The Sons of Mboto

[St George]

Naizerre Election Results Leak… Before The Election Is Held The upcoming local elections in Naizerre may be compromised according to the monitoring organisation Dhahari Kamati ya Haki za Binadamu (Dhahari Human Rights Committee, DKHB), responding to a leak of ‘provisional results’ for elections that haven’t even been held yet. The Dhahara-based NGO raised the concerns after bloggers published the leak on the Ubgandian microblogging website Gbegö (Voices). The results, written on official Election Commission letterhead, are for around two-thirds of 845 seats available in the elections, to be held next month. They show results similar to what most polls are predicting - a small loss of seats for Mboto Jones’ coalition, but overall not much change. Except for one thing. The leaked ‘results’ show Nî Nyîkôlï (the Sons) winning 93 seats, primarily in the west of the country, in Yândo ködörö-kömändä. Yândo was expected to split between Amadou Thabo’s Sêse-Wamäbê (National-Faithful) and the Yândo Front, but Nî Nyîkôlï slots into second place, ahead of the Front. DKHB pointed the finger at figures around Mboto Jones as being suspected of fixing the elections. Msia Oyenusi said: “These ‘provisional results’ for elections that are yet to occur raise serious questions as to the strength of Naizerre’s electoral processes and its ability to resist manipulation. The fact that it is the Sons who seem to benefit most is a serious concern and the links between that organisation and the High Chief must be explained.” Those links have been a source of controversy in the past. Led by 29-year-old Chinedu Kassie, Nî Nyîkôlï used to be known as Nî Nyîkôlï tî Mboto (the Sons of Mboto), Chinedu himself once claimed to be a child of the Naizerri political icon. Pressed on possible familial links between himself and Chinedu Kassie, along with a number of other Nî Nyîkôlï figures, Mboto himself neither confirms nor denies. “I like to think of myself as the father to all Naizerri - I am Töbambî tî Marä, father of the nation.” Whether these leaks will be reflected in the elections next month remains to be seen, but it is another blow to those who believe in Naizerre’s democracy, which is a group that appears smaller than ever. Since the transition to democracy after the Bush Wars, faith in democracy has hovered around the 70% mark in Naizerre, but a recent poll by @INFO revealed it to be at 58%. For Msia, it is the result of a weakening of democratic processes since Mboto Jones returned to the country. “What we have seen is very different to what we would consider normal. In most countries, you pass power through elections, not through negotiated deals that see your predecessor ‘promoted’ to a position in an international organisation. Tsubo Tsango has some responsibility for this decline in faith also. He must grant us a meeting to discuss these concerns.” When reached for comment about DKHB’s request and the leaks, Tsubo Tsango’s office declined to comment, as did a spokesperson for Mboto Jones’ government.