Against the growing insinuation that the two-day public holidays declared by the Federal Government was to prevent the courts from sitting on electoral matter, President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday said the work-free-days were meant to enable Nigerians who may need to travel out of their bases in order to cast their votes to do so.
The President added that during the election period, law abiding citizens are advised to avoid night travel and night movement except where absolutely necessary.
“On Election Day, movement should be restricted to only essential purposes. Law enforcement agents will vigorously prosecute their lawful duties by checking suspicious movements by individuals or groups,” he said.
In his national broadcast on the 2007 general elections this morning, a day to the election, Obasanjo also said only the INEC can announce results, adding that “any false results declared by any other source to misinform the public, cause confusion, and disrupt the election process will be seriously dealt with�.
The full speech reads:
“In 47 years of our nation�s political developmental history, notable landmarks have been recorded at critical periods in our journey of national self-discovery.
“The Gubernatorial and State Houses of Assembly elections which come up tomorrow, Saturday April 14th 2007, as well as the Presidential and National Assembly elections of Saturday April 21st 2007, represent a fundamental defining moment in our democratic consolidation process.
“The eyes of all Nigerians, accredited International Observers, and the entire international community are on the conduct and the outcome of this exercise.
“From all indications, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as well as all the relevant Government Agencies have concluded all necessary arrangements to ensure a peaceful, free, fair, and transparent exercise.
“The Federal Government on its part has made available adequate resources for the conduct of a successful and credible electoral process. Adequate security measures have also been put in place to ensure that all Nigerians who wish to exercise their civic responsibility of voting for candidates of their choice are able to do so without let or hindrance.
“It is a matter of great regret that some supposedly highly placed individuals have been reported to be fanning the embers of discord, hatred, violence, and destruction.
“Let me assure all Nigerians that the Federal Government will leave no stone unturned in vigorously checking and sanctioning any acts of violence and thuggery, and other excesses calculated to disturb the peace or disrupt the elections.
“INEC has made adequate arrangements for the release of authentic election results. Any false results declared by any other source to misinform the public, cause confusion, and disrupt the election process will be seriously dealt with.
“The two work-free-days declared by Government are meant to afford sufficient time to those Nigerians who need to travel out of their bases in order to cast their votes. During the election period, law abiding citizens are advised to avoid night travel and night movement except where absolutely necessary.
“On Election Day, movement should be restricted to only essential purposes. Law enforcement agents will vigorously prosecute their lawful duties by checking suspicious movements by individuals or groups.
“Attempts to gain entry into vital locations by unauthorized persons will be met with serious sanction. Those who are on duty in such vital locations including uniformed persons – must carry authentic and verifiable identification.
“These measures have been put in place to leave no one in doubt as to the Federal Government’s resolve to ensure peace and adequate security during the elections.
“It is my hope that all patriotic Nigerians and stakeholders in the Nigeria project will remain united and committed to ensuring the unbridled success of our political transition process.
“Fellow Nigerians, as you go out to vote for candidates of your choice, I implore you to be guided by the understanding that we all have a stake in ensuring that we jointly chart our nation’s course to an assured future of sustained growth, peace, harmony, stability, security, development and prosperity,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, Obasanjo yesterday described the eight-year administration of Governor Bola Tinubu as a waste, adding that Lagos is the only city that has been a federal capital with nothing to show for it in terms of development.
Obasanjo who spoke in Lagos during the round-off campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rallies said in 1999 PDP government at the federal made an offer to partner with Lagos State government for development but Tinubu turned the offer down.
According to Obasanjo, the lack of cooperation with the federal government has made the state to be in its present deplorable condition, adding that with Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, Lagos PDP governorship candidate, education will be made free and compulsory in the state and there would be development.
�There is this Public/Private Partnership (PPP). With PPP, we can develop a lot of partnership with one organisation or the other like the one I commissioned at the Murtala Mohammed Airport recently. With PPP we are going to help Lagos state government achieve his programme because this campaign is a campaign of change�, he stated.
While speaking on the issue of local government created by Lagos state government, he said, �as the Chairman of Board of Trustee (BOT) of the party, I�ll create means of how we�ll put everything in order legally�.
He noted that Lagos is a special state and it must be given a special attention with federal and state partnership, adding that �we called on Tinubu to partner with federal government but he rejected the offer. in our party, we have experience and track records of achievement that needed to be partnered with�.
He added that �Obanikoro will not steal, we know where he came from when compared with those who have fake names and fake certificates�.
Apr132007