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Nigerian President Reaffirms Free and Fair 2011 Election Pledge

   Nigerian-born  journalists  Chika  Onyeani  says the time past due for
   credible elections in Nigeria

   James Butty | Washington, D.C. 21 June 2010
   Nigerian  President  Goodluck  Jonathan  delivers  a  speech  in  Port
   Harcourt on 14 May 2010

Photo: AFP

   Nigerian  President  Goodluck  Jonathan  delivers  a  speech  in  Port
   Harcourt on 14 May 2010

   Nigerian   President   Goodluck   Jonathan  has  reportedly  reassured
   Nigerians  of  his  governmentās  commitment  to  hold  free  and fair
   elections next year.

   During  his  first  live  interview  Sunday with the state-run Nigeria
   Television  Authority,  Mr.  Jonathan said it was annoying to him that
   there  is  an  international  perception  that Nigeria is incapable of
   holding a credible election.

   Nigerian-born  journalist  Chika  Onyeani  and  publisher  of  the New
   York-based  African Sun Times newspaper, said the time is past due for
   credible  elections  in  Nigeria,  but  now  the  parliament must move
   quickly  to  approve the recommendations necessary for a free and fair
   election.

   āSince  Nigeriaās  independence,  there  hasnāt been any free and fair
   election. So, it will be a good thing that President Goodluck Jonathan
   now is promising to have a credible election. Some of things that have
   to   be   done   have   already   been   submitted  to  the  House  of
   Representatives, and they have not been adopted yet,ā he said.

   President  Jonathan recently removed Professor Maurice Iwu who oversaw
   Nigeriaās  last  election  as  chairman  of  the independent electoral
   commission.

   Onyeani  said  the  removal  of Iwu is just one step toward a credible
   election in Nigeria.

   āThe  removal  of  Professor  Iwu,  which  had  been  demanded by most
   Nigerians,  was  the right decision he made. But, removing Iwu doesnāt
   guarantee that there is going to be a credible, free and fair election
   unless  the  will is there on the part of the president to ensure that
   all  the  forces  are  used  to ensure that people are allowed to cast
   their  vote,  that people are not intimidated by one particular party,
   especially his own Peopleās Democratic Party,ā Onyeani said.

   Jonathan   reportedly   refused  to  say  whether  he  would  run  for
   re-election in next yearās election.

   Onyeani  said  this is not the appropriate time for President Jonathan
   to say whether he would seek re-election.

   He said, even if President Jonathan decided to seek re-election, there
   is nothing in the constitution that would preclude him from doing so.

   āTo  say  that  (Mr.)  Jonathan  is not qualified to run will be a big
   mistake.  As  a  Nigerian,  he  should be able to run; itās not in the
   Nigerian  constitution  that  he should not run. If he decides to run,
   there  has  to  be  a demonstrable achievement on his part that he has
   accomplished something for Nigerians,ā Onyeani said.

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