People of the troubled zone of North-east will exercise their voting rights in the coming elections only when all the structures of government and governance there are reinstated.
This was the outcome of a meeting of the National Security Council presided over on Tuesday by President Goodluck Jonathan.
The meeting, which was held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, lasted several hours.
The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, briefed the council on the readiness of his commission for the elections.
Jega, who left the Presidential Villa before the meeting ended, simply told State House journalists that the meeting went well.
The INEC boss said: “I believe it (the meeting) went well.”
Jega, however, declined comments on his commission's plan to use card readers during the elections.
But the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Kenneth Tobiah Minimah, who addressed journalists after the meeting, said the people of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States could only vote when the structures of governance there are reinstated.
On the fate of the over 200 schoolgirls of Chibok, Minimah said there was no news for now.
According to him, "You know Yobe and Adamawa States have been liberated completely and we look forward to the reinstatement of structures of government and governance. I'm also sure you know that in Borno State, out of the 27 local government areas, we have three local governments remaining: Abadam, Kalabaldi and Gwoza. And we are optimistic that with time, we will liberate those local governments".
On whether the council discussed the forthcoming elections, Minimah said only the INEC was competent to talk about the elections, adding that the commission had to reassess and evaluate the situation in the three troubled states.
Minimah, who said the military had liberated areas captured by the Boko Haram sect, said: "I’m not competent to speak on that matter (elections). The INEC is still there. INEC has to reassess the situation and evaluate because the areas have been liberated, but I can also tell you that not all structures of governance have been reinstated and they will need to be reinstated so that citizens can go back to their areas, and it is then I think they can execute their rights as voters".
Asked how soon those structures would be reinstated, the Chief of Army Staff said: "I don’t know".
On the abducted Chibok girls, Minimah said: "No news for now. In all the liberated areas we have, we have also made enquiries, but the truth is when the terrorists are running away, they also run with their families, and those we have come in contact with have not made any comments suggesting that Chibok girls were there and taken away. But we are optimistic that as it becomes closer, the territory is becoming elusive to them. We will get further details on that". Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Are you sure this is not another plan to postpone this election again? We are watching closely.
ReplyDeleteMy brother there is nothing wrong if they shift d election coz part of d country is not in order, Plz let's put politics aside. If ur village is suffering from BH wil u b able to post this comment? or vote for APC or PDP.plz note that there's war in some part of d north.
DeleteEverything is wrong my Brother. We had 4 years to conduct the elections and INEC came out with their timetable for elections over one year now. Boko Haram is not a new phenomenon as it has been with us for several years now. Why was the government not serious in tackling all these issues at the time knowing that 2015 is an election year. Why are the just realizing all these issues at this moment. INEC is not a security agency and its statutory responsibility is come up with timetable and conduct elections. Having now done its part, security agencies are now bastardizing all its efforts. All Nigerians have a stake in this election and the best government can do for us is to ensure that this election is free, fair and credible. I don't care about who wins and who looses but the election must be seen by all to be fair and with what is going on now, every sensible Nigerian like me who has genuine interest in seeing that the election held and is adjudged to be fair and credible will be worried with all these new developments.
DeleteFor God sake why now? What has happened to our intelligence gathering. We ought not to get to this point before these issues are coming out if some security apparatus of government are actually doing their job. Like I said earlier, I don't care who wins as only Nigerians can determine who gets the chance to govern them but the least I will expect from whoever is on that seat of governance is the ability to conduct election that is fair, free and without rancour. For God's sake, the whole world is watching us. If we want them to take us serious, then we must get it right and not allow such issues cropping up at this critical juncture.
You are insane for saying the govt was not serious in fighting boko haram. Those lives that were lost and all the money spent were they for jokes?
DeleteThere was war in Afghanistan, election took place. Also in Syria There was war and election took place. Why only three out of 36 State stop the whole country from voting. Those areas election could be postponed.
ReplyDeleteCollection of PVC is high in those areas and PDP may loose that part of the country, this is all about politics.
ReplyDeleteThere is no genuine reason to postpone the election.
ReplyDeleteCan you all now see that Jonathan does not want to leave or conduct any elections in which he's going to lose? I am happy that not all Nigerians are unintelligent or fools. We said it then that there was no justification for postponing the elections. The reason being that, Jonathan and PDP can never win those North eastern states. The past presidents and heads of states even advised the presidency against any postponement of elections, yet Jonathan went ahead to use the military to postpone elections with an excuse that they want everybody to vote. But others said it's a welcome development. Now God has punished them and they know it's uncertain for them to win the elections with all their bribery and what have you. Now they are saying those people can't vote until all government structures are restored. They thought that with 6 weeks they would be able to turn masses against APC and general Buhari. God made them fail woefully and by His grace they will continue to fail. Remember what former president Olusegun Obasanjo said, he said that Jonathan was not planning to leave Aso Rock and that he wants to win by crook or hook. He compared Jonathan with former Cote d'iVoire president, Laurent Gbagbo. My question to the world now is ...is former president Obasanjo not correct? I know a man of such calibre will not say anything of such if he does not have his facts. It's quite unfortunate. Prof. Jega, I pity you and pray that your hard won name with a good reputation will never be soiled by this demon called president Jonathan and his cohorts. I knew all along that here will be troubles and that could lead to anything based on the insincerity of Jonathan's administration and we've all started to see this. Jega, you have to damn all the consequences and let the whole world know that you are not a coward and a thief like them. A good name is better than silver and gold. This Jonathan has destroyed everything and mark my world, it will take several years to rebuild Nigeria should we allow this man for another 4 years. The only issue I have with my admirable president Obasanjo is that: how on earth did he allow this Jonathan to be close to him to the extent that he'd be entrusted with the national leadership? This is very sad. Jonathan pretends a lot and he's a fake. What's confab report? It's a bait to trap the Yoruba race. He's stupid and I have no respect for people like this who cannot go by their words. It's a shame.
ReplyDeleteJonathan and his cohorts called Service Chiefs are slowly inviting a military coup.
ReplyDeleteYou are too straight to the point. Of course, it's glaring that they want to truncate democracy with their plans and throw us back to the era of 1993-1998. God will forbid this.
ReplyDelete