I see blood in 2007 -
Keyamo
By Geoffrey Anyanwu, Awka
Wednesday, July 28, 2004
Human Rights activist and radical lawyer, Mr. Festus Keyamo,
has identified the issue of power blocs as the greatest threat
to Nigerian democracy. He however, expressed happiness that
Governor Chris Ngige of Anambra State addressed it frontally
in July last year.
The power blocs, he said, have been determining at every point
in time who gets what, how and where in the nation’s
politics and had sniffled the democratic norms, adding that
by deciding to even give his life if possible to stop them
in Anambra State, Ngige has given hope to Nigerians.
Keyamo who spoke to Daily Sun at Awka during the Grand Symposium
in commemoration of the first anniversary of Anambra State
Liberation Day, noted that the celebration signifies a "significant
shift in the type of politics we play in Nigeria", hence
very crucial to the survival of democracy.
He also predicted doom for Nigeria in 2007 if the electoral
system is not reformed before then, saying, "I see blood
and nothing but blood in 2007".
Significance of Anambra State Liberation Day.
The liberation day to me signifies a shift in the type of
politics we play in Nigeria, and to that extent it is very
crucial to the survival of democracy. Hyping this particular
day, celebrating this day and playing it up is key to survival
of democracy in Nigeria.
The greatest threat to democracy in Nigeria was addressed
frontally by Governor Ngige and if you know what I’m
saying, the greatest threat to democracy in Nigeria is noting
but the issue of power blocs, who determine at every point
in time who gets what, where and how. So the liberation day
goes beyond the issue of Uba and Ngige struggling for power
in Anambra State. It also sent a signal to other parts of
the country, including the centre, where uptil now, even with
all the will and tough talk of the president, he has been
able to free himself from the shackles of the interest groups
in Nigeria that continued to play god where power is concerned.
So it is important both for the people of Anambra State and
for the people of Nigeria that such a day is marked, such
a day is also recommended to other states too and even such
attitude of government here is also recommended to other states
and also the government at the centre, that at the end of
the day what matters in a democracy is the will of the people
and not the will of a power bloc, not the will of a godfather
and not the will of a cartel, that is what is important in
a democracy.
We have not been able to buy that culture here in Nigeria.
In South Africa, the European Union said they were not going
to bother to send anybody to observe their elections, because
they said they were sure that peoples’ will prevail.
Why did they come to Nigeria to supervise our elections? Because
there is always a threat that the will of the people’s
will be subverted here and that is what we saw in the elections
last year and that is what they tried to pose also in Anambra
State and that was what Dr. Ngige stood up against.
So it is not about celebrating Ngige. We are not here to celebrate
Ngige. We are here to celebrate a significant shift in power
politics in Nigeria.
Controversy in Ngige’s election
The major issue in the Anambra crisis, like I said, is not
the claim of Uba, it is not the claim of Ngige. Those matters
are left to the election tribunal to determine. The major
issue in the Anambra crisis is what happened after the election
when those who supported him wanted their will to prevail.
But that’s wrong. Even in America people support others
during elections. But the question is: Do they then take over
the reigns of government? Do they determine the life of the
government? Do they determine the will of the people? Do they
dictate to government what happens? That is what we are saying.
So I’m not concerned about the claims of Uba here, I’m
not concerned about the claims of Ngige here to victory or
not to victory. That issue, like I said, is better determined
at the election tribunal.
What we want to use the case of Anambra State to display is
that at every point in time, we must project the issue of
morality in government. The issue of morality in the electoral
process, not power tussle, not who should get what and who
should not be in power, not who should be governor, who should
not be governor, not who supported who.
2007 election
I am afraid of 2007. When I look through my spiritual powers
in my mind, I see blood and nothing but blood. I see chaos
in 2007, except there is total reform in the electoral system,
I will not advise you, I will not advise anybody, I will not
advise my friends to go for any elective office in 2007.
2007 to me represents nothing. It represents only the will
of the ruling party, if you allow me to say that, it represents
only the will of people who will continue to call the shots
in politics. Except the will of the people truly excel and
the only way the will of the people can truly excel is if
we have a substantial reform in the electoral system. |
