Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, has reminded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies that they would bear both the blame and praise in the conduct of this year’s general elections. Ekweremadu, therefore, admonished them to exhibit the highest sense of patriotism and professionalism.
He gave the admonition while speaking with newsmen at the Enugu West People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) mega rally, in Agwu, Enugu State, ahead of Saturday’s election.
“I believe INEC will conduct a free and fair election if they follow the rules. They have said that several times. But, they also have to understand that, as the president would say, ‘the world is also watching us’. At the end of the day, it is the INEC and its chairman that will be on trial. If anything goes wrong, the chairman will be held responsible. If it goes well, he will take the credit.
“We’ve come a long way as a country. We’ve tried to freshen up our electoral processes, through some legislative efforts. We’ve amended the constitution several times to get the best practices. But, no matter the quantum of laws we have made, the important thing is for INEC to live up to expectations, to get their people to do the correct thing, whether you are ad hoc staff or you are a permanent staff of INEC. Ultimately, they will answer for their conducts.”
The lawmaker said it is also up to the security agencies to live up to their several promises of neutrality, professional conduct, and protection of INEC, electoral materials and voters.
Meanwhile, President General of Igbo Indigenes Without Border (IIWB), Dr. Bernard Oshi, has called for re-election of Ekweremadu and other Igbo representatives in the upper legislative chamber. Rising from a sensitisation workshop organised by the Abuja-based socio-cultural organisation, held recently at Ndiagboh, Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State, in preparation for the forthcoming general elections, Oshi said Ekweremadu deserves re-election because he “is an epitome of service, sacrifice, unalloyed and fruitful representations. He is a true democrat, whose sole aim in government is hinged on the betterment of his people.”
Speaking further, the entrepreneur and youth ambassador noted that his constituency has never had it so good, by having a representative and leader like Ekweremadu.
“And like Oliver Twist, we want more of the good times, more of the giant strides in both human and infrastructural developments, more of the robust representations and, of course, more of the overwhelming goodwill that Ikeoha attracts to our land,” he said.
Extolling the virtues of the deputy senate president, Oshi, a.k.a Ben 10, said he has demonstrated time and time again, through his political sagacity, that representing a people, goes far beyond warming the seats, arguing and bantering words that do not impact positively on the people being represented.