FRANK UKONGA LECTURE -13-: EDO-JULY 14, 2012 GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION, BEST ELECTION IN NIGERIAN/AFRICAN HISTORY; A NEW PERSPECTIVE AND MODEL RECOMMENDED TO OTHER EMERGING DEMOCRACIES OF THE WORLD.

FRANK UKONGA LECTURE -13-: EDO-JULY 14, 2012 GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION, BEST ELECTION IN NIGERIAN/AFRICAN HISTORY; A NEW PERSPECTIVE AND MODEL RECOMMENDED TO OTHER EMERGING DEMOCRACIES OF THE WORLD.

EDO GOVERNORSHIP POLLS 2012- BEST ELECTION IN NIGERIAN/AFRICA HISTORY, AN OVERVIEW: The Edo governorship election of July 2012 has been adjudged the best election in Nigeria and African History. This was the final verdict of opinion polls conducted by National Peoples News, a registered and well respected Newspaper Organization in Nigeria and Sub Saharan Africa. The research was conducted on a world wide basis.

EDO JULY 14, VS JUNE 12 ELECTION: The only other election compared to the Edo giant strides in the entire Nigerian History was the June 12 election conducted by the Babangida administration which many respondents see as a great election but was not conclusive, the winner Basorun MKO Abiola, was never declared nor was he allowed to assume office but ended up in jail and subsequent grief and death. This cannot be called the best election in Nigerian history because for something to be best and rectitude in philosophy, both the necessity premises of reason de entre and its sufficiency premises must be good, rectitude and teleological. The Edo election of July 14 satisfied these teleological conditions while the June 12 did not but rather ended up been deontological. Whence, the respondents concluded that the Edo election of July 14, 2012, was the best election, in Nigerian history. FINAL ,Q.E.D.

 THE GREAT LEGACY OF PROF. ATAHIRU JEGA AND H.E. PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN: This great achievement is a big credit to the government of H.E. President Goodluck Jonathan, the PDP which is the ruling party, to INEC, and to all political parties and the observers, security agents of Police, Army, Civil Defense Corp, SSS, Edo peoples, and, stakeholders in the Nigerian Project. It is also a big credit to the contenders  in the election namely Comrade Adams  Oshiomhole of ACN, Major General Charles Airhiabvere of PDP, Prince Frank Ukonga of SDMP, Chief Solomon Edebiri of ANPP, Comrade Andrew Igwemoh of LP, Chief Paul Orunwese of NCP, and Chief Roland Izebuwa of CPC, who all insisted that Edo State must make history by conducting the best election in Nigerian History by the decorum, mannerism, conducts and intellectualism, plus maturity, that all the contenders displayed during and after the election.

THE MAKING OF THE EDO SUCCESS  STORY: The Edo state governorship polls of July 14,2012, the best election in Nigerian history was made possible by advance planning by all the stakeholders and observers that participated in the election and above all the President of the Nigerian Federation H.E. President Goodluck Jonathan, also wanted to make history by insisting on due process, no rigging, no stuffing and snatching of ballot boxes, tight security, no hooliganism, no media sensationalism, but  intellectual and debate oriented election.    Much credits also goes to the candidates who were carefully selected as the best crops of gentlemen that ware eligible for such a ground breaking and radical departure from the past mundane irredentism.

THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF INEC TO THE SUCCESS OF EDO JULY 14, 2012 POLLS: Right from the onset INEC were particular that all political parties that will participate in the Edo elections must as a matter of fact display a certain standard of internal democracy . They insisted that all candidates must be elected in Party primaries that were monitored by INEC officials from both State and Federal INEC offices and at Local Government levels. Also those that observed the party primaries included the SSS, the Nigerian Police, and the Civil defense corps and in some case other security agencies. In advance the candidates were scrutinized and vetted by all the organizations concerned to make sure that they conform to the international standard practice of the post being contested which is the governorship position and it is not just a small position in any country.

