Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), on Wednesday, advised newly-appointed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Omupitan, not to put his reputation on the line by failing to conduct credible elections for the country.
He said the nominee, awaiting confirmation by the Senate, must strive to do the right thing throughout his tenure and leave a good legacy to avoid being remembered in the future for the wrong reasons.
The former governor of Anambra State, who spoke with reporters shortly after arrival in Abuja, noted that Omupitan must remember that he would leave office one day and live with the consequences of his actions as the head of the electoral umpire.Obi stated, “It is for the good of everybody.
None of us is going to be here forever and none is going to be in his position forever.“So, whatever position we find ourselves in, it’s to do the right thing. So I wish him well.
“When he (Amupitan) is confirmed, I will congratulate him and tell him to know that one day, he’s going to leave that post. Let him ensure that he keeps his reputation.”
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Obi added that Nigeria had had enough rough electoral experience and needed an umpire that would do the simple job of conducting credible elections.“He’s a Nigerian.
We want a new Nigeria where elections will be free, fair and credible and our people who have the competence, capacity, compassion, character and commitment to lead the nation are elected”, he further reacted.
The former governor, who visited the Local Government Education (LEA) Primary School, Kapwa, Lugbe, in company with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) candidate for the upcoming FCT Area Council elections, Dr Mose Paul, observed that credible polls would produce good leaders who felt the pain of the people.
For instance, he said the school had no adequate chairs, desks, toilet facilities and water, adding that such needs should be what leadership should focus on and not the fight for political party tickets.
He went on, “I am here today to support my brother, Dr Moses Paul, the ADC candidate contesting for AMAC Council.
You know he is campaigning and going round the communities in his constituency.
“He told me that he went to a school that has no chairs for teachers. They have no toilet.
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So I told him to let us go and see it.“That’s what I believe leaders should do. Visit schools and other public facilities to see things. As governor, I visited all the primary and secondary schools in Anambra State. I always like going to see it.
“If you talk about sincerity of purpose in Nigerian politics today, you cannot count me as one who is insincere. I’m the only person who finished in office and left public money.”
Obi, who also commented on the defection of Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, disagreed with the view that the ruling government was all about capturing the South-East, adding that Mbah probably acted on his own personal “political decisions and calculations” before moving.
“As for the alleged plot to capture the South-East, we are not in a military time when you capture people.
“You are a leader. You tend to do the right things for them to follow you.
So, I don’t think anybody is capturing anywhere. But, the government needs to do more if they want the people to support them”, Obi stated.
