Nigeria Will Be On Fire If Jega Resigns Now – Akanbi

Pioneer chairman of Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission(ICPC), Justice Mustapha Akanbi yesterday warned that Nigeria will be on fire if the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC),Prof. Attahiru Jega, was forced to resigned.
Akanbi said if INEC chairman resigned at this nick of time’ that will be the beginning of violence’.

The former President of the court of Appeal spoke during a special public lecture titled “Towards Peaceful Elections In 2015: The Roles of Stakeholders in Nigeria” organised by the Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ilorin.

Akanbi also cautioned Nigerians against doing anything that would make predictions about a possible breakdown of the country after the general elections a reality.
He reminded them of unfortunate incidents that led to the cancellation of the 1993 presidential elections believed to have been won by the late chief Moshood Abiola.

Akanbi, who condemned Monday’s attack on the convoy of Mrs Aishat Buhari in Ilorin, said the sad occurrence in a town reputed for peace and harmony “instilled fear in me that we may not have peaceful elections.”
He said: “We must encourage Jega not to resign before the elections. If he resigns, that will be the beginning of violence. Jega that I know is a man of integrity; if you change him at this nick of time that will draw us back.

“We should not do things that led to the cancellation of the 1993 presidential election won by the late MKO Abiola. We should know that Nigeria is greater than all of us, therefore, whatever we do concerning these elections must meet international standard. I’m happy that Jega has declared that he would not resign before the elections.

“Let’s hold the elections and show the World that we are decent people. We should not allow predictions about possible breakdown of Nigeria after the elections become a reality.”