Jega’s appointment accident of history – Prof Iyayi

ABUJA—FORMER President of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Professor Festus Iyayi, yesterday in Abuja,  said  that the appointment of Professor Atahiru Jega as Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, was an accident of history as the same system known for manipulating elections would still manipulate the 2011 general elections.

This came as the President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Abdulwahed Omar, argued that agitations by the labour movement that the Federal Government adopts the recommendations of the Justice Uwais Electoral Reform Panel necessitated the appointment of Jega.

Similarly, former General Secretary of National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, Comrade Frank Kokori,  insisted that unless there was a collective effort by Nigerians to remove People Democratic Party, PDP, from power, there would be no genuine democracy in Nigeria.

They spoke at the 50th birthday anniversary lecture organised in honour of Comrade John Odah, NLC General Secretary.
Professor Iyayi, who was the guest lecturer, said: “The appointment of Atahiru Jega by the ruling class is an accident of history as the same system known for manipulating elections by rigging, within the ruling class, will still manipulate the 2011 general elections.”

Assassins of nationhood

According to Iyayi, to have credible elections in 2011, we must ensure that genuine working class and political parties are established in Nigeria.
He said: “It is only by building a genuine working class and waging the struggle for political power on the platform of a party that the task will be accomplished. In Nigeria, the ruling class is an assassin of nationhood and nation building.
“It neither understands nor accepts the responsibility for building a nation out of the diverse peoples and ethnic group that inhibit the Nigerian territory.”

NLC on Jega’s appointment

On his part, Comrade  Omar said agitations by the labour movement that the Federal Government key into the recommendations of Uwais report necessitated the appointment of Jega.

The NLC President said despite the appointment, it still did  not allay the fears that the electoral process would be insulated from both executive and partisan interference.

Omar said: “Other pertinent recommendations of Uwais report are disposing of post-electoral litigations before elected public officials assume office and constitutionally fixing a time frame for the conclusion of post election litigations.”

“NLC has cautioned before now that the appointment of Jega would not automatically translate into free and fair elections as there are still very powerful forces and interests bent on circumventing our collective sovereignty.”