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14.05.2009 Nigeria

Nigeria: Praise for Kufuor as Yar' Adua gets the flak

By myjoyonline
President Yar' Adua on a recent visit to Ghana.President Yar' Adua on a recent visit to Ghana.
14.05.2009 LISTEN

Nigeria's Action Congress party on Wednesday described as late, President Umaru Yar'Adua's directive to security agencies to probe a N250m bribery allegation, electoral fraud and intimidation during the Ekiti State rerun governorship election.

According to The Punch, the party, in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the President would have received accolades from all Nigerians if he had acted promptly and provided leadership when it mattered most.

The party accused Yar'Adua of remaining silent during the stalemate which also saw the resignation of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs. Ayoka Adebayo, adding that the President's attitude contrasted sharply with what obtained in Ghana during the country's December 2008 election. It explained that the then outgoing President John Kufuor sacrificed his party's interest for that of his country.

The party said, “That singular act of leadership by Kufuor probably saved Ghana's democracy. Today, Kufuor can walk around freely and hold his head high anywhere in Ghana or around the world. What he provided was leadership!”

The party said, Yar'Adua “simply abandoned ship and left his minions, including what a writer called the 'unholy trinity' of Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Maurice Iwu and Information Minister, Prof. Dora Akunyili, to be riding roughshod over Nigerians and harassing the Ekiti REC, who eventually caved in under their massive pressure.”

Read The Punch's article by Akin Oyedele and Mudiaga Affe.

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