CPC Seeks Action on Report on Election Violence

Muhammadu Buhari

By Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) has asked the Federal Government to implement without delay the findings of the  panel on post election violence in the country.

The party said the call has become necessary since the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had demonised CPC and its leaders on account of the eruption of post-election violence in some parts of the North after the 2011 general election.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Rotimi Fashakin, the party said it is now more than nine months after the release of the white-paper, and there is absolutely nothing to show that this very important endeavour is being pursued with desired  vigour.

“As a party, we call on the Nigerian people to demand the implementation of this report without any further delay. It is in so doing that true democratic values shall be deepened in the Nigerian polity, “ he said.

It said aside from identifying widespread desire by the people for change as a result of the parlous state of the nation’s infrastructure as a major cause of electoral violence,  the Lemu committee had recommended the setting up of electoral of fences tribunal.

The party noted that the PDP-led Federal Government was only able  (with adopt the establishment of special electoral offences’ tribunal as part of the implementation of the Lemu panel in May, 2012 more than seven months after submission of  report.

“Indeed, the nonchalance of this regime on this score connotes that the  Jonathan regime did not really intend to unearth the truth about the post-election violence in 2011 but sought to use the eminent Nigerians in the Lemu Panel as pawns to be used to indict CPC and its leader, Major General Muhammadu Buhari.

“The Jonathan regime, being the greatest beneficiary of the anomalous electoral system in 2011, is unwilling to make fundamental changes that will truly give sovereignty to the Nigerian people.

“The PDP will be unwilling to support any sustainable, expeditious trial of electoral offences because electoral manipulations and infractions have become the reason for its tenacious hold on political power in these thirteen years,” he said.

The CPC said the party feels the original intention of setting up the 22-man  post election violence  panel is just  to provide a legal and institutional impetus to PDP propagandist schemes to nail Buhari.

“While the Lemu Committee was still sitting, the police Authority declared at a public forum that: “No fewer than 5,356 people were arrested during and after the April 2011 General Elections in the country for electoral offences. Out of the number, 2,341 were arrested before the polls and 3,015 for post-election violence.”

“The poser is: What has happened to those apprehended by the Police for perpetrating this heinous crime against humanity? Left off the hook? Remanded in police custody? Being prosecuted in a court of law? Nigerians need to know,” the party said.