Parties In Last Minute Mobilization ACN Alleges Plot To Deploy Troops To SWestNIGERIANS vote today in a historic election in which, for the first time, an incumbent president for the oil-producing Niger Delta area of the South South geopolitical zone is the frontrunner.President Goodluck Jonathan, candidate of the People Democratic Party (PDP) who arrived at his hometown, Otuoke, in Ogbia Council of Bayelsa State yesterday to participate in the election is in what is seen generally as a two-way fight with former military Head of State, Major-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, who is the standard bearer of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).Former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman, Malam Nuhu Ribadu for the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), and Kano State Governor Malam Ibrahim Shekarau of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), are also in the race in a field with some other contestants.And ahead of todays polls, the ACN has alleged plans by the PDP-controlled Federal Government to massively deploy troops to Lagos and other states in the South-west, as part of a sinister motive to intimidate voters in the region.In a statement in Ilorin yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, the party said, however, that the strategy, at the behest of the so-called PDP stalwarts in the region, would backfire, since no military might can force the highly-discerning electorate there to vote against their conscience.We know that the PDP is totally distraught at the shellacking it received in the South-west in the hands of our party in last weeks National Assembly polls, and has thus grown desperate ahead of the remaining elections. But weve got news for the PDP: The worst is yet to come, as the people of the region will totally reject the party on Saturday and in subsequent poll, it said.The parties contesting the election put finishing touches to their preparations last night amid horse-trading and mobilization of voters and other power brokers.The Presidents official helicopter landed at the Community Secondary School Otuoke football field amidst some light drizzle.State government, defence, security officials, community leaders and enthusiastic members of the community received Jonathan, accompanied by his wife and personal aides.ACN added that it was particularly worrisome that some of the troops were reportedly being mandated to occupy collations centres from the ward to local government and state levels, all in a bid to rig the presidential election for President Goodluck Jonathan and then portray last weeks result in the National Assembly polls in the region as a fluke.The party said the decision to militarize the South-west ran contrary to assurances given by INEC Chairman Attahiru Jega and the Chief of Arny Staff, Gen. Azubike Ihejirika, that soldiers woulld not be deployed at polling units or collation centres and will only intervene to restore order if the need arose.It wondered whether the INEC boss was aware of the new plan to now send soldiers to polling units and collation centres, and the impact such brazen militarization of the electoral process would have on the election.ACN advised President Jonathan, who has consistently promised to give Nigerians a free and fair election, not to allow himself to be railroaded into reversing the modest success achieved so far in the electoral process by those whose sole aim is to feather their own nests, even at the expense of the nation.However, the various parties contesting todays Presidential polls are into last minute mobilization of voters nationwide as it was gathered they were all out to woo the electorate.Meanwhile, Civil Society Organisations [CSOs], monitoring the polls yesterday called on the INEC to prosecute all those involved in various electoral malpractices and violence during the National Assembly election last weekend.Speaking yesterday in Abuja at a press conference convened by the CSOs 2011 Nigeria Election Situation Room, the Executive Director of Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Dr. Jibrin Ibrahim advised INEC against shirking its responsibility to prosecute electoral offenders.For its part, a religious group, Association of Jewish Faith of Nigeria has called for a change of the current elections day in the country from Saturday to any other day because Saturday is Sabbath day, which should be observed as such.In a chat with The Guardian in Owerri, the groups National President, E. S. Uba and Financial Secretary, Mrs. Joanah Grace Akuwudike maintained that as long as the date was not reversed, its members who have reached voting age would continue to shun the exercise.Meanwhile, Nigerians have again been urged to vote for a presidential candidate that can best administer the affairs of Nigeria irrespective of religious, social or geopolitical affiliations.In a sermon delivered yesterday on the nations general elections, the Chief Imam of Muslim Association of Nigerias Mosque, Lagos State Branch, Alhaji Abdulateef Yakub, who gave the counsel, said the next President should be the candidate with the charisma and administrative know-how to lead the country to success among comity of nations.Quoting from the Quran, he said: The President of country is the leader in all ramifications. He controls both man and materials. Therefore, a good leader must entrench benefiting apparatus on the led or the people being led. He must be merciful and concerned with the welfare of his people on food, clothing and shelter among others.The Chief Imam, who reeled out how the next president must emulate the qualities of Prophets of God as enshrined in the Bible and Quran, said: Our next president irrespective of religion, geo-political zoning and prejudice, should be a faithful person, well educated, sincere, trustworthy, unbiased, religiously, ethnically and tribally altruistic, motivating and incorruptible.He tasked Nigerians not to leave any stone unturned, so that the next President will not be a Thrasymachean who holds that Justice is not worthwhile and believes that might is rightHe prayed that the elections would bring strong political, social and economic metamorphosis to the nation and the lives of Nigerians.
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