former president,
Olusegun Obasanjo, on
Sunday warned that
Nigeria could not afford
to bungle the 2015
general elections
because the
international community
was watching the
country.
Obasanjo spoke at a
public enlightenment
programme on the
electoral process,
organised by the
Organisation of
Tadhamunul Muslimeen
and the Ogun State
chapter of The Muslim
Congress.
The programme held at
the Olusegun Obasanjo
Presidential Library,
Abeokuta.
The former president
said, “The elections are
crucial and the
international community
is watching us. We
should not disappoint
them, by ensuring that
the elections are free
and fair.
“This election is for
progress and
development of this
great country and
should be devoid of
sentiments, like religion,
ethnic and nepotism.
“This election should be
a unity election for all of
us.”
He said all eyes would
also be on the
Independent National
Electoral Commission
and the Nigeria Police to
ensure free and fair
elections, characterised
by prompt arrival of
materials and provision
of adequate security
where necessary.
He said, “We must not
make the mistake of
allowing the
international community
to make jest of us; as
such, those we want to
beg are the
Independent National
Electoral Commission,
who had just told us
here on how the
process would go, to
assure us that it shall
be well.
“You must be fully
prepared. You must be
up and doing. No
excuses. You know all
the terrain very well;
there should be no delay
and late arrival of voting
materials.
“Where you are going to
use boat to ferry on the
water you know it,
where it is going to be
bicycle, you know it. So,
there should be no
unnecessary delay.
“A situation where
somebody at Eggua will
be phoning at 11am
that they are still
expecting materials will
be unacceptable. A
situation where the
police will be telling us
no fuel to move will be
unacceptable.”
Obasanjo, who was
represented by Chief
Idowu Akanle, stressed
the need for Nigerians
to protect the integrity
of the country with
their votes, “so that
we could also be like
countries like Saudi
Arabia, Qatar and
United Arab Emirate
where there was order
in governance.”

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