by Kolapo Olapoju

The New York Times has described the postponement of the elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission, hs being orchestrated by President Goodluck Jonathan to infuriate the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj. Gen Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

The US-based newspaper in its editorial of Monday, February 16, stated that Jonathan was scared-stiff of Buhari’s surging popularity, and as such, was forced to postpone the polls, in order to restrategize and launch fresh campaigns.

In the editorial titled: “Nigeria’s Miserable Choices”, the publication said: “Any argument to delay the vote might be more credible if President Goodluck Jonathan’s government had not spent much of the past year playing down the threat posed by the militants and if there were a reasonable expectation that the country’s weak military has the ability to improve security in a matter of weeks.”

“It appears more likely that Mr. Jonathan grew alarmed by the surging appeal of Muhammadu Buhari, a former military ruler who has vowed to crack down on Boko Haram. By dragging out the race, Jonathan stands to deplete his rival’s campaign coffers while he continues to use state funds and institutions to bankroll his own.”

The New York Times added that INEC’s excuse for the election postponement would have been taken in good faith if Jonathan had been tackling insecurity effectively since he became president

The editorial stated that President Jonathan’s popularity had waned to the point that Nigerians were not indisposed to the reality that a former military dictator could return as President.

Furthermore, the publications said Jonathan had become increasingly terrified about the rising insecurity and was ready to accept help from western powers, however, adding that the election postponement may increase the level of insecurity rather than reduce it.

It said: “Beyond security matters, entrenched corruption and the government’s inability to diversify its economy as the price of oil, the country’s financial bedrock, has fallen and has also caused Nigerians to look for new leadership.”

“Nigeria, the most populous African nation, and a relatively young democracy, cannot afford an electoral crisis. That would only set back the faltering efforts to reassert government control in districts where Boko Haram is sowing terror.”

“The security forces may not be able to safeguard many districts on Election Day. But postponement is very likely to make the security threat worse.”

Kolapo Olapoju