By Talemoh Wycliffe Dah
One would have thought that a patriotic resolve, a quiet unblemished life and a godly lifestyle are enough qualities for a nationally important office like the headship of INEC, especially if the candidate is a Professor of Law. To the contrary, however, some groups and the events unfolding will make you believe that Professor Joash Amupitan’s scholarship and beliefs are not Independent enough, his interpretation and setting up of election time tables are not National enough, making his Election (selection) by the president a Commission of monumental error. To serious scrutiny these are laughable, but considering the respectable bodies involved, they are saddening.
Immediately he was appointed, internet rummaging for any past unacceptable activity by Amupitan, probably by lobbyists whose lobbying process could not secure the position for their preferred candidates, were rewarded by the finding of a scholarly piece written by him, a Legal Brief. They smoothened out the paper and took it to the highest authority, who, in an amplified tone, presented it to Nigerians a proof of Amupitan’s partisanship, immediately calling for his resignation. Laughable, if you know that scholarly works should be answered and matched by superior scholarly pieces, not emotion. Since the write-up, many years ago, no single such exists, letting it stand as right, for now. Saddening, on the other hand, is the fact that the respected body knows that an appointee’s scrutiny is usually and legally by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Senate, both of which were satisfied after dutifully carrying out their functions. Saddening, especially that this high body knows that her words are respected by all of us and should only voice out what will not divide us.
In the intervening time between the legal brief brouhaha and the next issue, America threatened Nigeria and attacked terrorists who themselves had threatened that Christmas rice will be eaten while the celebrating crew are running for their lives. Almost all Nigeria heaved some relief, because those terrorists will not terrorise anybody again, be they Christians or others. The subject of the American threat authenticated the subject of Amupitan’s Legal Brief, even when some Nigerians had to deny the existence of Christian Genocide. In this interregnum, still, Amupitan’s success at conducting the Anambra election seemed to have quietened hearts, until his annunciation of the time table for elections. I believe this function was done on behalf of a nationally representative commission, and not for himself and by himself alone.
The next agitation is that elections must not fall during fasting, be it Ramadan or Easter! Some people said that he is so incompetent that he cannot even calculate the fasting days and avoid them. And, laughably, the Senate is considering it! Now, since Easter follows the Ecclesiastical moon, it could be between March 21st and April 25th, making the Lenten period to be between February 4th and April 24th. So, any election in Nigeria should avoid these dates. The dates for the month of Ramadan, when juxtaposed with the Gregorian Calendar, fluctuates and can be anytime throughout the year. So, we must agree that any constitutionally fixed date or period throughout the year must be avoided. Then, there are Seventh Day Adventists. I had to move a three-day training ending on Saturday to end on the next week Monday, to respect both the Seventh and First Day Adventists some years ago. So, we must avoid any election holding on Saturdays. Elections should be only on week days, preferably Mondays to Thursdays. I hope the Senate, in adjusting the dates and days, will consider these.
If the centre of a series of concentric circles were to be religion, the closest circles to it must deal with aspects of faith related to the essence of religion: belief in the Supreme Being, righteousness, justice, honesty, mercy, kindness, tolerance, etc. Quarrels about civil functions, etc, must occupy the most eccentric positions. But here we are, in a society that cannot boast of the most pious citizens, which is in itself a pointer to the failure of religions, not allowing a patriot to perform. Religions owe the INEC Chairman a lot of prayers and goodwill, not distraction. Should an INEC Chairman be an atheist, probably a recent immigrant into Nigeria, living at the centre of the country (on Katampe Hill) and speaking only English, having no past, before he can be accepted and left without distraction?
INEC is an independent body, but it cannot function well by independent subservience to many masters, like religious bodies, political parties, Senate, etc. It is sad that some people think that everybody shares in their inability to be non-partisan. We should let INEC’s Amupitan be, and judge him by his performance. Multiple orders can certainly not guarantee successful conduct of elections. Religious bodies should particularly impart the piety of civility into their adherents in order for our country to develop.
● Dah lives in Abuja and can be reached at talemohwdah@yahoo.com
