#EDO2016…

As a lawyer and a Human and Political Rights activist who believes in Democracy, due process, Constitutionalism and Change, I wrote a petition to office of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Mohammadu Buhari which was jointly signed by twenty two other lawyers across different political lines and it is titled: EDO STATE GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION: MR PRESIDENT, SAVE OUR SOUL ( SOS) . The petition will be officially submitted on Thursday by the grace of God. In this petition i critically x-rayed the political activities in the state, the postponement of the election and made various demands. The demands inter alia includes:
1. That Mr president should use his exalted office to kindly ‘appeal and ‘advise’ the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) to shift the rescheduled election from Wednesday the 28th of September, 2016 which is a working day to a Saturday to enable thousands of eligible voters who lives outside the State to participate or alternatively, if the election is to hold on a Wednesday Mr president should kindly declare a three day National Holiday to enable eligible voters travel home on Tuesday and return back after the election on Thursday as failure to do so will amount to denial of thousands of Edo people their Rights to vote which he sworn an oath to protect and any outcome of such exercise will be a mere façade, waste of tax payers’ money and its validity will be contestable.
2. That Mr president should take extreme measure to ensure that the lives of the good and peaceful people living in Edo State are well protected in view of the alleged threat by the Niger Delra avengers and Boko haram to unleash terror on the people during the election and should never allow the incidents that happened in Rivers and Bayelsa State to happen in Edo State as the lives of our beloved Edo people are very valuable and precious to us.
3. That Mr president should give a stern warning and ensure that the various security agencies ( military, Police, DSS and NSCDC) do their jobs with utmost professionalism, competence , neutrality in the discharge of their Constitutional duties and should not allow themselves to be used by politicians either in APC, PDP, LABOUR or APGA ,and any act of violation or abuse of Human Rights before, during and after the election will never be allowed and will be totally rejected and we will not fail to drag the Government before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and other Local and International agencies.
4. That the election should not just be free and fair, but must be seen to be free and fair and the president should not be a part of any attempt to rig the election or used by anyone either in APC or PDP to rig the election as the will of the people must be respected.
5. That the president should do everything possible to safety, Equity, Justice, Rule of Law, the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.


Furthermore, we also reminded Mr president that this election must be in line with the change mantra of Mr president which is currently sweeping round the country and also the ‘One Man One Vote’ Crusade which our amiable, dogged, action and progressive Comrade Adams Alliu Oshiomhole who has campaigned and mobilized vigorously for his party because he believes sovereignty belongs to the people under Section 14 of the 1999 Constitution has also been preaching.



#NB: The lawyers who signed this petition with me are from both APC, PDP and are Edo Indigenes with full locus standi and we decided to drop our interest and champion a common front as the State and the people viz a viz upholding democratic tenets are more important to us than our various interest .

For the avoidance of doubt, it is not a politically motivated struggle as it is in line with our Professional Responsibilities and sheer patriotic flavor. Two senior advocates of Nigeria (SAN) from Edo State have also promised to sign and affix their stamp and seal on the petition as a show of solidarity.

Consequently, We have also decided to copy many agencies and organization and a copy of this petition will also be sent to them. They include.

A. The United Nation
B. AU and Ecowas Election Monitoring Groups via their liaison offices in Nigeria
C. Amnesty International
D. National Human Rights Commission
E. Nigeria Bar Association( NBA)
F. Independent National Electoral Organization.
G. Human Rights activist
H. Civil Society Organizations’ in Nigeria
I. Independent Election Observers.
J. The press.

I will say one thing and ONE thing only would I say....

Do NOT and I repeat, do NOT expect anything from Buhari especially when it looks like APC don't have chance of winning or when it looks like the plans to turn ur lands to grazing site are in jeopardy..

Then expect the worst of him.. OR

You could mobilize ur learned colleagues and start citizen's enlightenment campaign 'on your own account', that's the only thing that could make any difference for all your souls..

Politicians don't care about your souls!

Fixing a guber poll for a Wednesday has revealed APC's rigging intentions for Edo but they will fail.

yorubasmustprosper:

well written and factual