Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Rashid Bawa, has assured that his outfit, will ensure the safety of Ghanaians in the West African nation of Nigeria.
Currently, polls have officially ended in the country, with collation underway. Despite what has been generally described as a relatively peaceful election, there have been some pockets of disturbances in some polling units across the country.
Nigerian elections was monitored by many other countries and the UN, with hopes of a peaceful elections; before, during and after. And Mr. Bawa said, Ghanaians in that country will be shielded from harm.
“So far there’s no incident involving a Ghanaian. But we’re still monitoring because it’s quite fluid. Until the election result is declared and situations return to normal, we are not resting on our oars.
“We’re in touch with almost all the associations across the federation; from Maiduguri down to River States. Hopefully, we can go through this period and there’ll be no incidents.”
Rashid Bawa
He continued, “We want to assure Ghanaians who have got their relatives here, that all things are being done to ensure the safety of Ghanaians during this period”.
I’m Not Surprised About Results So Far
Meanwhile, Rashid Bawa, said he was not surprised by the results compiled so far, by the country’s electoral management body. Earlier, the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), announced results from Ekiti state with Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), leading in that regard.
Reacting to this, Mr. Bawa said without hesitation that, he is not surprised at the present outcome.
“I hardly would want to talk about it but l’m not too surprised, it’s expected. If you look at where the result is coming from. Nigeria is actually divided into geographical zones. We have the North, we have the South-South and we have the South-West. The South-South are largely the Igbo’s.
“The South-West are the Yoruba’s. And the North are the Hausa’s; the Hausa’s and the Fulani. Now these major tribes have got three leading candidates. Each candidate wherever he’s coming from, has his strength.”
Rashid Bawa
Mr Bawa continued, “So when you look at most of the results, if it’s the North that is dropping in, you’ll realize that the candidate from the North gets most of the votes”.
He also claimed that if the results came from the South-West part of Nigeria; which was filled with the Yoruba’s, then the candidate who came from that particular zone, got most of the votes, and that is how things are naturally done in the Country.
Collation is presently underway in Nigeria, following the close of polls on Saturday, February 25. Some results in certain areas have been announced, and others await to be announced. Meanwhile, some aggrieved political parties have expressed their grievances with the conduct of the polls; alleging attempted rigging.
The elections has however been described as peaceful, by many pundits and observers, despite isolated incidents of violence, at some polling units.
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