Members of the All Progressives Congress in the Senate on
Thursday alleged that there was a fresh plot by the Federal
Government to remove the Independent National Electoral Commission
Chairman, Attahiru Jega. According to Punch reports,The APC
senators, led by George Akume, told a news conference in Abuja that
: “We have received information from a very credible source that next week, the
Chairman of INEC will be given a letter from the office of the Head of the Civil
Service to proceed on a terminal leave,” they said.
The opposition senators alleged that the Federal
Government was trying to use a circular from the HoS dated August
11, 2010 to place Jega on compulsory pre-retirement leave.
They said, “Whether the letter emanates from the HoS
office or the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, it does not make
sense. Even if we go by the terms of the Civil Service circular of August 11,
2010, (it) is not applicable whatsoever to the INEC chairman.”
The lawmakers explained that the circular, with reference
number HCSF/CMO/1772/TI/11, talks about clarifications on
pre-retirement leave, which is only applicable to tenured officers who are
career civil servants.
They said anyone who has spent 30 years in service or has
attained 60 years of age was bound to disengage officially from the service.
The senators however said that the case of Jega did not fall into any of these.
The lawmakers claimed that Jega’s
offence was his readiness to conduct the elections when the Peoples
Democratic Party-controlled Federal Government not and that using the issue of
card readers to discredit Jega would not work because the National Assembly
appropriated money for that purpose.
“We want a
credible election but in a situation where we are being informed that because
the postponement of the elections attracted no reaction from the people, Jega
could be removed for a plan-less person who will do the bidding of the
government, doesn’t hold water.
“You cannot start a game which is about to end and
suddenly you want to change the goalpost. You don’t want a referee that is fair
to all. You want to have someone who will subvert the whole system for
sinister, personal purposes.
“We will continue to say no to impunity. We will continue
to say no to any attempt to undermine the credibility of the forthcoming
elections.
“We therefore want to appeal to Nigerians to be steadfast
to keep watch so that their labour will not be in vain. If Ghana and other
countries can get it right, Nigeria can also get it right.
“We are opposed to the removal of Jega because it is
criminal, illegal and unconstitutional. They want to remove him through the
back door.” They said.
Akume maintained that President Goodluck Jonathan lacked
the legal powers to suspend the INEC boss under whatever guise.
They said, “Section 157(1) clearly states that the
president can only remove Jega with the vote of 2/3 majority of all senators.
Under whatever guise; whether suspension, retirement or voluntary leave he
cannot be removed.
“Section 157 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended),
the President cannot remove the INEC Chairman from office without getting
approval of the Upper Chamber.
“Section 157 (1) of the Constitution reads, “…a person
holding any of the offices to which this section applies may only be removed
from that office by the president acting on an address supported by two-thirds
majority of the Senate, praying that he be so removed for inability to
discharge the functions of the office.”
An American based elder statesman, Pa Joseph Fagbola, in
own words of wisdom advised that ,’’The Government and PDP would find out that removal of Prof.
Attahiru Jega as the Chairman of INEC is an ill-wind that will do them no good
but throw the nation into pensive and contemplative mood, to be followed by
anger and massive protest It is going to be counterproductive and at their own
peril. Why should they not learn from the 1965 elections and the subsequent
40-year misrule in the country? Why would any player attempt to remove an
umpire in contemplation of possible defeat.? It would be a disservice to the
masses of Nigeria to derail this nascent democracy after they have trogged on
for this long.’
VOX POPULI VOX DEI: the voice of the people is the voice of God.
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