ABUJA MEETINGS AT INEC HEADQUARTERS AND BENIN MEETINGS: After a proper screening, those who qualified to contest were invited to the first stakeholders meeting with INEC officials in Abuja, chaired by Prof. Atahiru Jega and monitored by all stakeholders in the Nigerian Project including the presidency. All the political parties involved were invited including the governorship candidates, the state and National chairmen and secretaries of the political parties. It was a close door meeting were all the stakeholder were asked to say what and how the election should be conducted and what problems envisaged. Every stakeholder was allowed to speak his mind in the presence of Prof. Atahiru Jega, the presidency, and in presence of the entire country. And all the problems itemized were resolved on that day. They gave us refreshments and all the contenders embraced each other as brothers and friends. And you know that it is not easy to bring contenders, gladiators, and Generals, contesting for same position, together as friends, and that was the giant secret and success of Prof. Jega. From that day when we came back to Edo state we began to cooperate with one another as one big family, despite the fact that we are chasing aggressively the same office.

INEC’S STRATAGEMS: INEC, which means the Independent National Electoral Commission of Nigeria is the institution vested with the powers to conduct elections in Nigeria. The new Chairman of INEC was carefully selected to be a man of impeccable integrity that every body in the Nigeria polity and politics agreed that he was a good choice of the presidency. Every body knows Prof. Atahiru Jega as a man of unquestionable, unblemished integrity. And this was the most important success of the Nigerian Democratic dispensation. All other stratagems fall behind this first primordial victory.

Resident electoral commissioner of great integrity: And that was what Prof. Atahiru Jega did in the case of Edo election as well. He brought the best men of INEC to come and conduct the Edo election. The new Resident Electoral Commissioner for Edo State was Alhaji Gaidan a great intelligent INEC top brass, a great democrat and a fine gentleman of the male gender and a great pride to Nigeria. He organized several meetings in Benin among the stakeholders and had a good fore sight of problems anticipated and quickly he regroups the stakeholders in meetings to resolve problems before they emerged. The same thing he did at the 18 Local Government Areas of Edo state.

THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE ALHAJI MOHAMMED ABUBAKAR AND OTHER SECURITY AGENCIES TO THE SUCCESS OF EDO ELECTIONS: The Inspector General of Police Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar invited all the stakeholders to a meeting in INEC’S office in Abuja which we all honored and the meeting was co chaired by DIG Akoyinbo a top police brass in charge of the Southern Nigeria Command of the Nigeria Police and Prof Atahiru Jega of INEC. In the close door meeting all the envisaged security problems were discussed no hold barred. All stakeholders opened up and all problems envisaged were immediately nibbled in the bud. We were served refreshments and a second meeting was scheduled in Benin City.

The Benin Security Meeting between the Edo Police Commissioner, INEC Commissioner, Customs, immigration, Army, Air force, Civil Defense and SSS ETC and stakeholders: The first security meeting held in Benin was held at the invitation and sponsorship of the Edo state commissioner of Police Commissioner Mr Balogun. The meeting was held in the Police officers mess in Benin and all stakeholders in the election including candidates, chairmen and secretaries of political parties. Here was when the real action took place. All the political parties were asked to contribute to evolve enabling guidelines on how the election will be conducted and in black and white on conducts expected during and after the elections. We all sat down and agreed in black and white on the dos and don’ts on the Election Day and after. It was now written out and typed by the Police PRO and we all signed the document and each party/ candidate knew exactly what is expected of him and what is not expected. This was very important. And we all have copies of the document.

