Rigging 2015 elections may break Nigeria – ARG

The Afenifere Renewal Group has
warned against the manipulation of
the forthcoming general elections
to protect the unity of the country.
It said the polls would determine
the continuity of the country as an
entity.
The breakaway faction of the
Afenifere, the conventional pan-
Yoruba socio-political group, stated
that what the country needed most
was true federalism and
restructuring.
The National Chairman of ARG, Mr.
Wale Oshun, in an interview with
our correspondent, said since
President Goodluck Jonathan had
yet to implement the report of the
2014 National Conference before
the elections, it had become
necessary that the polls be
credible.
He said Nigeria was presently on
the socio-economic and political
precipice.
He said, “If the elections of 2015 are
held and they are free and fair, it
will provide the opportunity to
start the rebuilding process once
again. Once it is free and fair,
whoever emerges would have the
mandate, I mean the support of the
people and the courage to confront
the issues facing the country.
“But if the elections are not free
and fair, I don’t see how whoever is
allowed or enabled to emerge can
hold the country together for
another four years. I don’t see it
happening.”
Oshun pointed out that failure of
the next president of the country,
after a credible election, to
restructure the system would spell
doom for the country.
He said, “One thing that is certain is
that his regime must restructure. If
he does not restructure, Nigeria is
on the precipice. Everybody,
including the government in power
now, realises this. Otherwise, we
will not be having all these
aberrations.
“People might immediately say
that it is economic but what of
corruption. Corruption is made
possible by the absolute power and
(high) level of immunity at the
centre. That is why we have less
resource to develop the country. It
is bound to be that everybody is
making the demand.
“It is certainly not in the interest of
any part of the country to think that
all others will be contented with
remaining second-class. It is not
possible anymore.”