Buhari queries non-invitation of Orubebe to Democracy Day Lecture, as Jega cautions parties over internal democracy ahead 2019

*I can’t forget altercation between Orubebe and Jega – President

*Jega urges Buhari to do something about bribery at NASS

“So, the question of an interim administration or postponing election for more than 90 days shouldn’t be on the table and I thank personally the United States government then under President Obama by sending John Kerry to read the riot act to the government and to us the opposition then that nothing other than a free and fair election will be acceptable,” Buhari recalled Jonathan and his men handled 2015 general elections.

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday, queried organizers of this year’s Democracy Day Lecture over their failure to also invite former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Godsday Orubebe, whose altercations with then Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, over the 2015 presidential elections results he said he would not forget in a hurry.

The President spoke just as former Chairman of the INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, advised political parties to improve their structure and scope of internal democracy ahead of the 2019 general elections.

Buhari, in the mockery of Orubebe, specifically said the organisers of the 2018 Democracy Day lecture which had Prof. Jega as the guest lecturer should have invited the former minister to also be at the event.

He said he would not forget in a hurry the exchange of words between Orubebe and the former INEC boss because of the outcome of the result of the Presidential election.

Recall that Orubebe had, at the heat of tension generated by the outcome of the Presidential election in his rejection of the result said, “I will not take it.”

But making his remarks at the International National Contre Abuja, the venue for the Democracy Day lecture with the team, “Peace building and good governance for sustainable development”, President Buhari also recollected the efforts of the then government of the United States, Barack Obama towards ensuring that the 2015 elections held.

The President said, “Here I must digress to raise an observation by the programme organisers because I did not see Mr Orubebe who ought to have come and listen to Professor Jega deliver his lecture, this is a major observation.

“That instance, for those of us who were lucky that there was light and we had the television to see the confrontation between Orubebe and prof Jega, it will remain a life impression to many of us.

“The other one is the prof Jega briefing to the government, the opposition and the military before the date of the election was finally agreed on.

“Prof Jega, as a professor, it was not surprising, briefed us of his activities between 2011 and 2015, the recruitment, equipping and training of INEC officials, that gave those of us who are lucky to get the report, the courage that nothing outside the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria would be accepted by the opposition.

“So, the question of an interim administration or postponing election for more than 90 days shouldn’t be on the table and I thank personally the United States government then under President Obama by sending John Kerry to read the riot act to the government and to us the opposition then that nothing other than a free and fair election will be acceptable.”

Recalling the recent violence witnessed during various congresses in the country, the former INEC chairman in his lecture said danger may be inevitable if parties are unable to properly manage their internal affairs.

Jega said this while delivering a lecture on Monday in Abuja as part of the 2018 Democracy Day celebration.

“The first issue of concern and a major challenge is the issue of violence and there is no better illustration of this than what has happened in many of the recent party congresses and really, this portends danger.

“If political parties cannot organize their internal elections peacefully, then how can they engage with other parties with civility in the general elections so it’s very, very important we improve our systemic mechanisms of addressing violence and conflicts relating to election and, in particular, improving the scope of internal democracy within political parties.

“We may be running out of time but we must try harder and do everything possible within the time available to us before the next general election,” he said.

Also in the lecture titled “Peace Building and Good Governance for Sustainable Development in Nigeria”, Jega said cases of hate speeches and delay in the passage of the electoral legal framework are capable of eroding credibility and threatening the elections next year.

The former INEC chairman also took a swipe at some members of the National Assembly while addressing the issue of bribery and corruption.

“Many of the chief executives that I have spoken with (and I know only a few), have stories to tell, particularly about the issue of bribe giving and bribe taking when members of the National Assembly pursue so-called committee work and oversight responsibilities.

“This is well-known, everyone knows it, it is being said but nothing seems to be done about it,” he said.

In the meantime, President Buhari sought the opportunity of the event to assure Nigerians of a more secure and prosperous nation.

President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Reps Yakubu Dogara, Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr Kayode Fayemi, Minister of Communications, Chief Abdur-Raheem Adebayo Shittu, APC Chieftain, General Lawrence Onoja, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, among others, were also present at the event.