PRESIDENCY SPONSORED SECURITY /STAKEHOLDERS MEETING CHAIRED BY REAR ADMIRAL NDUBUSI KANU- FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA:,THE IGP ALHAJI ABUBAKAR AND INEC- PROF ATAHIRU JEGA: The President of the Nigerian Federation called a stakeholders meeting which all the top echelon of the Nigerian federation attended. The entire shakers and movers of Nigeria were there. The special adviser to the President on inter party affair, Senator Ben Obi organized the meeting in Benin, and it was a tough meeting that was  opened to the media and other top government functionaries of the Nigerian Federation. All candidates and stakeholders were allowed to talk. The IGP Alhaji Abubakar was represented in the meeting, DIG Akoyinbo, AIG Argungu, the Customs’, SSS, Military top brass, top brass, Navy, Air force, Prisons, Civil Defense etal, the entire hall was full of dignitaries from all works of life. It was one of the greatest meetings I ever attended in my life. The former Vice President of Nigeria, Rear Admiral Ndubusi Kanu and also a great NADECO Chieftains, Chaired the meeting. Prof. Atahiru Jega was there, Mrs Omo Agege the Director General of INEC and top brass of INEC were all in the meeting. All the media gurus including Dr Raymond Dokpesi, Dr Soni Irabo, etc were there life. So you can see that to organize best election in Nigeria and Africa is not a tea party. After the meeting a communique was issued where I Frank Ukonga, a governorship candidate in the election advised the Federal Government to fund candidates and political parties addressed to have an even level playing field in the context of war chest of political parties and candidates which is mostly uneven. And that view was widely published by all the media of Nigeria and the entire world.

THE FINAL STAKEHOLDERS MEETING IN BENIN CHAIRED BY THE IGP ALHAJI MOHAMMED ABUBAKAR: The final stakeholders meeting was held in Benin a few days to the election chaired by the IGP Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, Prof Jega INEC Chairman and all the top brass of the Nigerian federation were also in the meeting. The top brass of Customs, Civil Defense, Military, Air force ,Army, SSS, Prisons, Navy were all present, retired Generals, big personalities, all contesting candidates, all chairmen of political parties, all secretaries of political parties, the mass media, all accredited observers etc. It was a great meeting and all candidates, and chairmen and secretaries of political parties were allowed to speak out their minds. All the problems were promptly solved and they served us refreshments and then gave us telephone numbers to call in case of any trouble. The Police and INEC left no stone unturned in the Edo polls of July 14, 2012. It was well planned and executed expertly.

SECURITY DETAILS FOR CANDIDATES: The police gave the entire candidates security personals to guard them during and after the elections period and they are entitled to security details for the period of the mandate of 2012- 2016.

LANGUAGE OF ADDRESSING GOVERNORSHIP CANDIDATES: All the candidates were addressed as Excellencies throughout the election and after the election periods and were given equal treatments like the incumbent Governor. There was no preferential treatment.

VOTERS AND CANDIDATES SENSITIZATION: The next level funded by INEC and many election observers like IRI, IFES etc was the voter sensitization meetings. INEC and the observers organized several meetings in Benin and all the Local Government Areas to sensitize the voters and the agents and candidates on how to go about the election. Even video tapes, hand books, booklets, posters where printed and given to all parties to share to the electorates. Many pasted all over the state on what and what is expected. And mock elections were held by these organizations to sensitize the entire electorate and peoples of Edo state on how to conduct the best election in Benin and all Local Govt Areas. That the Edo election was the best in Nigeria and African history was not an accidental occurrence. I believe it was carefully planned and executed by all the stakeholders to be that way as a role model of the present and the future.

TRAINING OF PARTY POLLING AGENTS AND POLITICAL CAMPAIGM MANAGERS::Next INEC and the international Observers took on the great task to training party poling Agents and campaign managers on how to win election and what and what to do in elections. Usually in many elections the trouble starts from the clash of party agents and political thugs. So the Edo election went into being with well trained party agents, campaign managers that were thought on the nitty gritty of elections; and all of them now know the rules of the game. So it was well planned. In fact the IRI –International Republican Institute of the United States of America, Trained all SDMP Polling agents and campaign managers and officials to international standard. And I will for ever be indebted to them for great support.

