Asiodu, Alele-Williams, others warn against Jega’s removal

                         
Some eminent Nigerians have kicked against any move to remove the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega.

They stated that removing Jega barely three weeks to the general elections would derail the electoral process, appealing to politicians to focus on issues in their campaigns.

The eminent Nigerians under the aegis, Initiative for Moral Rectitude in Society (IMRS), at a news conference in Lagos,  decried the high level of moral decadence among politicians, urging the media to evaluate the political class with a view to help the masses make informed decisions when casting their votes.

At the gathering were former presidential adviser, Chief Philip Asiodu; first female vice chancellor, Prof. Grace Alele-Williams; Rear Admiral Andrew Okoja (rtd); Dr. Gabriel Soyoye and Mrs. Kate Iketubosin.

Speaking on behalf of the group, its chairman, Asiodu, flayed the political parties and candidates for indulging in mudslinging rather than telling the masses their plans to ensure good governance.

He stated the need for the winner of the rescheduled election to hold an active dialogue and mobilisation on how to preserve the nation and fiscal policy restructuring.

Asiodu reiterated the call for the slashing of the emoluments of legislators, describing the current package as unacceptable and a burden on the nation’s resources.

According to him, legislative business should be on part time basis, while state legislators should be increased to between 100 to 120 to stop the practice where governors control the legislature.

He said: “It is very disappointing so far to observe the degree of violence occurring during the election campaigns despite the non-violence pact signed by the leaders of the major political parties on January 17.

“We earnestly appeal to party leaders, politicians, their agents and supporters to respect the terms of the accord and avoid acts, which may lead to violent clashes and needless deaths and injuries.

“Political parties should discuss issues in their campaigns and propose practicable programmes that address the severe challenges confronting the nation in security and stability; effectively combating corruption; cost effective spending of nation’s resources to accelerate development and improve living standards of the masses; as well as give priority in the utilisation of national revenues to education, power, transportation, communications, water supply and public health.”

He added: “The political parties must in their campaigns begin to propose ways of achieving the critically necessary national reorientation to drastically reduce the pursuit of greed and self-enrichment as the primary purpose of seeking political office. They must begin to look beyond the elections to promote national consensus on the measures required to drastically reduce the costs of seeking political office and of governance.”