Politics
Jonathan Meant Well For Nigeria’s Democracy – Jega
Former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, has commended ex-president Goodluck Jonathan for the roles he played in ensuring the 2015 general elections in Nigeria was successful, free and fair.
According to Jega, former President Goodluck Jonathan whom he said meant well for “our democracy”, apart from granting all the financial requests of INEC, also did not try to personally interfere with the commission’s work.
“The administration of Goodluck Jonathan, president from 2010 to 2015, never gave any reason to suspect that there was a deliberate and wilful attempt to emasculate the funding of INEC” he said.
“For this they should be applauded. No situation arose where we had to go cap-in-hand to the executive looking for funding and I must add that when supplementary funding was needed it was nearly always forthcoming.”
“For most of the time during our tenure, President Jonathan tried not to personally interfere with the Commission’s work. Only in the run-up to the 2015 election did his government and ruling political party seek to interfere with the decision of INEC to use electronic card readers.”
“We were able to remind them that they had supported the idea and funded it. Overall I think that President Jonathan meant well for democracy in our country, a view strengthened by the gracious way he conceded electoral defeat in 2015.”
The former INEC boss also spoke on steps he took in order to sanitize the commission after he was appointed its chairman.
He said staff morale was so low and that politicians infiltrated INEC with their loyalists when he came on board.
“When I was appointed to chair INEC in July 2010, I joined an organisation that was perceived to be fraudulent and corrupt,” he said.
“It was also inefficient in executing its mandate. At the same time I was entering a moving vehicle, with no time to reflect and reform effectively. An unorthodox methodology was needed. I was able to bring in a team of INEC outsiders, paid for by the United Nations Development Programme.
“These were people I could trust and who – independent of INEC’s bureaucracy – could help map a blueprint for institutional reform. For example, Professor Okechukwu Ibeanu became my chief technical adviser, Professor M J Kuna my special assistant and Dr Magaji Mahmoud my chief of staff.”
“One of the first issues that had to be addressed was the register of voters. It lacked integrity. There was a lot of data missing for people who were registered and there was clear evidence of fictitious names. We had names of trees, of rivers, and international figures like Mike Tyson and Queen Elizabeth II!
“There was a debate between those who thought the register could be cleaned up and those who thought it should be jettisoned and replaced. Internal discussions with key personnel in the technical departments revealed the scale of the problem: a complete overhaul was needed, but the general election was scheduled for January 2011, just seven months away.
“To compile a new register of voters, INEC needed a constitutional amendment to shift the election date and significant resources to carry out a good, credible registration. Engagement with the government was very positive. The constitutional amendment was quickly secured and elections were pushed back to April 2011.”
Professor Attahiru Jega, was the INEC chairman when Nigeria conducted what is regarded as its most credible successful election since the return to democracy in 1999.
Great
November 4, 2017 at 11:02 am
You must be very stupid
Suleiman Suleiman
October 31, 2017 at 8:18 am
Jonathan has no option but to give power or be in prison or dead
Nicholas Joshua
October 31, 2017 at 7:25 am
Why saying it Now?I am So Disappointed in You.time will surely tell.I am sure you won’t ever come running for any political post tomorrow,Cos we shall remind you of your Past Attitude on the Whole citizens of the Country Nigeria,Due to your selfish interest.
Alex Okoro
October 31, 2017 at 12:59 am
It was ur doing
Anusi Modestus
October 30, 2017 at 11:27 pm
Thunder fire youooo
Obinna Kingsley
October 30, 2017 at 11:05 pm
Jega you’re demented! So after rigging election and swallowing the money you’re here vomiting trash… Evil men.
Alvin Mccorvey
October 30, 2017 at 10:56 pm
Aman
Angela E Momoh
October 30, 2017 at 9:01 pm
I’m having 0.014 bitcoins for sale, inbox me if interested
Tim Isaiah
October 30, 2017 at 8:36 pm
⚡
Uruakpa C. Lucky
October 30, 2017 at 8:27 pm
No worry eye go turn very soon!
Julie Ogbu Ebuenyi
October 30, 2017 at 7:02 pm
Mad fulani bastard
Anem Ernest
October 30, 2017 at 6:54 pm
Thunder fire you there, then why did you betray him
Bossah O Oscar Divine
October 30, 2017 at 6:42 pm
Good morning jaga
Emmanuel Okereke
October 30, 2017 at 6:35 pm
One thing I hate when people Speek is some do with their anus not brain ….well gud morning prof jega how market ….born to rule mentality…. Is so dangerous
Ijeoma Adele
October 30, 2017 at 6:09 pm
Is it now that you know?.
Innocent Chibuuzo Okoye
October 30, 2017 at 5:56 pm
Chuck Samson
October 30, 2017 at 5:29 pm
Idiot
Achor Kelvin
October 30, 2017 at 5:26 pm
Look at this man talking.
