By Kingsley Omonobi, Kenneth Ehigiator, Victor Ahiuma-young, Henry Umoru,  Demola Akinyemi, Gabriel Enogholase, Austin Ogwuda, Emman Ovuakporie, & Clifford Ndujihe
Eulogies and commendations that trailed Prof. Attahiru Jega’s nomination as chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, continued to flow, yesterday.

In separate interviews, eminent Nigerians across the country, drawn from the labour, civil society, political parties, the academia and other professions, were unanimous in their rating of Jega as a man of integrity and honesty, who could conduct credible polls in 2011.The eulogies were, however, tainted with cautious optimism as most of the speakers feared that the elections were too close and much might not be accomplished without electoral reforms.

When he assumes office, Jega, ironically, will be taking over from Prof. Maurice Iwu, who was the internal auditor of ASUU when he was the president of the union in the 1990s. Jega would be the first Northerner to occupy the top electoral position since independence in 1960. All former chairmen of the electoral commission were either from the South-South or South-East.

Eminent personalities, who spoke yesterday commended President Goodluck Jonathan for nominating Jega. They said, having served in the Justice Mohammed Uwais-led Electoral Reform Committee, Jega would not have problems implementing the reforms and organising credible polls that would deepen Nigeria’s democracy.

Among those who spoke to the Vanguard were former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Chief Olu Falae; erudite constitutional lawyer, Prof. Itse Sagay, SAN; former External Affairs Minister, Prof Bolaji Akinyemi; former Ohanaeze Ndigbo Secretary-General, Chief Joe Achuzia; Justice Minister, Mohammed Bello Adoke; former Edo State Governor, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, and Oyo State Governor, Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala. Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the Mega Summit Movement also spoke.

Mohammed Bello Adoke, Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation

Adoke described the appointment of Prof. Attahiru Jega as new Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission as excellent and the best thing that has happened to Nigeria.

“The development is the best thing that has happened and this is to show that the President Goodluck Jonathan is serious about reforming the electoral process and ensuring that one man one vote counts in the next election.”

Chief John Oyegun, First civilian Governor of Edo State

“I don’t have any personal knowledge about him but I pray he doesn’t disappoint Nigerians. What I fear is that we are still seeing the same old way because not one of the electoral reform proposals has been followed. I think we have embarked on the same old way”.

But given his antecedent as an activist as somebody running a university, it gives some level of confidence. However going by what I read today that he was a consultant to INEC and is close to the former chairman, I have reasons to fear but I hope his personal integrity will not make him fall into the temptations of the office”.

Dr Festus Iyayi, former National President, Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU

Jega’s appointment was the best that could happen to Nigeria for now. “It is the best decision to use in the civil society and human right community. It gives confidence especially to people like us that the government is for once serious about conducting a credible election in this country.  He is courageous, unassuming, he cannot be bribed, he cannot be used”.

He however observed that Jega’s good intentions could be rubbished by the country’s political class who still believed that victory must be got by all means. He advised that the political class be re-educated on this.

Prof. Tony Afejuku, radical author and poet

“First, let me be very critical in the sense that so many things have happened. The last time he led us, and my experience over the years has thought me that characters can change or deteriorate at the time of need.

If he is still the same Jega who led as ASUU President to fight the many battles against former President Ibrahim Babangida, if it is the same Jega who has come on board as INEC Chairman, then the nation can expect the best from him”.

“But if Jega has changed, change in the sense that he has become de-radicalized, then, to your tent oh Israel. If it is the same Jega that has come back, fine, it is the best for Nigeria’

Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, Oyo State

Governor Akala described the appointment of Prof. Attahiru Jega as chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a square peg in a square hole.

Akala noted that Prof. Jega had a track of integrity to conduct a credible election in 2011 describing
the new INEC boss as a no-nonsense man, and expressed faith in his (Jega) ability to give Nigeria a good election come 2011.

Chief Joseph Achuzia, Ex-Biafran war lord

“The appointment will at least solve one problem as a Northerner, the Northern group will have confidence in him. But for a meaningful change, election is close and there is no time. The time is too short to bring in about a meaningful change.”

Mr. Tonye Timi, Chairman of the Delta State House of Assembly Service Commission

“I knew Prof Jega as a student leader in University of Ibadan in 1986. He was then in ASUU. Prof Jega was one of those who fought the military dictatorship and stood stoically against regime elongation of General Ibrahim Babangida. He is very principled, dogged, forthright, courageous and totally cerebral person.

