Building strong Institutions Anti-graft agencies revived and rejuvenated, influential Nigerians and their associates being prosecuted over the fuel subsidy affair, the ruling party losing some important elections, CBN and AMCON breathing fresh life into the financial sector… these are clear signs that it is no longer business as usual in Nigeria. Those who have followed developments in the political history of Nigeria will no doubt agree that the current government is making significant progress in building and strengthening institutions – a cornerstone of the democratisation process. Although we are no longer in the era of “with immediate effect”, the halo of militarism still hovers around and we have a responsibility to wean ourselves away from that era. Nation-building in a democratic era is brick by brick, consensus after consensus, as strengthened by the humane mortar of democratic practice. In his inauguration speech at the inception of his President Jonathan’s ascendancy had given new presidency on May 6, 2010 President Goodluck impetus to the drive for the reforms as he hit the Jonathan promised, among others, to institute an ground running, telling everyone that cared that he electoral reform regime that would ensure that the had come to ensure that electoral rights of the people votes of Nigerians count and are counted. “Our total were not only protected but also guaranteed. He soon commitment to good governance, electoral reform and popularised the concept of one man, one vote, stating the fight against corruption would be pursued with loudly that he would use his presidential authority to greater vigour,” he said, adding: “We must enshrine end ballot roguery in the country. the best standards in our democratic practice.” The The President was not grandstanding. The Anambra President explained that “one of the true tests would State gubernatorial election held in 2010 under his be to ensure that all votes count watch provided President Jonathan, and are counted in the upcoming then acting president, a first-hand general election.” opportunity to not only to articulate From that moment the President his vision for a transparent electoral took measured steps to actualise process but to clearly demonstrate this promise of making votes his sincerity of purpose. In his precount. At every opportunity, he election message to the people of reiterated his commitment to one the state titled, ‘The votes must man, one vote; one woman, one count and be counted,’ he called on vote; and one youth, one vote. all the stakeholders to ensure that The elections which eventually the people’s wish prevailed. “We Ibrahim Lamorde held in April 2011 were peaceful Mr. must take the election seriously and Executive Chairman, EFCC and have been adjudged by insist that the votes and voices of the both domestic and international electorate remain the final arbiter observers as the fairest and freest election in the as to who governs this state of commerce, industry, nation’s recent electoral history. He was commended diplomacy and scholarship,” he said. locally and internationally for the peaceful and credible It is significant to note that in spite of the best conduct of the election. All legal challenges were also efforts of the President’s party, the PDP was unable unsustainable as the courts threw out the cases one to dislodge the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance after the other. (APGA) whose candidate Governor Peter Obi won
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sure & steady transformation: the progress report
President Goodluck Jonathan chats with a voter after casting his vote in the April 2011 presidential elections
the election and was returned to office. PDP was planning to dislodge him President Jonathan would celebrate this by unfair means. Even though development a month later at the launch of the President worked very hard Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s and campaigned for his party One Man, One Vote campaign in Benin to win, the people of Edo State City, saying the Anambra election was decided that it was Oshiomhole a successful test of the administration’s that they preferred to PDP’s resolve to protect the electoral rights of Maj.-Gen. Charles Airhiavbere. the people even against the interest of Naturally, President Jonathan the Federal Government. congratulated Oshiomhole, “The government and the institutions Professor Attahiru Jega, notwithstanding the fact that of government must at all times stand INEC Chairman his party was defeated by the by the people and must at all cost resist candidate of the ACN. President the temptation to pervert the will of the Jonathan also commended the people,” he said in his message. Of course, the people Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), of Edo State were already familiar with the President’s its personnel and the nation’s security services for fidelity to a credible electoral process. Indeed they ensuring that the elections were free and fair in keeping were the first beneficiary of this. Earlier in the year with his administration’s commitment to continually the election into Etsako North State Constituency strengthening democracy in Nigeria through the was held, the President’s PDP losing to the Action establishment of a more credible electoral system. He Congress of Nigeria. urged Oshiomhole to regardthe fresh mandate given When Governorship Oshiomhole ran for second term to him by the people of Edo State as an endorsement in office in July 2012, there was unfounded hysteria that of his outstanding performance in his first term and
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