2023 Polls: Nigerians recall Obasanjo’s ‘democratic antics, bullish attempts at circumventing political process’ –Alani Akinrinade

*General Alani Akinrinade (Rtd), Nigeria’s former Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Staff, says ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s ‘intervention falls short of patriotism and fits perfectly into meddling in the affairs of state that is already the constitutional responsibility of INEC

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Lt-General Ipoola Alani Akinrinade (Rtd), CFR, FSS, Nigeria’s former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) has criticised ex-President Obasanjo for demanding annulment of last Saturday, February 25, 2023, Presidential polls.

Akinrinade was Chief of Army Staff from October 1979 to April 1980, and then, Chief of Defence Staff until 1981 during the Nigerian Second Republic.

Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of INEC (standing, right) continues with his national assignment in Abuja, FCT

ConsumerConnect reports notable Nigerians, including Gen. Olu Bajowa (Rtd.), Mr. Omoyele Sowore, also a Presidential Candidate in the election, as well as cross-sections of the Nigerian electorate have equally lampooned the former President over his recent letter advising the Federal Government on the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), since Sunday, February 26, had begun the collation, counting, and release of the election results to the citizenry and the national a well as international observer groups.

Akinrinade, who served in the Nigerian Army with Obasanjo, in a statement, described the latter as an interloping former President whose reaction is a danger to democracy.

Preservation of unity of Nigeria

According to the erstwhile COAS, Obasanjo’s letter over the recently concluded elections must be condemned in the strongest terms by democracy-loving Nigerians and those who care about the unity of Nigeria.

He stated: “Obasanjo’s statement coming at a time when the Independent National Electoral Commission was still busy with the conduct and release of the elections results is both unfortunate, and a glaring and calculative attempt to game the system.

“Without any shred of evidence a former President is challenging the integrity of a national elections and calling a seating President to truncate it midway.

“As a General who fought for the unity of this country and one that has witnessed the many twists and turns of our democratic development, I am certain that Nigeria this time is on the right path.”

Conducting elections is constitutional responsibility of INEC

He said: “I find it most disturbing and objectionable that a former General and President will introduce such a diatribe into the body politic of Nigeria at such a delicate time as this.”

Akinrinade further noted: “Being not neutral, Obasanjo’s intervention falls short of patriotism and fits perfectly into meddling in the affairs of state that is already the constitutional responsibility of INEC.

How Obasanjo ‘circumvented the political process’ as President

The former COAS as well recalled the era of the Obasanjo Presidency and stated: “Nigerians can easily recall the Obasanjo years and his democratic antics and many bullish attempts at circumventing the political process.”

Akinrinade, therefore, tasked President Muhammadu Buhari to ignore Obasanjo’s interruptions and focus on supporting the lawful institutions to do its job by allowing the process to run its full course, and allow the country to move forward.

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