Friday 5 June 2015

2015 Elections And Concession of Defeat

The 2015election has come and gone, but its drama will continue to be issues of discuss on almost every given opportunity. One of such talking point, was the concession of defeat by Former President, Goodluck Jonathan. Many hailed this action and praised him for his rare show of sportsmanship. Some Governorship candidates did the same thing when they also lost, notably, Jimi Agbaje of Lagos State.

Nigerians in their usual abuse of anything, has come down hard on those who lost but did not concede defeat. Most of those who are forcing other candidates to concede defeat are from the PDP. Nigerians must understand that democracy has many doors to power and that is why someone like Chibuike Amaechi former governor of Rivers State got his power from the courts. It is the right of the individual who feel pained in any election to seek redress in court or whatever available means that is backed by constitution.

President Jonathan had every right to challenge the outcome of the 2015 general elections. This will not stop his handover but just to challenge any reason he feels was not constitutionally in his favour that led to his loss. Ordinarily it will be a waste of time to have challenged the 2015 Presidential election because even with the massive Rigging that characterised the election in the South-South and South-East he still lost. Many will argue on child voters in the north but clearly there were child voters in 2011 when the president won and why is it that no one cried foul that time but decide to do so now?

Those who are calling for governors in different States to concede defeat even in the face of glaring irregularities are enemies of our young Democracy.
A situation whereby lives were lost unnecessarily because someone wants to become a Governor by all means is unacceptable and its outcome must be challenged in the courts. It is morally wrong to ask an opponent to concede defeat when it was obvious the other candidate had an undue advantage prior and during the election. A situation whereby the number of  votes cast exceeded the number of accredited/registered voters and people are calling on the candidate to concede defeat is not only hypocritic, but its like adding salt to one's injury.

Funny enough, those who are clamouring for these concession of defeat are people who know nothing about good governance and global practices of sound democracy. Many of them are better off dancing "Shoki", smoking their weed, enmeshing themselves in Tonto Dike news  and engaging in fruitless activity than meddling into serious National matters on the social media.

Nigerians must know that that evil should not prevail over good if we truly calim to worship a supreme deity. We should not join those who don't care about our wellbeing but are interested in what comes into their pockets hence, their calling of a cow Daddy because they want to eat meat.

Princewill Chimereze.
Writer, Tutor, Public Affairs Analyst and Social Commentator.                

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