by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
The Plateau State Governor, Barr Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, says he disagrees with the idea that State Electoral Commissions should be scrapped, while asserting that, “The answer is not to throw everything away, but to fix what’s broken.”
Speaking, while declaring open of the 13th National Delegates Conference of the Forum, Mutfwang said, “When we chose our electoral chairman, we didn’t pick a politician. We asked INEC to recommend someone. That’s how it should be.
“If leaders choose to do the right thing, institutions will work. There’s a book, ‘Why Nations Fail,’ and one of its central points is that, when leaders lack conscience, nations suffer.
“That’s the truth. The Middle-East may not be democratic in the way we are, but they are making progress because their leaders are focused and care about their people,” he stated.
He said, “The collaboration between INEC and the State Electoral Commissions must improve. The voter data INEC holds doesn’t belong to INEC – it belongs to Nigeria. States should have access to it without unnecessary restrictions.
“Beyond elections, we need to have a serious conversation about local government administration. When Professor Edu mentioned the 1976 reforms, I asked myself – how far have we really come?” he stated.
According to him, “Section 7 of our Constitution says, ‘local governments should be democratically elected.’ That’s fine. But, I believe every state should have the freedom to run its local governments in a way that works best for them. Local Government Autonomy is a nice phrase, but it sometimes distracts us from the real efficiencies.
“I say this as someone, who has run a local government. What’s needed is efficiency and accountability. Without systems that hold people accountable, nothing will work. And, let’s be honest: there’s no politician who, left unchecked, won’t misuse resources. We need systems that check and balance power at the local level,” he noted.
Furthermore, the governor said, “The same goes for the conversation around state police. Yes, there are fears of abuse, but we can overcome those fears with strong oversight. Other countries have done it – it can work here, too. Again, it comes back to leadership.”
He urged delegates of the conference, saying, “Let it not just be about speeches. Let it be about action. Let’s raise the standard of leadership and build institutions that work.”
Also speaking, the Nasarawa State Governor, Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule, commended Governor Mutfwang for the infrastructural development he has seen with his own eyes, adding that, he admires his (Mutfwang’s) style of leadership and how he goes to places where crises happen – “so that people can see you are with them.”
“That builds trust and confidence. With that kind of leadership and, by God’s grace, insecurity in Plateau will come to an end,” Governor Sule stated.
According to him, he was glad to see the emphasis on reaffirming the electoral responsibilities of State Independent Electoral Commissions, adding that, “You are here to x-ray the challenges you face and examine the need for electoral reforms – and that is very important.
“These commissions face three major challenges: interference, lack of funding, and lack of trust. If we don’t resolve these, we cannot expect them to perform better.
“And, as the Guest Speaker rightly said, the same issues State Commissions face are the same ones INEC faces, too. So, who is really at fault? Everybody wants control.
“But, control doesn’t build democracy. Control doesn’t bring development. What we need are leaders, who fear God, who have a vision and, who are willing to serve the people. Once that is in place, Nigerians won’t care who controls what – they will care that the system works,” he stressed.
He said, “Local Governments, today, are not exactly cash-rich. When people talk about state governors hijacking local government’s funds, I sometimes laugh, because most local governments don’t even have enough funds for themselves – they constantly rely on state support. So, where’s the money to hijack?
“The truth is, it’s all about ‘control.’ But again, control won’t build trust; only genuine service and strong institutions will do that,” the governor stated.
“I’ve heard stories, like in Plateau State – where election results were announced at the national level before the state-level collation was even done. That kind of thing happens everywhere. I recall a December election, in 2010 – results were declared, while voting was still ongoing. So, yes, the system needs fixing.
“But, abolishing State Electoral Commissions is not the answer. I strongly disagree with that idea. It’s not a solution. The same problems you see in the state commissions exist at the federal level, too. So, if you scrap the state commissions, you’re not solving the root problem – you are just moving it around,” Governor Sule stated.
Governor Sule added that, “What we need is reform; we need strong, trusted systems and leaders with integrity. I know many governors – including myself and my brother here – who are willing to be part of that solution.”
He said, “I am willing to offer Nasarawa State as a pilot for direct local government elections – if the House of Assembly agrees, and the judiciary supports it. But even then, that won’t be enough. People must also accept the results. “The kind of people I want to see emerge are those who, when they get what they deserve, will take it with dignity – and not come back asking for something more,” he stated.