Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa
A socio-political pressure group in the Niger Delta, Movement for the Survival of Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta, (MOSIEND) has asked Prof. Attahiru Jega to apologise to Nigerians for the ignominious role in rigging the 2015 Presidential election in favour of President Buhari.
The group maintained that Jega has no moral justification to advise Nigerian on matters concerning elections, saying that he is the main architect of the bad leadership in the country.
A statement by MOSIEND National Vice-President, Thompson Fouye made available to newsmen, noted that a report credited to Jega, former INEC Chairman advising Nigerian not to collect money from politicians because such monies are stolen wealth, is disdainful and sparks anger.
According to Fuoye, Nigerians will never forget in a hurry how the former INEC Chairman, despite the freedom to conduct a credible election that would have made Nigeria a reference point in Africa, imported unconfigured voters card machines that could not capture a sitting President.
He noted it is unfortunate that after betraying former President Goodluck Jonathan by rigging the election duly won by Jonathan in favour of his Fulani kinsman, negotiated a soft landing not to be investigated or on the monumental fraud under his watch in INEC.
“He was given all he requested for by former president Jonathan yet he betrayed him.
“We expect Jega to hide his face in shame and never to make any statement again but rather apologise to Nigerians for putting us in this mess we are in.
“And we also advise him not to believe Nigerians are so stupid to forget quickly his role in bringing this government into power.
“If he thinks his sweet talk can deceive Nigerians, then he should know that he can only deceive his Fulani gullible brothers who together have put Nigeria in total disarray.
“Professor Jega has no moral justification to make any statement on any matter in Nigeria today because he Jega is the main architect of all that Nigeria faces today.
“A man who was given all freedom and latitude to operate as an election umpire but later connived with his Fulani kinsman to betray former President Jonathan by rigging election duly won by President Jonathan in favour of his kinsman.
“It is unfortunate that such a person today will now come to advise Nigerians not to accept money bags because the money is money.
“He that negotiated his soft landing not to be probed or investigated on the monumental fraud that happened in INEC under his watch.
“All the unconfigured voters card machines brought into the country by him that could not even capture a sitting president.
“So one like Jega in sane climes is supposed to be stripped of his professor title and jailed for bringing us where we are today. Jega only showed that a Fulani man cannot be trusted.
“But as for us, he should not venture to contest the next election as he will not only embarrass himself but his entire family.
“He is not fit to be call professor and we seize to accord him that honour henceforth,” the statement read in part.