Monday, February 9, 2015

President Jonathan,Service Chiefs Under Serious Heat




The President of the federal republic of Nigeria (GCFR) Goodluck  Ebele Jonathan and the Service Chiefs came under a serious heat over the postponement of the general elections.

According to report, The President and the military chiefs said they could not guarantee security for the exercise. Mean while the vice presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Prof. Yemi Osinbajo said, they have committed an impeachable offence.
Femi Falana a human rights activist- lawyer called for the resignation of the military chiefs.
Reports according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, the agency was compelled by the memorandum from security chiefs that they could not guarantee protection for the process. This led INEC to move the elections from February 14 and 28 to March 28 and April 11.
According to INEC chairman the commission was ready for the February elections, but could not ignore the written security advice, which many believe was made up by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led Federal Government to halt the momentum of support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.
Expectedly, the PDP has hailed the polls shift as necessary in the nation’s interest, but the APC described the decision as “a major setback for democracy and highly provocative.” It nevertheless urged Nigerians to remain calm.
The United States expressed disappointment with the postponement, especially since Secretary of State John Kerry visited President Goodluck Jonathan and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari last month to extract a promise of a violence-free poll to be conducted as scheduled.
Kerry said the U.S. is deeply disappointed” by the decision to postpone Nigeria’s presidential election.
“Political interference with the Independent National Electoral Commission is unacceptable, and it is critical that the government should not use security concerns as a pretext for impeding the democratic process’’.
However, the international community will be watching closely as the Nigerian government prepares for elections on the newly scheduled dates. The United States underscores the importance of ensuring that there are no further delays,” Kerry said.
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged electoral authorities “to take all necessary measures… to exercise their right to vote in a timely manner.”
He however added: “This is imperative for ensuring a credible, free and transparent election.
Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Wamakko called for the resignation of the service chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police for orchestrating the shift in the elections.
The governor said: “All the service chiefs and the IGP should resign now for dereliction of their duties as they have failed the nation and Nigerians.
“The shift in dates was orchestrated by the PDP but the action is just akin to the fruitless efforts of a sinking ship or a dying person.
“They should therefore honourably resign as they could not guarantee safety of Nigerians on election days as their statutory and civic duties.

Culled From The Nation

1 comment:

  1. It is so unfortunate that we are having this setback, but i am totally disappointed in the actions of our leaders.... My people let us brace up for any eventuality. God will see us through.

    ReplyDelete

Disclaimer:The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users, they do not reflect the views of fresheste