President Goodluck Jonathan has said that Attahiru Jega, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), cannot “just be removed” if he has not done something wrong.
Speaking on Monday in an interview with Aljazeera, the president said that he had no plans to use the extant rules on Jega by sending him on terminal leave before his tenure expires.
When questioned what his intentions were about the fate of the chairman, he said: “Except somebody is insinuating that the chairman has done something wrong, you cannot change an officer, except the person has done something wrong.
“Government does not just wake up, whether at the federal or state level, president or governor, does not wake up and change somebody, especially INEC – a very sensitive body.
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“So for me to change INEC chairman, people, both Nigerians and non-Nigerians, would ask questions. You cannot just wake up and change INEC chairman; I have never discussed with any human being on earth about changing the INEC chairman.”
The president also said the subject of corruption in Nigeria had been politicised.
“Yes, people talk about corruption now because it has become political issue and when you promote something to the level of politics, it goes out of proportion,” he said.
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“I am not saying that Nigerians do not have this element of corruption. If you start from my former CBN governor who said $49.8 billion, what is Nigeria’s budget? If today we lose $49.8 billion, the next morning he said it was $12 billion, the following morning he said it was $20 billion. Till today, I don’t know the one to believe.
“The senate set up a committee to investigate and they used a consultant and only fond out that $2 billion was not properly balanced. They did not say anybody stole it.”
Jonathan said he would not allow violence after election if he does not win the election.
“It is not by default,” he said. “The country is not my father’s estate. [If I lose the election, I will go to my village.”
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3 comments
Dear “the cable”…please take more time and diligence in transcribing interviews. In your report above – which understandably you have had to summarise – you have represented the dialogue of the President wrongly or at best vaguely which leaves room for misinterpretation.
For example in speaking about the alleged stolen funds he did not say “I don’t know which one to believe” which would suggest that he was relying on the information from the former CBN governor to know what was going on, but rather he said “I don’t know which accusation is correct” which conveys a totally different meaning , most importantly that the statements were and still are just accusations, among other things. These nuances and seemingly small changes in phrases (hopefully not deliberate) result in significant changes in meaning and ultimately public perception.
“The cable” and the media in general should please be more mindful of how it disseminates news and information. It is a huge responsibility and should not be taken lightly. The future of Nations depend on it.
Godspeed to you as you continue to take up the challenge.
Thank u Ephraim, there are these tendency in the (cable)I had cause to asked them if they were an arm of APC because certain reportage.
The truth is that they’re doing their best.
i believe Jonathan that “The country is not my father’s estate. If I lose the election, I will go to my village.” beacsue there is no other option if the constitution is follow and the ruling government does not remotely disorganise the electoral process. I will be part of the team to welcome GEJ back home. at least niegrai will have a break from many things. This election is NOT about the opposition is about what GEJ FAILED to do. Our girls will be back home now if the military do what they are doing now the very first week those girls were kidnap. Today kidnapping is a business and no body is excluded. It use to be the expatriate in those days but now its everybody because it has become a booming business because the there is no political will. Arms and amonitions are everywhere because our inability to manage our borders. We are the president of OPEC yet we can boast of refine products, what the waster on buying petroleum product is more than the cost of building refineries that will in addition to providing finish product would have created jobs for our unemployed youths. There are power plants in the country yet no gas, meanwhile the flairing is in aboundant. the other day when omotosho plant was to be comission by the president”political commissioning” all other power plant was shut down to allow for the commissioning shortly after the president departure the plants were shut down. This is how they decieve nigeria. They devalu our Naira and paralise the easterners business who can not go back to replenish their stock. this devaluation is affecting petrol supply. They give us 10k and take back 100 naira. now naira is 225 on the street it was 150 when GEJ take over power. and so on. Bu july now imported vehicle will attract 35% duty this will futher increase the sales of cars yet we cant even meet need domestically. Election has forced GEJ out of his conform zone to tell us he will do in another four years what he has failed to do in six. years. Rathar than take criticism as a tool to close up gaps he attack the person and leave the issues. Sombody who is a president for six year should not spent these much for relection because of tract record. Since there is nothing to show to give the required level of comfort, he is sweating even under airconditioning when it come to talking about his achievement compare to the revenue within thesame period. This is election is not about the opposition party APC or the person of Buhari its about what the president Jonathan FAILED to do.