An Osun-based civil society group, the Osun Progressives Left has warned against further postponement of the general elections or removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attairu Jega, as well as the involvement of military in democratic process.
The group likened President Goodluck Jonathan’s leadership style to that of a former leader of Germany, Adolf Hitler, who started World War II, and former President of Ivory Coast, Laurent Gbagbo, who refused to hand over power after losing election.
“Ivory coast crisis started with election postponement. It degenerated to ethnical crisis and to a full war. It has been proven that people from minority group has the tendency of foisting themselves on people,” the spokesperson for the group, Comrade Wale Adebisi said at a press conference in Osogbo on Saturday.
“Adolf Hitler was from a minority group and he wanted to rule the world at all cost. The Second World War started with ethnic crisis from Germany as well, when Hitler wanted to foist himself on people. I want to say that President Jonathan is also leading Nigeria like Gbagbo and Hitler.
“We need to call the president to order. Unfortunately, none of the government institutions is working in Nigeria. The National Assembly cannot call the president to order. The president’s ethnic people have been threatening war of he loses the election. If eventually the president loses election, his ethnical boys will launch attack and this will resort to another civil war.”
According to the group’s spokesperson, President Jonathan is trying to divide Nigeria along religious and ethnic lines so as to cause disunity which may lead to civil war like that of Ivory Coast. He called on Nigerians not to allow this.
Adebisi also warned that INEC chairman, Jega must not be removed, saying any attempt to do so was an invitation to anarchy. He also slammed alleged plans to deploy the military for the general elections. He said any involvement of military in democratic and electoral process has negate the doctrine of democracy, adding that democracy is no longer in place when there is involvement of military in elections processes.
“The election of 28th March and 11th of April are sacrosanct, which must not be shifted beyond those two dates. INEC chairman, Prof Atairu Jega should not be removed on or before the election dates. Nigerian from different ethnic groups should see themselves as one not as enemy and should not allow anybody to use them against one another,” Adebisi said.