…Says they are enemies of Nigeria, Rule of Law
By Chris Udochukwu
Abuja (Precise Post) – Group under the auspices of Concerned Youths for Proper Governance (CYPG), has slammed the unpatriotic few against the appointment of Prof Rhoda Habor Gumus as a National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Describing them as enemies of Nigeria and rule of law, the group said those people are afraid that with Prof, Gumus as INEC Commissioner, their plans against the growth of democracy in Nigeria through credible elections could be in jeopardy.
The Group said the Prof of Chemical Engineering is known not just as being meticulous, but a no-nonsense woman who abhors short-cuts in any of its forms,
This was the position of the group in a statement signed by it’s Publicity Secretary, Ms Wariemi Briggs made available to Precise Post in Abuja on Saturday.
The statement reads in full:
The recent appointment of Rhoda Habor Gumus, a distinguished professor of Chemical Engineering, as the National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by President Muhammadu Buhari has once again thrown open the unpatriotic depth some politicians and beneficiaries of corruption in Nigeria can go to sustain their evil trade.
Before her appointment, Prof. Gumus was the Dean of the School of Engineering at the Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State. She always has been known not just as being meticulous, but a no-nonsense woman who abhors short-cuts in any of its forms, Prof Gumus is well known by her colleagues and students as a patriotic researcher, academic and scholar who has spent her life researching and working for the good of Nigeria.
So the question is what suddenly changed that some hirelings are now calling for her head? Could it be that some people are afraid that with Prof, Gumus as INEC Commissioner, their plans against the growth of democracy in Nigeria through credible elections could be in jeopardy?
We as Concerned Youths for Proper Governance (CYPG), Bayelsa State suspect strongly that those behind the recent campaign of calumny against distinguished Prof. Rhoda Habor Gumus are only afraid that her presence in INEC will thwart whatever they may have planned against free and credible elections in Nigeria, especially as the 2023 general elections approach.
It is rather disturbing that none of those working hard to malign the reputation of Prof. Gumus has accused the distinguished academic of any shortcoming either in her line of duty or in any other public assignment she has previously discharged for her community, state or the country.
For the records, the traducers of distinguished Prof. Rhoda Habor Gumus has accused her of being a card-carrying member of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and so does not qualify to be nominated as INEC Commissioner, however, facts abound that this argument is baseless and false. It is a mere cheap blackmail being employed by anti democratic forces who may have co-opted some members of the APC to embarrass Prof. Gumus, the people of Bayelsa State and ultimately President Muhammadu Buhari.
For the avoidance of doubt, Professor Gumus as a patriotic law-abiding citizen has over the years constantly and consistently carried out her civic responsibility by voting for candidates of her choice across party lines in her pooling unit at Epie 1, Akenpai, Yengoa Local Government Area (YELGA), which used to be her polling unit, until late 2021 when she applied to transfer her poling unit to Koroama Ward 9, YELGA where she hails from. It is also verifiable that Prof. Rhoda Gumus originally hails from Koroama, a community in Ward 9.
As such, the distinguished scholar has no business seeking to register with a political party in Ward 8, as purported by the petitioners who are apparently hired guns of some power-drunk enemies of the Bayelsa State and Nigeria who are obviously solely driven by their selfish interest and do not have any chills embarrassing the people of Bayelsa State, Nigeria’s democracy, a humble, dedicated and patriotic Nigerian (Gumus) and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
What appears even more alarming and suspicious is the reluctance and deafening silence of the executive of the APC from the Ward where the purported registration took place to clarify the authenticity of the registration slip, but we are happy that the Nigeria Senate did their due diligence and subsequently confirmed Prof. Rhoda Habor Gumus as the National Commissioner (South South) of the INEC.
Just like other discerning Nigerians, the CYPG affirms that Prof Gumus was appointed as INEC national commissioner (representing South-South) by virtue of her integrity and impeccable track record. She came highly recommended when Mr. President was searching for credible hands to fulfill the highly demanding national task of conducting free and fair elections in Nigeria.
Therefore, attempts by unscrupulous elements to misinform the public about the person of Prof. Rhoda Habor Gumus are not only borne out selfish political interest to discredit the National Assembly, President Mohammadu Buhari but also affront on the desire of Nigerians to have credible elections and therefore should be disregarded by all patriotic Nigerians and lovers of hard work, integrity and rule of law.
God forbid that evil will overcome the good in our time!
Signed:
Ms Wariemi Briggs
Publicity Secretary, Concerned Youths for Proper Governance (CYPG),