INEC’S POLICY THRUST OF ERADICATING OVERBEARING MONEY POLITICS IN NIGERIA: In the first Abuja stakeholder meeting I Prince Frank Ukonga complained to INEC in the meeting that something must be done to eradicate totally the overbearing monetization of politics and campaigns in Nigeria due mainly to my portable war chest and I suggested that debates and intellectual exposures to the electorates via debates, lectures, Meetings and symposiums would alleviate this as the electorates will have the opportunity to access through television, radio and newspapers the quality and manifestos of candidates and  make up their minds on whom to vote for. Prof. Atahiru Jega , an erudite seasoned top egg head and a former Vice Chancellor of Adobayero University agreed with my suggestion and made the Edo polls, debate based/ intellectual based election and this worked like magic for all the candidates, political parties and even for INECC as it save us all moneys to spend in reaching out to the electorate. A very great strategy and it was the first time in Nigerian History that debates were introduced in governorship elections.

THE DEBATES: THE AIT/NDG DEBATE, ITV DEBATE, THE NTA DEBATE, THE NUJ DEBATE, THE EDO YOUTH COUNCIL LECTURE SERIES, THE UNIVERSITY OF BENIN LECTURE SERIES ETC: The mass media played a most invaluable role to the success of the Edo elections as they all group up to organize debates, interviews, and lectures for the candidates which was one of the most brilliant introduction into the governorships elections in Nigeria by INEC.

Here the electorate were able to access a candidate and his political manifesto and decides on whom to vote for. This saved a lot of cash in reaching out through over bloated monetary campaign and saved cash for all the candidates. Some candidates missed some of the debates while some arrived late but in general the electorates by my investigation were looking up to the debates and really loved to see their would be Governors slogging it out face to face on Television debates. It was a great invention and really very interesting. The candidates themselves and the political parties looked up to it and prepared towards it earnestly. So this cut away all room of hooliganism, thuggery, and the fighting of supporters in unnecessary campaign rallies etc..

In fact most candidates were busy preparing how to face the debate than have time to groom thugs and many thugs, hooligans, and peoples of nuisance value were kept out of commissions. Right now all political parties in Nigeria are in search of new members that are vibrant, who can debate publicly and hold their ground. Not like in the past when dull unimpressive candidate will be presented because he has money to throw around. That is not possible anymore in Nigerian politics. You have to be sound, intelligent, well groomed, polished and articulate before a party can accept to field you as their candidate.

FLAG UP CAMPAIGNS AND ROAD CAMPAIGNS: PRESIDENT JONATHAN AND VICE PRESIDENT NAMADI SAMBO, ASIWAJU BOLA TINUBU, CHIEF OLU FALAE VISITED EDO STATE: There were lots of campaign groups as all the parties were doing their best to attract public attention. The PDP candidate of General Charles Airhiabvere brought into Benin at the Ogbemudia stadium President Jonathan to flag him up while Comrade Adams Oshiomhole brought in Asiwaju Biola Tunubu to flag him up in font of mammoth crowd at the stadium in Benin. In the case of SDMP our flag up was held in Igarra in the Edo North and Chief Olu Falae the SDMP Chairman sent a powerful delegation of top dignitaries to come and flag me up Frank Ukonga, in Igarra in the Northern aspects of Edo State. While the ANPP Solomon Edebiri, LP Andrew Igwemoh, NCP –Paul Orunwese all flagged off in their own chosen locations.

VISIT TO TRADITIONAL RULERS AND GETTING THEIR BLESSINGS:  President Jonathan accompanied PDP Candidate General Charles Airhiabvere to the Palace of the Oba of Benin Omo Oba Erediawa and was warmly received. Also Solomon Edebiri and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole visited the Oba of Benin for his blessings. In the case of SDMP governorship candidate Frank Ukonga, we chose to visit the Otaru of Igarra, who is one of the most respected Edo King of the entire Igarra lands of Edo North, as our paramount ruler and he blessed me abundantly.

