After the successful postponement of the elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, there are indications that the Presidency has launched a two-pronged war to ensure that President Goodluck Jonathan wins the election convincingly.
The two strategies are to stop Muhammadu Buhari, the All Progressives Congress candidate from contesting the election with Jonathan and the replacement of the INEC Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, with a less independent-minded person. Jega, it was gathered, had been described by hawks around the president of being too independent-minded and ‘uncooperative’ despite being given the job on a platter of gold by the president’s men.
Hence Jega might have unknowingly played into the hands of the forces against him by agreeing to shift the elections.
Legal war to disqualify Buhari
Competent sources said last night that the move to remove Jega and the legal fireworks against Buhari, would be taken up simultaneously with effect from this week given the timeframe made possible by the shift.
The retired general is to be prosecuted by a team of legal luminaries for ‘lying on oath’ that he had a school certificate with the Nigerian Army.
The plaintiffs are said to have settled for trying Buhari for alleged ‘perjury’ instead of outright non-possession of certificate following legal advice that the latter would be more difficult to prove within the time at their disposal.
Although Jega reluctantly succumbed to pressure from the Presidency and its security chiefs to shift the polls, he might still not be allowed by the forces to conduct the rescheduled elections between March 28 and April 11.
It was learnt that the forces arrayed against the INEC boss had convinced the President not to renew Jega’s tenure, which is expected to lapse on June 13 this year. The forces, it was learnt, felt that Jega was rather too ‘difficult’ to deal with, having not allowed himself to be dictated to by anyone since assuming office like other appointees of the government.
It was learnt that in a bid to sweep off Jega from his seat without raising any dust, he would be asked to comply with the civil service procedure by proceeding on his three months terminal leave with effect from March 1, this year since he is expected to retire on June 13.
S-West gov’s brother may replace Jega.
The media is awash with reports that in his place, the Presidency was considering bringing in another academic from the South-West, who is currently heading a tertiary institution in the country. The professor of Political Science and International Relations is said to be a sibling of a serving governor in the South-West, who is a close ally of President Goodluck Jonathan and his party.
Working against Jonathan’s interest
As a prelude to removing Jega from office, some close allies of the President had started accusing him of taking side with the opposition to undermine the success of Jonathan and his party in the next election. Earlier last week, Jonathan’s godfather, Chief Edwin Clark and other prominent politicians from the Southern part of the country had accused Jega of working against the interest of the president and the PDP and asked him to resign from the commission.
Although no evidence was adduced by Clark and his group to support their allegation, they nonetheless called for the arrest of Jega. Similarly, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, on Saturday, said Jega had lied about the state of the commission’s preparedness for the conduct of the election.
In the same vein, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Olisa Metuh, accused INEC of working with the opposition to deny its members of permanent voter cards in some states. He called on the security agents to probe the commission over the development.
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Jonathan, I thought they said you are a peaceful man, if that is true why all this.
ReplyDeleteAny thing must be done to make sure that GEJ wins the election.
ReplyDeleteWho will do the dirty job? Mimiko's sibling?
ReplyDeleteMr jona we know u mus b plannin 4 somtin, but we ar asurin u it would not work by GOD grace
ReplyDeleteI know that GEJ administration is full of corruption and we need a change but the changes should be done in a legal way to protect our constitution. According to the constitution, any candidate shouldn't lie on oath and his CONPLETE AND CORRECT academic qualification (AT LEAST O LEVEL CERTIFICATE) MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE INEC. The constitution cannot just be amended immediately because of the opposition. This is not the fault of Nigerian Government or PDP. If the opposition can verify his certificate from the main source (Cambridge) which we know cannot lie because of their integrity and we are assured that the certificate he presented is the original and not manipulated, he will be qualified to contest. Anyone who goes against this is against the peace of the country.
ReplyDeleteTalking RUBBISH
DeleteCorrect!!!! U can say dat again. Real time RUBBISH!!!!!!
DeleteWe now know why the election was postponed. These people just took us on a ride.
ReplyDeleteIf you try to disqualify Buhari then his deputy becomes president PDP always creating something out of nothing evil doers evil seekers evil minded and eventually that evil will land on each and every one of you and your families who supported you
ReplyDeleteI think its high time we rise and stop all this things this old fools are doing. Enough is Enough the youths of this country will rise.
ReplyDeleteMumu u can go ahead wit ur family
DeleteSee Oga of Mumu calling someone mumu. Who permit u to use d word mumu. Dunce like u.
Deletewell! I want 2 equally believe that, nothing can happen b4 its time. Nevertheless, my advise 2 the number one chief security officer of our dear country Dr. GEJ is that: he should always remember that nothing that is permanent in life except change. Moreover, should also remember that even if he succeeded in ruling this country 4 another 4 years, is definitely & like it or not leaving that seat & must account 4 his deeds. He should know that the only way 4 a person 2 know who his friends are is 2 get him self a jail sentence. It is high time 4 you Sir! 2 start thinking of ways 2 create a good image 4 your self & that of our beloved country Nigeria, by dumping ideologies adopted by some African leaders of "do or die". Do you know that "It must be me" is a strong illness that do easily kills? So, watch your God fathers & other members of your cabinet!! 10nks Sir!!!
ReplyDeletewhat a shame to a country like Nigeria. I know right from the onset that the way PDP was clamouring for the postponement of the elections was as a result of the party's inability to stop the opposition from contesting. They may think they will find succor in postponing the elections by eventually removing Jega who failed to dance to their tunes but will be surprise by how God will shame them.
ReplyDeleteGOOD OR BAD LUCK WHAT EVER YOU CALL YOUR SELF I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT NO CONDITION IS PERMANENT ONE DAY MONKEY WILL GO TO MARKET BUT IT WILL NOT COME BACK.
ReplyDeleteNigerianeye I see youuuu. very professional journalism indeed! what a stupid write up, them say, them say. who said? am soooo ashamed of Nigerian eyes or Nigerian nose whatever stupid name they go by.
ReplyDeletewhy are you like this?, last time that was how you disputed the postponment of the election, now it has happened, you are still disputing this one, my problem with you is that you do not read, you only read new in nigerian eye too bad
DeleteNigerians must not give in to this NONSENSE called PDP.
ReplyDeleteNigerians must not give in to this NONSENSE called PDP.
ReplyDeleteSo you did not know that this medium had been bought over by APC? . Only pro APC or ANTI GEJ rejoinders and news get swiftly published. Tey shall fail
ReplyDeleteDis is APC website(nigerianeye)
ReplyDeleteJega is bias.
ReplyDeleteJonathan simply wants to replace Jega and bring in someone who will allow him to rig the election. He is simply lucky that most Nigerian voters are illiterate and uninformed, otherwise he will not earn 10 votes if this election was being held in an enlightened society.
ReplyDeleteWe're stil watching wooo! haba pdp no be do or die wooo!!!
ReplyDeleteWe're stil watching wooo! haba pdp no be do or die wooo!!!
ReplyDeleteSave Nigeria
ReplyDelete