ABDULWAHEED OMAR, ANOTHER JOKER IN THE HAND OF THE CABAL?

The leader of Nigeria Labor Congress, Mallam Abdulwaheed Omar, is suddenly now proactive in the Nigeria protest scene? A man who disappeared when Nigeria needed him most, when President Umaru Yar'Adua's cabal held the country hostage and for over 100 days, has now emerged from his hide-out and threatening a nation-wide strike to frustrate the coming elections of 2011, under the guise of patriotically asking for regime change at INEC? By this eleventh hour activism, Omar has demanded that the horse be changed mid-stream, with scheduled elections so close that it does not make sense to bring in a new boss to start de-novo with preparations and conduct of the 2011 elections?

Icheoku says, any Nigerian who is serious with a good outcome in 2011 would not be advocating change of batons at this stage; but rather how to make elections work for Nigerians and not just the few Nigerian power-brokers and stake-holders? Such a person would know that Iwu is not the problem but a polity that is not disciplined, where winner takes all; hence the fierce urge to win at all cost, and by all means necessary since the end justifies the means in Nigeria? What about asking for the immediate implementation of the Justice Uwais electoral reforms recommendations? What about asking that election malpractice be made a serious felony attracting not only prison term but a ban from any and all subsequent future elections in Nigeria? What about protesting against undue influence or the means of choosing leaders by selection and not election, which encourages mediocre candidates being put in offices through 'god-fatherism' instead of meritocracy and ability? What about protesting Olusegun Obasanjo who arm-twisted and strong-armed the results of the two previous elections under advisement; which does not show Professor Maurice Iwu in good colors?

Anyway, Icheoku's position is that it is too late now to bring on a new man to organize and conduct elections scheduled for early 2011. Moreover Professor Maurice Iwu is battle-tested and supposedly now more ready than in 2003 and 2007 to deliver a more convincing outcome? He also have garnered necessary on-the-job experience from conducting two elections and some by-elections in between so far! Maurice Iwu also is no longer new to the intrigues of Nigerian politicians and their cunning ways to win elections by any means necessary? He has seen influence peddlers and their tempting offers, so would not be easily swayed? Maurice Iwu should be allowed to conduct this coming election and thereafter he can be fired but to do it now, prior to the so close elections will be crisis-ridden. Icheoku is no friend to Maurice Iwu and could care less if he is even thrown into jail; but let the truth be told, he is the best prepared and equipped presently to conduct the coming elections? Moreso, he will probably use the opportunity of the next elections, to redeem his name; which has somewhat been damaged as a result of the two elections he conducted under the 'duress' of Olusegun Obasanjo? Whatever happens with his term, it is our position that Abdulwaheed Omar lacks the moral authority to now desire to protest Iwu out of the INEC; a feat which he shied away from when his voice was needed most over Yar'Adua's debacle; when he scurried and hid in an undisclosed location, only to emerge after Jonathan has been empowered as acting president to give his lame excuse that he went into hiding in order not to over-heat the situation and give the military reason to stage a coup?' Really Omar; what changed since then, one may ask?

Icheoku warns that Abdulwaheed Omar is on a mission to abort the next 2011 elections? Mallam Abdulwaheed Omar is the latest joker in the hands of the cabal to deal with Nigeria which has shoved aside ailing President Yar'Adua; and has now been deployed to nix the next coming elections; and so must be stopped, pronto! Why did this Mallam Omar not protest President Yar'Adua to resign when Nigerians wanted him so badly to do so? His labor congress looked and searched him out for leadership direction but he was AWOL? There is something definitely fishy with his attitudinal change, which somewhat supports the proposition that this sudden found activism and the planned protest are both cabal agenda-driven! So, Nigeria and the NLC, pay no attention to this mallam!