PROPAGANDA, POSTERS, BILL BOARDS, AUTOMOBILE, PAMFLETS, LEAFLETS, GIFT ITEMS, AND RADIO JINGLES AND NEWSPAPER ADVERTS: All the candidates did their best to attract the electorates and voters through radio and television jingles, posters, propaganda, leaflets, pamphlets, bill boards, Newspaper adverts, branded automobiles, gift items   road shows and it was done peacefully as the eyes of all the security agencies were at alert for any problem and when such clash occur ware quickly solved. Though some thugs still choose to deface and remove the posters of other candidates but then it was quickly resolved.

TRAINING OF THE INEC POLLING STAFF: INEC trained their staffs recruited from educated members of the National Youth Service corps and they conducted themselves with discipline.

THE ELECTION MATERIALS: The election material were flown into Benin and all candidates and political parties were mandated to come to the airport under tight security to accompany it to the safe keeping in the vaults of the Central Bank of Nigeria in Benin. So we all saw the materials sealed and were safely kept till the Election Day.

The Election Day July 14, 2012: In the same way we were invited to witness the transfer of the materials to INEC office for distribution to all the polling booths and all the LGAs in the state. The accreditation was done between 8 O’clock in the morning and 12 noon and as from 12 noon it was voting time. All the candidates were out to vote but no more campaign, nor should you were a party dress and many other rules earlier agreed upon. After the voting, all the voters stood and witness the counting of the votes and entered into the required forms and taken to the zonal headquarters for further tallying with other results and finally all results came to Benin for final collation. And the great thing was that the result announced by INEC tallied with all the other results of the returning agents of all other political parties calculated separately. And this was the first time in Nigerian and African history such a feat was achieved. So there was no room for arguments as the results were announced.

The security was good and the joint patrol team patrolled all the nook and cranny of the state making sure peace and tranquility was observed and it was one of the most peaceful elections ever held in Benin and Nigeria. Also an ingenious way to cage rigging was the material used in one local Govt area will be different from the other local government Area. Each LGA had its own unique materials.

THE ANNOUCEMENT OF RESULTS: The next day of the 15thof July 2012, INEC has finished tallying the results and the final result was announced by the Chief Returning officer Mr Oshodin and Adams Oshiomole the ACN candidate was declared the winner.

ACCEPTANCE OF VICTORY BY OTHER CANDIDATES AND TRASFER OF DE FACTO RECOGNITION: Appropriately the President of the Nigerian Federation H.E. Goodluck Jonathan congratulated Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for his victory in the polls accepting the result and subsequently a certificate of return was granted to Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for another 4 years term as Governor of Edo state from 2012- 2016. Other candidates congratulated Adams Oshiomhole . And I congratulated him accepting his victory and offering to work with him to move Edo state forward. Later I, Prince Frank Ukonga and other candidates paid a courtesy visit to the winner, H.E. Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, in the state house and he received us warmly.

SETTING UP OF ELECTION TRIBUNAL: Also an election tribunal was set up, for any aggrieve party, or persons, to go and lay his complain. All the other candidates and political parties accepted the results save for the candidate of PDP Major General Charles Airhiabvere who complained about some certain issues and it is being addressed by the election tribunal.

CONCLUSION: JULY 14, 2012 EDO ELECTION AS A ROLE MODEL FOR ALL DEMOCRACIES OF THE WORLD: I, Prince Frank Onaivi Ukonga Participated in the best election in Nigerian/ African history as a governorship candidate in the EDO ELECTIONS OF July 14, 2012; and I am recommending it as a role model to all countries of Africa as well as to all emerging democracies of the world. For further enquiries about a more detailed blue print on the polls you have to consult the INEC Chairman of the Nigerian Federation Prof. Atahiru Jega who would be able to acquaint you further about the great success of the Edo Election and how your country can be assisted by Nigeria to organize such successful elections.

Sign

Prince Frank Onaivi Ukonga

Governorship Candidate of Edo state 2012 polls