UWAIS REPORT, SIGNPOST FOR CREDIBLE ELECTION – OFEHE

President of the Hope for Niger Delta Campaign (HNDC) based in The Netherlands, Comrade Sunny Ofehe, has advised President Goodluck Jonathan to fully implement the report of the Justice Uwais Electoral Reforms Committee if he wants to correct the electoral irregularities and fraud that happened during the 2007 elections, even as he commended the appointment of Prof Attahiru Jega as the new Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman.

In a statement made available to Sunday Sun, Ofehe said the choice of Jega was commendable considering his background as former president of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and current Vice Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano.

On the controversial issue of whether Jonathan should contest the 2011 presidential election, Ofehe said: 'I think the President has the constitutional right to contest any election, especially if the people repose confidence in him. Should the President assure Nigerians of better economic and social reforms, it will be in the best interest of the nation to see him contest next year's election under transparent and trustworthy electoral process.'

He advised the President to tackle corruption and allow the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to discharge their duties without government interference.

Said he: 'He must tackle the issue of corruption and allow the EFCC and the ICPC to carry out their duties without government interference. So far, he has not meddled with the independence of these agencies. He must not allow the political cabal to dictate to him and overwhelm him with political pressure that only tends to feed their insatiable lust for corruption.'

On the federal government's post-amnesty programme, he warned that unless government adheres to all laid down policies of the programme, it would fail. 'The federal government should endeavor to tie all loose knots to ensure that the process is not jeopardized and hijacked by greedy people who will want to line their pockets with the budget earmarked for the project,' Ofehe said.