***warns that electoral coups always snowball into military coups

The alleged rigging of Presidential election in Zimbabwe by the ruling ZANU-PF party has been condemned by former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank

Frank in a statement in Abuja, also accused the Heads of State and Governments of the African Union and indeed the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) of eerie silence in the face of electoral injustice being meted on the opposition presidential candidate in Zimbabwe widely believed to have won the election.

Frank indicated that such electoral coups in the form of rigging often snowball into military coups and violent change of governments because of discontent and deep seated anguish of the people who have been denied the right to freely choose who to lead them by fraud and force.

He insisted that Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa was declared winner in questionable circumstances following widespread irregularities orchestrated by the ruling party in instilling fear and suppression of votes in opposition strongholds.

He noted that candidate of the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), Nelson Chamisa, was robbed of votes as attested by international observers and South African Regional body that monitored the election.

According to him, foreign poll monitors insisted that the elections had failed to meet regional and international standards just like the outcome of the February 25, 2023 presidential election in Nigeria that failed on all parameters due to overbearing influence of the ruling party and its use of financial inducements, intimidation and harassment of opposition and voters to deny Nigerians of their rightful choice.

The head of the European Union’s observer mission said the vote took place in a “climate of fear”, while Southern African regional bloc SADC’s mission raised issues including voting delays, issues with the voter roll, bans on opposition rallies and biased state media coverage.

“For example, voting was forced into an unprecedented second day because of delays in the printing of ballot papers in some key districts including the capital Harare, an opposition stronghold principally to deny Chamisa of votes,” he said.

He condemned a situation where African ruling parties are increasingly violating the electoral rights of the opposition parties and their candidates through rigging saying the trend will continue if measures are not taken to make African Heads of States to respect the sanctity of the ballot box.

He urged regional political blocs like the AU and ECOWAS to urgently call the President of Zimbabwe to order as a step towards curbing coup d’état now rearing its ugly head in many Africa countries like the recent one in Niger Republic.

“This is what African leaders are doing that is leading to military coups in the continent of Africa. An electoral coup has just taken place where the sitting President has outrightly rigged the election against the expressed will of the people.

“But neither African presidents nor AU has condemned what has happened in Zimbabwe. But if there is a military coup in Zimbabwe tomorrow, they will all begin to issue war threats in a bid to restore democratic rule,” he said.

He called on the United States of America, United Kingdom and other international bodies, to
lend their voice to condemn the electoral heist in Zimbabwe if they are genuinely interested in ending coups in Africa.

“So we are telling the international community that until they come together to make sure that African elections are transparent, free and fair, coups will not end in Africa,” he declared.

He called for urgent international sanctions against the President of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa and any President that rigs election in Africa to fraudulently perpetuate themselves in office against the wish of the people.

“The United Nations must ensure that henceforth Presidents or heads of governments that were rigged into office are not invited to attend its General Assembly or any of its international gatherings,” he said.

By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse.

The Jigawa state government has reiterated the need for establishing common African currency and free visa among the countries for healthy business environment in the continent.

The permanent secretary ministry of commerce, trade and tourism, Alhaji Muhammad Bello gave the indication while declaring open a one day workshop and press briefing to mark the Africans Liberation week campaign on borderless Africa.

Alhaji Muhammad Bello explained that “The formations of common African and foreign policies among African countries would be one of the bedrocks for African developing economy and effective security”.

He also noted that “there is also the need for emphasis on free visa to all Africans and establishment of common African currency”.

The workshop was organized by a non governmental organization under the aegis of Save Nigeria Now in collaboration with Ministries, the Jigawa State Polytechnic, Immigration and the Army.

On its part the group (Save Nigeria Now) called for the removal of border obstacles for healthy business environment in Africa.

Speaking on behalf of the organization, the JIgawa state coordinator, Comrade Maryam Ibrahim explained that, the 2023 African Liberation week campaign is on borderless Africa organized by Save Nigeria now in collaboration with Jigawa State ministry of Commerce Supported by Africans Rising.

According to her, the campaign that comprised civil society organizations, Unions and other relevant stakeholders from Government and private institution have been mobilized by Africans Rising which brings about over 500 actions and events across the continent and in the diaspora.

“As such, as we celebrate our diversity and shared heritage let us remember that our strength is in our unity by fostering a Spirit of collaboration and breaking-down the barriers that divide us, we can create a brighter future for all Africans”, Maryam said.

She call on all relevant stakeholders to lend their voices to to call for Free movement of persons in Cognisance of the laws of Host member states, with provision of effective measures to prevent unwanted situations.

While making his presentation at the workshop, the director tourism Mahmud Isah Ringim also called for the formation of common African economic and foreign policy with emphasis on free visa for all Africans and establishment of common African currency.

Also presenting his paper, the spokesperson Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps CSC Abdullahi Adamu Shehu said for a healthy borderless Africa some crucial security roles must be put into consideration.

CSC Shehu identified some of the roles as collaboration/synergy and information sharing in border security management and providing actionable solution on security threats in Africa.

On its part, the Nigeria Immigration service Jigawa state command said, Africa has come of an age in terms of human and soci-economic development despite being classified as third world, but the arrangement in technology and global village and ready to move in term of advancement generation.

***felicitates with Kenya’s President-elect, William Ruto

A former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has urged the outgoing President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta to follow the precedent laid by former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 by officially congratulating Ruto.

This was contained in his message of felicitation to the President-elect of Kenya, Mr William Ruto.

Frank in a statement in Abuja, asked the outgoing President to urgently initiate a peace and reconciliation process among the key actors during the election in order to curb the pockets of restiveness in some parts of the country. 
He lauded the people of Kenya for their peaceful disposition during the presidential election and for voting for change in the East African country.
Frank who is the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and Middle East, also called on them to stand with Ruto who represents a complete break from the established system of political succession in the country which had appeared to be restricted to the offsprings of former leaders who fought for the independence of the country. 

He said: “The people of Kenya have decided that the ‘Hustler-In-Chief-of-Kenya’ should be their next President through the ballot. Therefore, let the will of the people prevail. 

“Kenya needs peace to move forward and President Kenyatta has a great role to play in bringing parties in the electoral conflict to the discussion table just like he did during the last election whose results were highly disputed. 

“Kenya is a peaceful country therefore, the political actors must eschew any action that can plunge the nation into a needless political crisis following the emergence of Ruto as President. 

“The election of Ruto marks a new political dawn for Kenya, therefore, let the votes count.

“On his part, the President-elect, must be magnanimous in victory by immediately reaching out to his opponents with assurances of his readiness to work with them in the overall interest of peace and development of the country.

“We equally call on the presidential candidate of the opposition political party, Raila Odinga, to as a matter of necessity call his supporters to order in the interest of peace for the generality of Kenyans.

“Let him approach the appropriate court to challenge the results of the poll if he feels there were irregularities during the electoral process that may have denied him victory.”

Frank also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of Nigeria to borrow a leaf from its Kenyan counterpart that never considered the existing power blocks in the country but courageously declared Ruto as the President-elect after he scored the highest number of votes during the election.