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| Last Updated: Jan 19th, 2012 - 11:25:19 |
Diplomacy
VP assures on credible polls in 2011
Feb 9, 2010, 16:56
| | The Vice President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has pledged the commitment of the present administration to credible elections in the country come 2011, saying “this remains the first rung in the ladder towards good governance.”
He stated this on Tuesday, February 9, during bilateral talks with the United States Assistant Secretary of State, Mr. Johnnie Carson, in State House, Abuja.
Dr. Jonathan regretted that a significant leverage for electoral malpractices in the past was because electoral offenders were not punished, hence he has directed the Inspector- General of Police and the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, to immediately commence the prosecution of all persons arrested for various electoral offences during last weekend’s gubernatorial election in Anambra State .
“We believe that for us to move forward, we must institutionalize good governance, and the first rung in the ladder towards that is credible elections. We are determined to have free and fair general elections in 2011, under the supervision of local and international observers. We will ensure that the votes of our citizens count in 2011.”
He said last weekend’s guber poll in Anambra and the Edo Assembly poll in Etsako were instances to show the world the trend the 2011 polls will take.
“Generally, people admitted that there were significant improvements in these polls. The problematic areas have been isolated and we will deal with such in subsequent elections. The right thing must be done in this country, because the country is more important than any political affiliation or individual,” Jonathan stated.
The VP said Government will pursue ongoing electoral reforms to a logical conclusion and ensure speedy passage of electoral bills before the National Assembly, adding that the pace is synonymous with the democratic process.
Dr. Jonathan yet again urged the US Govt to reconsider its stand and de-list Nigeria from its watch list of “countries of interest” in the international war against terrorism.
He reiterated that the incident of attempted bombing of a Detroit-bound plane by a Nigerian, Farouk Abdumutallab, was isolated and novel to the Nigerian people. He noted that Abdumutallab would not have had such inclinations if he had lived in Nigeria for most of his adult life. He assured that the Nigerian Government on its own part “will do everything possible, and work with the US and the international community to ensure that such incident does not repeat itself again.”
He informed Carson that he directed the Nigerian security agencies to cooperate with their American counterparts to investigate the incident. He also said that 3D body scanners that have been introduced at Nigerian airports. “Some of these things are alien to our culture, but we have to compromise for the safety of the human race.”
On the Niger Delta, Jonathan told the US envoy that the Nigerian Government considers that post-amnesty phase as critical as the amnesty itself. “We are done with the disarmament and we are committed to all follow up issues,” he said, while urging US assistance and contribution in the area of capacity building for Niger Delta youths. He said the youths can be useful in the oil industry if they are exposed to training, as their excesses arose largely from illiteracy and unemployment.
The VP also expressed Government’s zero tolerance for corruption at all levels, saying “we are dealing decisively with the menace.”
The VP conveyed the appreciation of the Federal Government to President Obama and the US Government for its best wishes for the speedy recovery of President Umaru Yar’Adua who is attending to his health in Saudi Arabia . Jonathan pointed out that this underscores the close relationship between both countries. He also called for the speedy establishment of the Nigeria-US Bi-National Commission as a platform for discussing issues of mutual interest including terrorism.
Speaking, Carson said the US Government will do all it can towards a speedy review of Nigeria ’s listing as a country of interest in the war against terrorism. “ Nigeria remains a friend and a partner of America ” he said, noting that the decision was driven by overall concern on international terrorism. “We know that 99.9% of Nigerians are law-abiding. It is however important that we work together to protect ourselves globally,” he added.
Carson also called for a democratic and constitutional transition of power given the present political situation in the country. He said the US is willing to assist other democracies succeed the world over, and pledged his government’s assistance to Nigeria in the areas of technical and financial support during elections.
He expressed regrets that the schedules for the takeoff of the BNC has not been met by the US Government, but assured that Secretary Clinton will sign all necessary agreements that will facilitate the establishment of the BNC before the end of March this year.
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