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
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.
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