By  Daniel Idonor
ABUJA —AFTER six hours of deliberations on state matters, a well attended National Council of State, NCS, which had all former Nigerian leaders in attendance, yesterday, ratified the appointment of the outgoing Vice Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, BUK, Professor Attahiru Jega, as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Also ratified by the Council were the appointments of 10 National Electoral Commissioners and 17 State Electoral Commissioners.

The former fiery chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, is to be presented to the National Assembly for final confirmation any moment from now.

Former military ruler, General MuhammaduBuhari, who had hitherto avoided the NCS meeting throughout the reign of late President Umaru Yar’Adua, described President Jona-than’s choice of Professor Jega for the plum job of INEC chairman, as a good omen for Nigeria’s democracy.

The NCS meeting ended with a motion moved by General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) requesting the Council, which is the highest decision making body in Nigeria, to confer on President Jonathan the highest honour of the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, GCFR; a motion that was adopted immediately by members.

Until yesterday, President Jonathan, had the second highest honour of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, GCON, as he could not be awarded the GCFR because of the peculiar nature of his emergence, following the death of his predecessor, late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

Every new President is normally awarded with the honour by the outgoing President, especially during the handing over ceremony, as in the case of Obasanjo and Yar’Adua, but nobody handed over to Jonathan, hence he had operated without the prestigious honour which is reserved for presidents.

Speaking at the decoration of Jonathan, General Gowon said: “Council noted that the President could not award GCFR to himself.

Having critically examined the need for the President to be awarded the national honour of GCFR, we the former heads of state and government strongly advised and the council accepted that President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCON, be awarded the honour of Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic, GCFR.

“And this will now be carried on, signed by me, General Yakubu Gowon, GCFR, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, GCFR, General Mohammed Buhari, General Ibrahim Babangida, Chief Ernest Shonekan, GCFR, and General Abdulsalami Abubakar, GCFR.”

Jega’s unveiling
The unveiling the new INEC Chairman before the NCS by President Jonathan brings to an end, several weeks of speculation in the media on the identity of the chief election umpire in the country.

The build up to the emergence of Professor Jega began, May 30, when President Jonathan, announced in France that the government had a day earlier concluded the screening of the new INEC boss and would unveil same at the NCS meeting.

The NCS meeting, the first of its kind since the emergence of President Goodluck Jonathan, which was also attended by General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), was presided over by President Jonathan.

Other former leaders in attendance at the meeting included General Yakubu Gowon (rtd), former President Shehu Shagari, President Ibrahim Babangida, former Head of Interim Government, Chief Earnest Shonekan, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) and President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The Senate President, Senator David Mark, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Oladimeji Bankole, and almost all the Governors of the 36 states of the Federation, including the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Alhaji Bala Mohammed, were also in attendance.

Fielding questions from correspondents, General Buhari said: “What concerned all of us was the elections. INEC was the most important memo we discussed.

On whether he was satisfied with the President’s choice of the new INEC appointees and the Chairman, Buhari said: “It was widely consulted and we had the CVs of all those recommended and I think they are worthy Nigerians of the positions approved for them.”

Asked to comment on his long absence from Council meetings and how he felt having all past leaders in attendance, Buhari said: “It feels good. We appreciate the seriousness of having a free and fair election next year.”

Addressing State House Correspondents, the State governors of Niger, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, Sullivan Chime, Enugu, Adams Oshiomhole, Edo, and Alahji Sule Lamido, Adamawa, said the Council was satisfied with the choice of the new INEC boss, noting that all those presented by Jonathan were Nigerians of impeccable character.
Oshiomhole reacts
Governor Oshiomhole said: “The council considered the President’s recommendation of Professor Atahiru Jega for appointment as Chairman of INEC and the council unanimously approved of it. We believe the President demonstrated courage and statesmanship in appointing someone who is not known to have any partisan political affiliation and a Nigerian that has distinguished himself in his present and past callings.

“The council also commended the President for the quality of people nominated as national electoral commissioners, about 10 of them, as well as 18 other resident electoral commissioners. The good thing about it is that council was unanimous about these appointments because the people concerned were considered to be men and women of integrity.

“If you recognize the controversy over whether or not the President should appointment INEC chairman, the fact is that we all accept that the President has exercised his power quite judiciously in appointing someone that most Nigerians will respect and appreciate and it will be a major push on the electoral reform line.

The president also agreed that any of the existing electoral commissioners whose tenure has not expired but who might have been found wanting of any particular wrong doing those one where proven will be promptly removed and replaced.

I think with council decision today, the recommendation will; now go to the senate for scrutiny and approval.

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