Jonathan, PDP planning to retire Jega –APC senators

Members of the All Progressives Congress in the Senate on Thursday
alleged that there was a fresh plot by the Federal Government to
prevent the Independent National Electoral Commission Chairman,
Attahiru Jega, from superintending over the forthcoming general
elections.
The APC senators, led by George Akume, told a news conference in
Abuja that they heard from a reliable source that the Head of Service
would direct Jega to proceed on his pre-retirement leave next week.
"We have received information from a very credible source that next
week, the Chairman of INEC will be given a letter from the office of
the Head of the Civil Service to proceed on a terminal leave," they
said.
The opposition senators alleged that the Federal Government was trying
to use a circular from the HoS dated August 11, 2010 to place Jega
on compulsory pre-retirement leave.
They said, "Whether the letter emanates from the HoS office or the
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, it does not make sense.
Even if we go by the terms of the Civil Service circular of August 11,
2010, (it) is not applicable whatsoever to the INEC chairman."
The lawmakers explained that the circular, with reference number
HCSF/CMO/1772/TI/11, talks about clarifications on pre-retirement
leave, which is only applicable to tenured officers who are career
civil servants.
They said anyone who has spent 30 years in service or has attained 60
years of age was bound to disengage officially from the service. The
senators however said that the case of Jega did not fall into any of
these.
The lawmakers claimed that Jega's offence was his readiness to
conduct the elections when the Peoples Democratic Party-controlled
Federal Government was not.
The opposition senators insisted that using the issue of card readers
to discredit Jega would not work because the National Assembly
appropriated money for that purpose.
They said, "We want a credible election but in a situation where we
are being informed that because the postponement of the elections
attracted no reaction from the people, Jega could be removed for a
plan-less person who will do the bidding of the government, doesn't
hold water.
"You cannot start a game which is about to end and suddenly you want
to change the goalpost. You don't want a referee that is fair to all.
You want to have someone who will subvert the whole system for
sinister, personal purposes.
"We will continue to say no to impunity. We will continue to say no to
any attempt to undermine the credibility of the forthcoming elections.
"We therefore want to appeal to Nigerians to be steadfast to keep
watch so that their labour will not be in vain. If Ghana and other
countries can get it right, Nigeria can also get it right.
"We are opposed to the removal of Jega because it is criminal, illegal
and unconstitutional. They want to remove him through the back door."
Firstclassnewsline.net
Akume maintained that President Goodluck Jonathan reserved the right
to remove Jega but that he could not unilaterally do so without
seeking the permission of the National Assembly through a two-thirds
majority.
The lawmakers added that Jonathan lacked the legal powers to suspend
the INEC boss under whatever guise.
They said, "Section 157(1) clearly states that the president can only
remove Jega with the vote of 2/3 majority of all senators. Under
whatever guise; whether suspension, retirement or voluntary leave he
cannot be removed.
"Section 157 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the President
cannot remove the INEC Chairman from office without getting approval
of the Upper Chamber.
"Section 157 (1) of the Constitution reads, "…a person holding any of
the offices to which this section applies may only be removed from
that office by the president acting on an address supported by
two-thirds majority of the Senate, praying that he be so removed for
inability to discharge the functions of the office."
The senators also reiterated their opposition to the clearance of
Musiliu Obanikoro as minister and the deployment of soldiers for
elections.
Giving further clarification on the fate of Obanikoro, their
spokesperson, Babafemi Ojudu, said their position was that the
ministerial nominees was not qualified to hold public office.
He said, "We are going to oppose that and the three senators from
Lagos have written to Mark opposing that.''
Firstclassnewsline.net