Obasanjo’s tenure witnessed worst election in Nigeria’s history – Ohanaeze, northern group  – Blueprint Newspapers Limited

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide and the Northern Awareness Network (NAN) has berated former President Olusegun Obasanjo over his criticism of Nigeria’s recent elections, particularly attack on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.

Obasanjo it was said had during the Chinua Achebe leadership forum held at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, USA, described the 2023 general elections as a travesty and advocated for the appointment of new and credible leaders for the INEC with short tenure to prevent corruption and re-establish trust.

While accusing the INEC of deliberately sabotaging the process in 2023, Obasanjo said, “The BVAS and IReV are two technological innovations that, prior to 2023, were celebrated for their potential to enhance the accuracy and transparency of our election results, eliminate the threat of election rigging, and boost public trust in electoral outcomes.”

Reacting through separate statements made available to newsmen, the National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike and Chairman of NAN Salihu Suleiman, accused the former president of laying the foundation for a flawed electoral system in the country.

Okwu claimed the ex-leader actively institutionalised corruption in Nigeria, further alleged that during the Obasanjo presidency “results were announced even as voters were on queues voting across Nigeria. Results were written at government houses and politicians’ houses.”

The Ohanaeze youths added that “Go to Court was popularised under Obasanjo leadership, where all that mattered was for INEC to declare the president’s preferred candidate winner and those crying were expected to go to court.

“Little wonder late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, a man with integrity, cried out that the election that brought him to power was deeply flawed. The said election was under Obasanjo presidency. 

“A person who actively canvassed for a third term and was alleged to have brought truckloads of money in Ghana-must-go to the National Assembly, a person who was reported to have twisted governors to build him a so-called presidential library on his farm, a person who, has no moral grounds to lecture anyone, let alone Nigerians, on leadership.”

On his part, Suleiman of NAN said, it is indeed “shameless” for Obasanjo, who admitted during his own period of electoral malfeasance that even Jesus Christ cannot conduct credible elections in Nigeria, to now accuse the government of failing in this regard.
Obasanjo’s track record on electoral integrity is questionable, to say the least.

“During his time in office, there were numerous reports of irregularities, violence, and rigging in elections. He himself has admitted to manipulating elections to ensure victory for his preferred candidates. In light of this, it is difficult to take his criticisms of the current government seriously.

“It is important to hold our leaders accountable for their actions and decisions. However, it is hypocritical for someone like Obasanjo, who has presided over flawed elections in the past, to now point fingers at others. If he truly cared about the integrity of the electoral process, he should reflect on his own past actions and work towards ensuring free and fair elections for all Nigerians.”