The office of the presidency has on Tuesday, February 10, 2015 rebuffed reports being circulated in the media that Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega is going to be sacked by the Federal Government.
Debunking the rumour was the Director, Special Duties in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Bello Fadile, who warned the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) to desist from falsehood and outright propaganda as such utterances might end up inciting to populace towards violence.
Fadile said: “The rumoured sack of Jega is not from the presidency but part of the propaganda by the opposition to soil the good name of the president, to discredit the government and cause trouble.
“The questions of leave or no leave, the laws are clear about it and the government has nothing to do with that. The man has a job to do and please allow him to do the job without dragging the government into it and the man working under the rule of law.
“This is the government that has been obeying the rule of law and is not going to abandon its adherence to it. Please they should allow Jega to do his work and stop heating up the polity.
“They should stop fanning the embers of trouble and inciting people into violence.”
He further berated the APC for dragging the military and security forces into political issues, while they were busy tackling insurgency in parts of the country, advising them to urge the Nigerian electorate to pick up their Permanent Voters Card (PVCs).
He said: “They should also give a breather for our security forces to concentrate in their ongoing efforts to destroy the known camp of the Boko Haram terrorists. We should pray for the success of the efforts of our troops in the search and destruction of the terrorists’ known camps.”
Fadile further wondered how the rumour gained ground when there was no required letter from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) or with the knowledge of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
“Can such a decision be taken without him knowing. Is that possible? Can this happen without any of such letter confirming it from the OSGF. If the opposition are sure let them tender such a letter from the SGF or produce such a letter from the presidency,” He enthused.