“He loves Nigeria and it is my fervent believe that he will never do anything to undermine the national interest and further dent our image by conducting an election that will not be universally seen as free,” he added.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP said the appointment of Professor Attahiru Muhammed Jega as the new Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC clearly demonstrates President Goodluck Jonathan’s commitment to enhancing the integrity of the electoral process.

In a statement signed by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Professor Rufai Ahmed Alkali, the party said, “By this choice of a neutral umpire, who was a member of the Justice Uwais Committee, the President has clearly demonstrated his commitment to enhancing the integrity of the electoral process.

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) wishes to express its delight at the choice of Professor Attahiru Jega as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by President Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR.
“The PDP congratulates the President and the National Council of State for this nomination of an erudite scholar, an accomplished administrator and a deeply committed patriot with a track record of integrity and national service.

“The PDP also congratulates Prof. Attahiru Jega on this historic responsibility bestowed on him and believes that he will bring his wealth of experience as a notable political scientist to bear at this critical moment in the evolution of our democracy”.

The Mega Summit Movement

The Mega Summit Movement while commending the choice of Jega, said “it is a major victory for the Nigerian people, who have for a long time agitated for an electoral umpire with high pedigree and integrity. The Mega Party, said the nomination of Jega; an Icon of democratic struggle, “has restored hope and opened a vista of faith in Nigeria’s electoral system ahead of the 2011 elections”.

The Action Congress, AC

The Action Congress (AC) on its part reacted cautiously to the nomination of Prof. Attahiru Jega as INEC Chairman, saying while he has an impressive pedigree, he will need more than that to succeed in a job that has ruined the reputation of many who occupied it. ‘‘We wish Prof. Jega well, but he owes it a duty to himself and the nation to demand a new voter’s register as the minimum requirement for him to succeed on the job.”

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in a statement issued in Lagos said “Unless the entire INEC team (National Commissioners and RECs) are on the same page with the new INEC boss, we are afraid that not much will be achieved. We have nothing against Prof. Jega and we wish him well in his new assignment.’’

The Labour Party

The Labour Party has hailed the appointment of the new INEC chairman, Professor  Attahiru Jega which it says has kept everybody clapping but challenged President Goodluck Jonathan to carry its statesmanship to a logical conclusion by allowing Jega’s INEC to be above partisanship and truly independent to the extent that if the PDP loses in the next election, so should it be.

According to the deputy chief scribe of Labour Party,’’ we hereby commend President Goodluck Jonathan and the council of state for the Tuesday singular historic decision to appoint Professor Attahiru Jega as the new INEC Chairman. Mister President and members of FEC must carry their statesmanship to a logical conclusion by allowing Jegas INEC to be truly independent and be above party partisanship to the extent that if PDP loses in any election so shall it be’’

The labour party described the new INEC boss as,’’ not just a radical  scholar but a positive, constructive and problem solving academician who has led a union, ASUU [through elections that were free and fair].Also this is a positive radical scholar who has also managed a complex institution like a second generation university [BUK] Professor Jega can count on the support of LP to deliver urgently needed electoral services for Nigeria, Nigerians and indeed Africans as a whole’’

The party also said that ‘’Jega must look at Ghana and Sierra Leone where their electoral chairpersons counted votes such that the political parties of the presidents who appointed them lost elections.

Professor Jega must look at the face of Nigerians and not politicians and ensure quick and transparent electoral service delivery, for once voted must be counted at the polling booths and not in the law courts with all the unhelpful endless litigations’’

Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC

Trade Union Congress of Nigeria said with the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University Kano, BUK,  Professor Attahiru Jega, as Chairman of the Independence National Electoral Commission, INEC, President Goodluck Jonathan had signaled that his government believed that credible elections should be panacea for national peace and development.

In statement by its President-General and Secretary-General, Comrade Peter Esele and Chief John Kolawole, respectively, the umbrella body for senior staff associations in the country, noted that Professor Attahiru’s appointment which came on the heels of the extant distrust on the nation’s poor electoral processes as exemplified under the past administration of Professor Maurice Iwu,  rekindled the hope of every Nigerian worker and the masses that the path to credible elections was becoming wider.

According to the statement: “However, we must state categorically that though this appointment is in line with the expected beginning, it is not a guarantee that the electoral process and the practice of democracy will meet the expectations and yearnings of the people in line with international standards unless law governing the conduct of elections are reviewed and its tenets strictly respected by all players.”