The Archbishop of the Abuja Catholic Archdiocese, John Onaiyekan, on Thursday, expressed his wish that the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, be not sworn in on May 29....CONTINUE READING
Although he did not say what should happen on the day, since there is bound to be a vacuum following the expiration of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure, his stand is that cases in court should first be decided, indicating that he is not convinced that Tinubu won the February 25 presidential poll…..CONTINUE READING
The perspective, which he expressed during an interview with ‘Channels Television’, has drawn various reactions. While some, particularly supporters of the Labour Party’s candidate, Petr Obi, have endorsed Onaiyekan’s stand, many other Nigerians, especially the APC’s supporters, have strongly condemned it. Many of the latter said Onaiyekan was speaking for Obi, whom he had expressed support for before the poll, while others noted that he was not only being hypocritical but also fanning embers of anarchy.
They base their argument on the fact that although legal battles are part of the transition process, they are not supposed to be a spanner in the wheel.
Of course, Onaiyekan has the right to criticise the process that led to the emergence of Tinubu or any other candidate; but saying he should not be sworn in is tantamount to calling for dangerous confusion. It is appalling that the call is coming from a religious leader of Onaiyekan’s calibre. He had often preached peace. He had also usually called for justice and balance, just as he had outright rejected the APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket. As a matter of fact, he also publicly endorsed Obi, describing him as the most viable new force to support. All of these are legitimate and largely understandable since every living soul is a political animal. But his call against swearing in Tinubu seems to be taking the game too far because the stage the democratic tradition is now is no more about any candidate but that of a national process.
By the way, does Onaiyekan remember that the millions of people who are not Obidient like him, but who voted for Tinubu, are also bona fide Nigerians? They are well alive and have the right to see their votes not just count but also get actualised as the Nigerian Constitution prescribes. It is a good cause to fight for those who cast their votes for Obi, who are also in millions – and the People’s Democratic Party’s Atiku Abubakar, who came second in the election – but it is not right to assume that no one probably voted for Tinubu, or that those who did do not matter until one big judge says so. Asking whoever they too voted for not to be sworn in as due is like agitating on the graves of non-Obidient voters.
Here is how Onaiyekan put his strange belief in the interview: “There are cases in court that have not been disposed of. That is why we are in an anomalous situation. We have a president-elect whose election is being challenged and the court is handling it.
“I’m still waiting for the court to tell me who won the election. It doesn’t make much sense to be swearing in people when they are still in court. I know it has happened with governors, but the outcome has not been the best of all cases.”
Curious. The senior citizen’s stand is, indeed, curious, pressuring one to suggest that, even in the clouds of (legitimate) anger, no one should say or do anything that can end up being in the devil’s interest as far as the democratic experience is concerned…..CONTINUE READING
