By Innocent Anaba

The Federal Government in far away Banjul, the Gambia, said it was irrevocably committed to consolidating on the country’s democracy, promising that the election time was on course.

Meanwhile,  Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, in Banjul, also called on the African Union, AU, to press on the Nigerian Government to prosecute those behind the recent Jos, Plateau State crises, in which many lives and property worth millions of naira were lost.

Speaking at the on going African Commission of Human and Peoples Rights 48th Ordinary Session in Banjul, a Commissioner in the Nigerian High Commission, Mr. Okongor, who represented the High Commissioner said: “On our part in Nigeria, we are determined to consolidating on our current democratic advances.  Preparations for our forthcoming general elections in the first quarter of 2011 are in top gear, as evidenced by the passage into law of a new Electoral Act.

“The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has been reconstituted and reinvigorated with the appointment of new commissioners and a new chairman in the person of Prof. Attahiru Jega. The INEC and all other government agencies are determined to play their statutory roles, starting with the current preparation for the revision of the general voters register to ensure that the elections hold successfully.

“With the measures so far put in place by relevant government agencies as well as relevant civil society organisations, we are confident that the 2011 general elections in Nigeria will be free and fair and fully reflective of the will of the Nigerian people,” he added.

NBA, on the Jos crises said:  “AU should liaise with all the relevant prosecuting agencies in prosecuting all perpetrators of domestic violence in Jos.”

Represented by Supo Ati-John, the NBA called for “an independent investigation of the Jos crises by AU in partnership with non- governmental organisations as well as other professional bodies in African.”