As INEC Chairman Visits Palace for Blessings.
By Gift Olivia Samuel The Sight News
BENIN: In a bid to ensure violence-free election in Edo state come September 19, 2020, His Royal Majesty, Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II has disclosed plans to call a meeting of all the Governorship candidates to sign a peace accord under his watch, committing to a peaceful poll.
The Oba who said this when he received a delegation led by the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu on Thursday, noted that he will endeavour to invite the Governorship candidates, particularly the ‘two major gladiators’—Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and Godwin Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to advise their supporters to maintain peace.
He assured INEC that he will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the political actors— candidates and their supporters will all behave peacefully towards the forthcoming election.
He also emphasized on the neutrality of the Benin throne, adding that he is non-partisan, and as the royal father for all, he will ensure that the atmosphere is created to ensure a free, fair, credible, peaceful and safe elections.
“Don’t be confused, the Benin throne is non-partisan and the Benin people know how to align with who they see as the best candidate that will respect the traditional institution and put food on the table of the masses and respect the laws of Edo state”, he said.
He commended INEC for recognizing the role the palace can play to ensure peace and tranquility in Edo state and the country, adding that they continue to do their best to justify the confidence reposed in them.
He further noted that, “The election has been worrisome but at the end, we shall see light, there will be peace and tranquility. Even during the primaries there were anxiety but we prayed and God heard our prayers. Nothing is more powerful than prayers which is even more powerful than the barrels of the gun.
“The work of INEC is not an enviable one and so the Chairman needs all the support he can get to carry out his activities.We have been quite worried about the violence but we are confident that there will be a peaceful election”, he remarked.
The Oba who stated that he is not an expert of political analysis, proposed a single Governorship term of six years with appraisal mechanism every two years, adding however, that if the current system of four year tenure will remain,INEC should consider having unwritten Constitution for parties to ensure that after first tenure, the party will bring out the same flag bearer for a second tenure.
While urging parties to consult widely before getting a flag bearer, stressing that the issue of godfatherism should not come into play, he appealed to everyone not to sacrifice their lives for people that get into office and forget them.
“I appeal to all Edo people and Nigerians alike to eschew violence in all electoral activities. I also appeal to indigenes of Edo state to ensure that peace is maintained and they support INEC to do their work”, he ended.
Earlier, the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakuba, stated that the visit to the Palace was to to seek the blessings of the palace for the governorship election and also to express INEC’s appreciation for the magnanimity showed the Commission in the September 2016 elections where the palace shifted coronation activities to give way for the elections.
He assured that INEC is ready for the Governorship Election, but expressed concerned about some of the statement and actions by some state actors through their members and supporters, as well as the threat to peace during the election.
He maintained that the voice of the palace is a strong voice, and so they seek the blessings of the palace for peaceful elections and for safe return to Abuja.
Yakubu noted that the choice of who becomes the governor ultimately belongs to the people of Edo state, not INEC, security agencies and not anyone else, and for them to do so, there has to be an atmosphere of peace which is what INEC has been advocating all along.
Speaking on the measure puts in place to ensure violence free elections, he said that every process is published online and open to ensure transparency, INEC has also trained security agencies and ad-hoc staff to be familiar with their processes and procedures and has been working with security agencies at the national level as well as the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).
“We are assured and reassured by the message from his royal majesty of his own support and neutrality in the conduct of the Governorship Election. The choice of who becomes governor lies in the hands of the people of Edo state, and we will make sure we protect the process to get a free, fair and safe election in the context of COVID-19”, he stated.
For his part, the Edo state Commissioner of Police and co-chair Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), CP Johnson Kokumo, said the election won’t be a one man show or affair of one security agency, as all the security agencies in Nigeria are participating to ensure a free and fair election in Edo state.
