By Chido Nwangwu, with USAfrica reporters in Nigeria Abubakar Ahmed and Agbo Agara
Special to USAfricaonline.com, CLASSmagazine, USAfrica e-group and Nigeria360@yahoogroups e-group
Africa’s most populated country is facing another embarrassing twist in its checkered efforts to hold free, fair and timely elections with Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan’s electoral commission’s chief appointee Prof. Attahiru Jega postponing today’s
parliamentary elections a few hours ago.
USAfrica reporters across Nigeria say that the Jega-led INEC (since July 2010) which has the biggest funds ever in the history of Nigeria’s elections management is facing the anger of what seems a majority of Nigerians and voters over this remarkable failure. But his boss
President Jonathan is supporting the decision arguing that the new date of April 4 is better for INEC to “prepare for better results” and elections.
But Isa Mohammed who said he’s a member of the President’s ruling PDP party at Wuse in Abuja disagrees, countering: “They should all be ashamed and be apologizing to all Nigerians regardless of party. What type of country is this? Haba! All the money they gave to Jega and INEC and they cannot hold elections?” queried .
Adeleke Omotunde, an economics student in Lagos told USAfricaonline.com that he “expects more from the leaders of Nigeria especially the President. Until today, I was a supporter of President Jonathan but this has messed up things. He is either leading or not.”
A more prominent Lagosian, leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu told reporters that Jega “has done what is right in the circumstance. I only hope the President will take control from there by declaring a national holiday on Monday.”
Uchenna Emenike, an APGA party loyalist in the commercial but traumatized city of Aba (in Abia State) was no less concerned, saying to USAfrica that “Prof. Jega of INEC and the man who appointed him President Jonathan promised Nigerians a proper election today which they have been planning and spending tons of money, only to cancel it! No, I’m terribly disappointed.”
An international elections monitor who will be texting (his observations to USAfricaonline.com) was equally blunt in telling us that “It’s a big shame to Nigeria and its leadership. I see very deeply disappointed Nigerians at the various polling stations we have been to today.”
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www.usafricaonline.com/chido.ngrtalibans09.html
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USAfrica, and first African-owned, U.S-based newspaper published on the internet USAfricaonline.com; The Black Business Journal, CLASSmagazine, PhotoWorks.TV, AchebeBooks.com, Nigeria360, USAfricaTV and several blogs, assessed by The New York TImes as the largest and arguably most influential multimedia networks for Africans and Americans. News@USAfricaonline.com. wireless: 1-832-45-CHIDO (24436). Office: 713-270-5500.
