an INEC boss merely because a result he declared had been overturned without also calling for the mass resignation of all trial judges whose judgments are overturned on appeal in case of River State Governor Rotimi Amaechi and in Anambra in case of Governor peter Obi.

    Ugo Harris Ukandu
    Nigeria Democracy and Justice Project
    Washington, DC

    ReplyDelete