2015: Nyako, Gaidam, Shettima ask INEC to replicate Afganistan’s courage

Governors Murtala Nyako of Adamawa,Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe and Kashim Shettima of Borno, whose states are currently under a state of emergency, have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take a cue from Afghanistan’s Independent Election Commission which courageously held the country’s Presidential and Provincial election last Saturday, despite strong threats issued by the Taliban.

The governors, who issued a joint statement yesterday through their spokesmen, Ahmad Sajoh for Nyako, Abdullahi Bego for Gaidam and Isa Gusau for Shettima, said Afghanistan and its people were celebrated worldwide for liberating themselves from the scourge of fear and thereby sending a strong signal that no amount of threat would deny them from choosing their leaders through democratic processes.

The statement said: “Our Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should please learn from the landmark election that took place in Afghanistan at the weekend during which election officials took the bold step of going on to conduct election in spite of threats by the Taliban to send the country into extinction if the elections were held. The Central Government in Afghanistan provided adequate security for the conduct of the poles.
“We all know that the unfortunate insurgency affecting this country has a similar attribute to the Taliban doctrine in Afghanistan even though ours is now assuming a very complicated character. The INEC should, as a matter of counter insurgency approach, ensure that no part of Nigeria is excluded from the 2015 elections on account threats. Suspending elections on account of threats by insurgents and other sundry social miscreants would amount to succumbing to their doctrine and conceding victory on the part of Nigeria.

“On the issue of extension of state of emergency, it is our considered view that there is absolutely no reason to even contemplate an extension of the state of emergency in any of the three states. The federal government should always remember that it has the obligation of protecting the lives and property of all Nigerians in all parts of the country without necessarily putting them under any special condition.
“We hold that with continued motivation, continued and intensified deployment of military resources, the crisis will be overcome. We call on our security agencies to remain resolute and patriotic. We salute the sacrifices of fallen heroes among them and amongst our civilian who died in the crisis.”