President Goodluck Jonathan has restated his administration’s resolve to implement the decisions of the National Conference.
In his Independence Day broadcast Wednesday, he described the conference, headed by Justice Legbo Kutigi, as the greatest ‘centenary gift’ to Nigeria and vowed that its decisions ‘shall be implemented’.
To do this, he said his government has set up a ministerial committee headed by the Attorney General of the Federation, to work out the modalities for implementation. He did not state the time frame the committee would work, but repeatedly gave assurance that its recommendations shall be seen through.
“Every promise I make, God willing, I will see to its fulfilment. I assure you, we shall implement the report”, he said, dredging out also the conference’s greatest lesson.
“One major lesson which the 2014 National Conference has taught us as a country is that, a multi-ethnic country like ours, must learn to embrace painstaking dialogue until consensus is established.”
The President also spoke about his administration’s commitment to foster free and fair elections.
Without mentioning any particular recent poll conducted, he appeared buoyed by the belief that the elections were conducted fairly and freely, what with the attestation as he put it, of the international and local observers of a positive evolution in our country of ‘electoral credibilty’.
We cannot afford to relent, he said.
“We will continue to ensure that the will of the electorate prevails so that political leaders would be reminded at all times that there is a day of reckoning when they have to go back to the people at the polls. Election days must not be days of violence and death. We must remain vigilant to ensure that our electoral process is characterised by peace, security and transparency.
“I enjoin the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), all security agencies, politicians and the electorate to work conscientiously and peacefully, together, to consolidate on the gains of the recent elections. Free and fair elections have come to stay; nothing else will be acceptable to our people”, he said.
Please read the President’s full speech here:2014 Independence Day Broadcast by