‘I Shiver When Lecturers Brag About Rigging Elections’ — ABU VC

• Prof. Kabiru Bala, VC of ABU Zaria, has expressed concern about the conduct of some academics involved in electoral assignments
• He believes that more university lecturers should be involved in electoral duties to strengthen Nigeria’s sustainable elections
• He has heard some academics brag about assisting politicians in rigging elections, which makes him shiver

Prof Kabiru Bala, Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, has expressed concern about the conduct of some academics involved in electoral assignments.

He stated that, despite the actions of a few academics who brag about assisting politicians in rigging elections, more university lecturers should be involved in electoral duties to strengthen Nigeria’s sustainable elections.

Prof Bala delivered a keynote address yesterday in Zaria, Kaduna State, at the third International Conference organised by ABU’s Department of Political Science and International Studies in collaboration with Mambayya House and the Aminu Kano Centre for Democratic Studies at Bayero University Kano.

The VC said;

Academics are a set of people that you can have confidence and trust in. If we want good elections, we have to ensure that the process is well sanitised.

Therefore, if we think that academics were one group of people that can sanitise the election processes, they should be given the chance to do so.

I know there are mixed reactions from the academics on the involvement of our members during general elections in Nigeria.

It makes me shiver when I hear some of our colleagues say, ‘We are the people who rig elections.’ I participated in the process and I know what I did.

Tinubu breaks silence on Plateau, Benue killings

President Bola Tinubu, Tuesday, reacted to the raging insecurity in some parts of the country when he condemned the recent internecine killings in Mangu Council of Plateau State and parts of Benue State, calling for an end to the cycle of violence in the country.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communication and Strategy, Dele Alake, President Tinubu charged various socio-cultural and religious bodies in the two states to take steps to halt the carnage.

In particular, he urged community leaders, religious leaders, traditional rulers, socio-cultural organisations, as well as the leadership of Arewa Consultative Forum, Jama’atu Nasril Islam, and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to work together to help foster genuine and long-lasting peace while rebuilding trust and restoring harmony to the conflict areas.

Tinubu said he found it very depressing the festering reprisal attacks, and needless and avoidable bloodletting among communities in Plateau and Benue.