ABUJA-THE Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega has said the inspiring leadership of the NYSC had shamed those he described as “unscrupulous persons’’ who wanted to derail the April 2011 general elections.

Jega made the remarks in a letter of appreciation, dated April 27 to Brig.-Gen. Maharazu Tsiga, the NYSC Director-General. A copy of the letter was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, yesterday.

“It is clear that but for your inspiring leadership of the patriotic men and women of the corps, the designs by the unscrupulous persons to derail the elections by intimidating and scaring away the corps members, would have been realised.”

The letter said history would bear witness that the unyielding commitment to the survival of the nation’s democracy inspired the corps members.

It added that the corps members defied reckless purveyors of violence to render selfless service as INEC ad-hoc staff.

“It is, therefore, beyond a shadow of doubt that Gen. Tsiga, along with the entire staff and membership of the NYSC, has demonstrated this virtue to the
highest degree.

“I am certain that history of our democracy will not be complete without a mention of the laudable role you and your organisation have played,’’ the letter further stated.

It expressed regret over the violence, which affected some corps members, and expressed heartfelt condolences to those who lost their lives. The letter described them as  “martyrs of our democratic aspiration as a country.”