24th September, 2010
The vice chairman, Action Congress of Nigeria, South West, Prince Tajudeen Olusi has described the shift of the 2011 from January to April as a welcome development.
Also expressing this view is the Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Muiz Banire who said the shift would avoid unnecessary litigation and rancour, as the initial timing was too tight for any political party to prepare.
Speaking with Political Train on the development, Prince Olusi said what was worth doing at all, was worth doing well, stressing that the 2011 election must be a credible one in all aspects and to be acknowledged by the entire world.
According to Prince Olusi “the shortcomings before the postponement were obvious, materials had not been purchased, voters’ registration had not been conducted and many things have not been put into place, so how could the January date be realistic?
“Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu had called the attention of Professor Attahiru Jega to these shortcomings, but they wanted to go ahead by releasing the former time table to the public. But thank God they have come to terms with the reality now,†Prince Olusi stated.
Dr. Muiz Banire on his part said if INEC had gone ahead with its January date, the election would have been engulfed in controversy, describing the postponement as a very reasonable one.
The lawyer turned politician said since the 2007 elections were widely condemned, the next general elections in 2011 should be used to redeem the battered national image.
Dr. Banire advised that a comprehensive voters’ registration exercise should be carried out before any attempt should be made to conduct any election, calling on Professor Jega to write his name in gold by conducting a credible election in 2011.
He appealed to religious leaders in the country to further pray for the development of the country, imploring them to spiritually intervene for the country’s nascent democracy to thrive.