Felix Okechukwu
October 30, 2017 at 3:42 pm
I beg close the latrine.
Francis Eze
October 30, 2017 at 3:29 pm
See ur mouth, aboki.
Mgboo Ugochukwu Promsy
October 30, 2017 at 2:40 pm
Animal Jeda
Chuks Ddon
October 30, 2017 at 2:39 pm
And you destroyed it by your selfishness
Hardy Max
October 30, 2017 at 2:31 pm
Goodluck brought professor jega to know whether the cap will fit professors in future
Donmorrison Dominic
October 30, 2017 at 2:16 pm
Election is very close. Wonder
James Ebenezer
October 30, 2017 at 1:44 pm
Na now your mouth open abi?
Julie Nlemoha Onyeledo
October 30, 2017 at 1:36 pm
You finally said the truth
Chika R. Edeh
October 30, 2017 at 1:34 pm
And You are one of the people that destroyed him.
Audu Sunnie
October 30, 2017 at 1:14 pm
His life ll be rig by nature the way he rigd gej’s election..
Samuel Okparaocha
October 30, 2017 at 1:05 pm
But you betrayed him
Ezekiel Okereke Manfredo
October 30, 2017 at 12:53 pm
But why did you rig election in favor of your Fulani herdsman brother?
Chikezie Nelson
October 30, 2017 at 12:37 pm
Peoples club President general in the name of Nnia Nwodo is a criminal he took 65 thousand dollars. Happy Monday, and special greetings to the National Restructuring Association of Nigeria. For the past one month now the restructuring advocacy seems to have died a natural death. Everyone is talking about 2019 election; no more restructuring. It seems the Python Dance equally took away the Restructuring of Nigeria when they took away Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. “I don’t like the way he’s going about this agitation, he’s not doing it in a proper way, we should restructure, bla bla bla….” Oga o, Kanu is now out do your own in a “proper way” let’s follow. Wosaii! At the height of Kanu’s weekly rally across Biafraland canvassing for referendum and election boycott, the cry for restructuring was also reaching a crescendo from other sections of Nigeria. The Southeast governors met in Enugu and advocated for restructuring. Later they met with their Southsouth counterparts and echoed the same thing. The Ohaneze Ndigbo too carried the matter for head. Weeks after Kanu was taken out, the last meeting these governors had in Imo State was to organize a “night vigil”. None of them spoke about restructuring again. Ohaneze too has toned down it’s advocacy while collecting their dues from ASO Rock. The famous “Ibadan declaration” which I commanded but held my reservation about the tenacity of its proponents, has gone to the woods also. The last time I heard about the restructuring committee from this region was when the members were fighting over foods and drinks in a restructuring meeting. That will tell you the seriousness of purpose. Even the so-called Biafran “miscreants” in all their rallies never fought themselves let alone for foods and drinks. I remembered a day after the Ibadan declaration, one Igbo lady was busy running her mouth like an Ojuelegba tap, on Facebook saying, “Igbos are noise makers, they should learn tact, approach and diplomacy in their agitations, they should learn from Yoruba, bla bla bla….” I said, “Haba Nne, give credit to those that started the agitations first because without them there won’t be any restructuring cry now. Besides the Fulani’s that I know don’t understand the language of diplomacy and conferences.” Looking back now the world can see that it was because of the so called “small boy” and “mad man” called Nnamdi Kanu, that made Nigerians came to their senses. May God bless him wherever he is. One Nigeria is a crime against humanity!
Chinedu Ugwu
October 30, 2017 at 12:55 pm
My dear,selfish interest disallow Biafra to have freedom
Esomchi Prince Echem
October 30, 2017 at 12:35 pm
https://youtu.be/CFc6wAnMM7c
Mazi Pee Dms
October 30, 2017 at 12:33 pm
Bastard, but you rigged the election in favour of your useless and brainless buhari.
Eric Amaechic Eze
October 30, 2017 at 12:30 pm
Cee your Head
Jeshurun Peterson
October 30, 2017 at 12:30 pm
Ok, continue…
Bennedict Benzou
October 30, 2017 at 12:24 pm
Mereson after death.
Ada Biafra Zioner
October 30, 2017 at 12:23 pm
You are a master rigger. God will deal with you.
Sam Udoh
October 30, 2017 at 12:21 pm
Too late to talk
Engr Abdulkadir Lawan
October 30, 2017 at 12:20 pm
Jonathan is very corrupt, but he likes north than his home bayelsa, unlike PMB.
Jerkins Dike
October 30, 2017 at 12:19 pm
Okay
Mercy Gold Okechukwu
October 30, 2017 at 12:16 pm
Haaaa oloriburukwu
Obinna Nwajindu
October 30, 2017 at 12:14 pm
and you still betrayed him and we’re in this mess together all thanks to you