30th July, 2013
By Joe Igbokwe
Nigerians please in the name of GOD, tell INEC to register All Progressives Congress, APC, now without any further delay to avoid unnecessary heating up of the polity. We have gone through all kinds of man-made problems to get to where we are today. We have gone through man-created mines and crossed a thousand bridges to get this far. We have crossed a thousand mines and rockets to meet INEC’s stringent conditions for registration. We have crossed a thousand lands and seas to meet INEC deadlines. We have had weeks and months of sleepless nights to meet INEC conditions. Personal commitments have been made also to get this far. APC leaders have made huge sacrifices to cross the rubicon.
Now, we want Nigerians to take notice of the signals from INEC Commissioners in connection with APC registration. They cite fictitious litigations from two unknown APCs seeking to be registered as political parties. They play all kinds of dirty games to cause problems for the real APC. They get logistic support and encouragement from the above to continue to frustrate the registration of the bona fide APC. We have witnessed all kinds of road blocks from the powers that be and we have been calm and resolute, believing that the shenanigans will say enough is enough. But it looks as if these fraudsters cannot learn from history.
Please let the world know that INEC has no option now than to register APC. If INEC is independent as it claims this is the time to prove itself. If INEC does not want trouble let it do its job dispassionately. If INEC has respect for social justice and rule of law this is the time to act. If INEC is dead serious this is the time to demonstrate it to the letter. If INEC loves Nigeria and Democracy this is the time to do their job. If INEC does not want to scuttle our hard-earned democracy this is the time to show commitment to Nigeria’s Democracy. To be forewarned is to be forearmed!
Promoters of the new APC have shown that Nigerians can work together when pushed to the wall. They have shown that change is possible when a people decide to change the status quo ante. The stakeholders have worked themselves to bones to prove that they are capable of holding their own in the face of crisis. Through actions and deeds the progenitors have proved beyond reasonable doubt that real men can make things happen when the need is greatest. These shakers and movers of APC have done their duties for Nigeria to checkmate the arrogance of PDP. They are patriots even though the enemies of Nigeria may think otherwise.
We plead with INEC to give us our party now. Time is of essence for INEC to conclude the excruciating process. The thinking in the innermost hearts of the APC leaders is that INEC is playing PDP’s game to frustrate APC. Today it will be 30 days since APC applied to be registered with INEC. We have been waiting like a patient bird for INEC to rise above partisanship to redeem its plundered and stolen image to do what is right but it looks as if INEC’s hands are tied. Now if INEC’s hands and feet are so tied that it cannot fulfil its obligations as an Electoral Umpire in Nigeria we may have to cut their hands and feet to free Nigerians from inept and primitive leadership. This is our stand. This is our chance.
•Igbokwe is Lagos ACN Publicity Secretary