JUMADA-AWWAL 3, 1429 A.H.
FRIDAY, MAY 9 2008
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Rivers to assist INEC on election performance
From ALIYU L. SAULAWA,P/Harcourt
The Rivers state government says it will encourage the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to hold a stakeholders meeting, in preparation for the conduct of a free, fair and credible election.
Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi who gave this indication when the new Resident Electoral Commissioner for Rivers state, Mr. Josiah Uwazuruonye paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Port Harcourt, saying INEC lapses in the last election need to be corrected in the interest of the nation.
Hon. Amaechi, promised to partner with the commission where necessary to assist them and urged INEC to realize that they owe the people of Nigeria the responsibility of carrying out their assignment according to the rule of law.
The state Chief Executive charged INEC to ensure that what happened to him does not occur again, to anybody, where the obedience of the rule of law was abandoned, “responsibility you owe to the country is not to allow what happened to me to repeat itself”.
Governor Amaechi regretted that if INEC had not compromised, by obliging his party to substitute his name the party would not have done much of what it did, and advised Nigerians to begin to obey the law.
He, however, expressed happiness that his judiciary struggle has earned him a place in the history book, as the matter would be cited and read for a long time in the country’s legal stature.
The Governor formally welcomed the new Electoral Commissioner to Rivers state and assured him of the hospitality of the people, pointing out that the crisis in the state emanated from the economic situation that exist in Nigeria .
According to him, lack of enforcement of law had led to those perpetrating crime to take law into their hands, but assured that the present administration would do everything within its powers to protect lives and property in the state.
Earlier, the new Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Josiah Uwazuruonye, said he was at the Government House to formally introduce himself to the governor, having assumed duty in the state, after being posted from Edo state.
Mr. Uwazuruonye expressed satisfaction with the peaceful manner the governor pursued his legal battle, which produced him as the state chief executive, noting that his case has made landmark in the judicial system in Nigeria and that has ultimately positioned him as a man of providence.
“Your courage to challenge your right, had altered the attitude of youths from accepting perceived failures” he said.
The new Independent Electoral Commissioner (INEC) lauded the state government for the support INEC received, and hoped that the harmonious relationship existing between the government and the commission would continue
