ABUJA— Professor of Criminology, and the Director of the centre for the study of corruption, University of Abuja, Professor Femi Odekunle, has attributed failure by Nigerian government to conduct credible elections over the years to long period of military rule.
The professor also believed that even when and where elections may be “technically free and fair, it may not be credible, adding that while free-ness and fairness are necessary input to the determination of credibility, they are not sufficient.
Professor Odekunle made this statement, weekend while presenting his paper titled “Towards credible election in Nigeriaâ€, at a one-day town hall meeting/forumâ€, organised by National Association of Seadogs, (Pyrates Confraternity).
His words, “The long period of military rule and its adverse effects in the under development of a virile and meaningful democratic culture, both for and apparently alienated political class and the emasculated citizenry/ electorate is one of the major obstacles towards credible election in Nigeria.â€
The Professor of Criminology also pointed out that the 1999 constitution handed down by the military fails in significant respect to “provide checks and balances against possible excesses by their civilian successors in power but, on the contrary, creates loopholes and opportunities for the abuse and
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