Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has given an assessment of Nigeria’s 2015 elections, rating the elections slightly above average.
Soyinka spoke on Channels Television’s ‘Nigeria 2015’ live from his Abeokuta residence.
“I think I agree with the generality of people that its been slightly above average success. The organisation is not fully to blame for the lapses because in certain states people have just refused to learn to behave democratically,” he said.
He refereed to the election as “one of the best we have had so far”.
Asked to share his view on the campaign style of politicians towards the elections, Soyinka said, “The campaign has been intense, sometimes rather distastefully so, but there’s no question at all about the will of the people to make their voices heard and to make sure that democracy is given a fair chance of survival in Nigeria.”
Professor Wole Soyinka also made reference to the violence recorded in Rivers State, and called on INEC and security agencies to move against those who have attempted to spoil their efforts.
He said that this is an example of what a democratic campaign should not be about. “We are talking about a state where from all reports, about 56 people have been killed so far. That is unacceptable, that is barbaric, and the miscreants have got to be absolutely pursued and punished.”
He cited reports of missing result sheets at polling units as one that must not be condoned by INEC as it is disrespectful to citizens who have “queued up in the rain printing their fingers”.
He condemned a situation where voters queue all day, in the rain and under the sun, to get accredited and vote, only for some people to sit down somewhere and complete the result sheets in their favour.
“They are telling us we are stupid for queuing up.
“INEC has the responsibility to cancel the result from any polling boot where the documentation is incomplete,” he added.
The Nobel Laureate commended the peace accord signed by the main presidential candidates, saying it was a an excellent example. He also gave a pass mark to INEC in the conduct of the 2015 elections.
However, he took a swipe at the players in the other levels of leadership where they have made a mess of the peace accord and to whom the pact reached by the President Goodluck Jonathan and General Muhammadu Buhari, are mere piece of paper.
Soyinka On Alleged Ekiti Rigging Saga
He cited the example of those who played various roles in the alleged rigging of the governorship election in Ekiti State in 2014, saying it was a display of utter brigandage by those who are supposed to lead Nigerians in their various capacities.
He also condemned the seeming silence by the relevant authorities over the allegations made against the respective government officials who took part in what he termed the conspiratorial meeting to rig the Ekiti elections.
Prof. Soyinka demanded an investigation into the Ekiti saga and that those found culpable should be dealt with according to law as a way of making Nigerians believe that the system works for them.
On voter awareness, Prof. Soyinka said while the media has been doing a lot in terms of getting Nigerians involved in the electoral and democratic process, INEC should tap the opportunity afforded by the creative industry to get this message to the entire populace.
On the President-elect’s Priority
Prof. Soyinka listed power, security, unemployment, as some of the crucial areas that the incoming administration of General Buhari should address.
In his words, “We need an infrastructural revolution”. He suggested that the General Buhari should be given one year before being assessed on his performance.
