2011 election ‘ll be free of litigations—Jonathan

By Daniel Idonor
ABUJA—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has said government is worried by the series of endless litigations that usually follow elections in Nigeria, and vowed to discourage the trend through credible polls.

He assured that 2011 general elections will be free of litigations; saying that the post- elections litigations are unnecessary distraction to governance . He noted that he is prepared to change the orientation of post-election era by conducting an undisputed election in 2011 which will definitely discourage the politicians going to court to challenge election results.

While admitting that it will be odd in the country if nobody goes to court after an election, the president said he would ensure that the laws guiding electoral process in the country is followed to the letter; adding that at the end everyone will be satisfied with the outcome of the elections.

He spoke while responding to a call by the Nigerian community in Kampala, Uganda to ensure that he keeps to his promise of conducting a free and fair election, that would be generally acceptable by all come 2011 at a dinner organised for him at the 15th African Union Summit in Kampala, Uganda.

He, however, expressed concern over politicians’ interest in post-election litigations which has only succeeded in distracting the incumbent, especially as it affects the position of the president and the governors.

He pointed out that it is not proper for political office holders who enjoy immunity to be battling with litigation while in office; an act which he said negates the essence of the immunity clause of section 308 of the 1999 constitution.

“The essence of immunity clause in the constitution is that if a president or a governor takes an oath of office he should sit down and concentrate about the job and when he leaves office he could be prosecuted for any offence. But because of the way we conduct our elections, the president who sits in office is still battling and being distracted with election issues, and it affects us.”

Jonathan, while also allaying fears that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the party which he belongs to might rig the coming elections, said since election is about number, there should be no reason for anyone to rig election in the first place.
PDP’ll not rig 2011 elections

“When you talk about election I always tell people that as a member of PDP, even then as a governor, I knew that PDP has the majority control and if election is about numbers; yes we believe that no matter what PDP would have won in terms of numbers and there was no reason for PDP to rig the elections but because the processes were not followed in some ways and people raised issues and questions about the elections.

“And I promise that no Nigerian president will suffer the same fate that the late president Yar’Adua and myself suffered. And that is why the late president set up the Justice Uwais commission, and I would not also want to conduct an election in which people would raise issues. I want a situation where at the end of the elections nobody will go to court because there should be no reason for people to go to court,” the president said.

Jonathan also assured Nigeria that his administration will do its best to ensure that the country does not slide back in the quest for development; adding that no matter how small the administration must move the country forward.

He said that to achieve this, all hands must be on deck, promising further that the government will ensure that it provides the right environment that will lead to job creation. He also said when the issue of power is settled it is possible for the country to double the rate of employment in the country and this he said his administration will work assiduously to achieve.

“We have infrastructure challenges, challenges of power and others but we assure you that we will continue to do our best to ensure that Nigeria continues to improve, we would no longer slide backward. Everyday we want to move one step forward no matter how little the distance and as a government we are committed. ‘I know if we stabilise power, we can double the rate of employment”, he said.