Martins Ifijeh
Former military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd),
has stated that the duo of President Goodluck Jonathan and
former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, through their
actions during and after the last general election saved the
country from imminent collapse.
He said Jonathan’s acceptance of defeat even before the
final result of the presidential election was announced and
his phone call to President Muhammadu Buhari, as well as
Jega’s determination for free and fair elections, even in the
face of pressure, showed that they both loved Nigeria and
would never want the country to be thrown into chaos or
disintegrate, as some people had predicted.
Stating this during the conferment of a lifetime achievement
award on Jega and the investiture ceremony of 22 new
fellows into the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy in Lagos, he
said in his capacity, he monitored the election and saw
Nigerians who were ready to make things work, as this
contributed to the largely acclaimed peaceful election.
According to him, “This again showed that the citizens of
this country believe in the indivisibility of the Nigerian state.
Both men and women, Muslims and Christians, all prayed
for the success of the election, and indeed, God heard our
prayers.”
Also, in a bid to reduce counterfeit drugs in the country, he
called on the pharmaceutical sector to put measures in
place to further reduce counterfeit and substandard drugs,
adding that a lot of Nigerians were still dying from the use
of fake products.
“Although the National Agency for Food and Drugs
Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has done well over
the years to fight counterfeiters, they are still far from been
chased out of the market.
“I understand these manufacturers go to certain countries
to help them make below standard drugs in order to make
more profits by selling them to unsuspecting Nigerians,” he
added.
Jega, who was honoured by NAPharm, said he was
honoured to receive a lifetime achievement award, adding
that the award was dedicated to all the staff of INEC who
made the last general election successful.
“I alone will not take the glory, it was a collective effort of
the commission’s staff who despite very difficult
circumstances, made sure they remained professional.”
He also dedicated the award to Nigerians, adding that their
resolve to see a peaceful election, despite the few
challenges experienced with the card readers, was largely
responsible for the successful conduct of the elections.
He explained that when he came on board as the INEC boss,
he met a commission that had acquired a very bad name.
“But when I came in, I discovered there were actually
honest INEC staff, so all we did was to encourage them to
remain professional,” he stressed.
He also noted that one of the issues affecting the general
health and well being in the country was drug abuse, which
he said was becoming very common among youths.
“I believe this is a growing phenomenon which needs to be
halted. Non-prescription of drugs are contributing to the
dangerous problems of our country. We all have either
family members or neigbhours who are enmeshed in drugs,
especially non-prescription drugs,” he said.
He called for improved regulation and punishment of those
engaged in drug abuse.
On his part, president of the academy, Prince Julius
Adelusi-Adeluyi, said a total of 22 distinguished
pharmacists were selected across the country for the
investiture, adding that this was a call on them for more
action and service to humanity.
On behalf of the academy, Adelusi-Adeluyi also presented a
card to Gowon, whose birthday was on October 19.
http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/gowon-jonathan-jega-saved-nigeria-from-collapse/224095/#.VjHVCRK7TU4.facebook

Its a known fact. Jonathan will continue to remain a legend of a centenary 9geria

Let's Beg Buhari and Prof. Yusuf not to destroy d legacy ooo.

Jonathan alone did

For real.

For me, Prof. Jega was the hero of the day!
Someone who willingly accept defeat in a contest that he was roundly defeated should not have been inputted as a hero in a sane clime.
My respect for GEJ is the fact that he conceded quickly and acted as his own man against the wishes of the ffks, metuhs, Akpabios, wikes, PEJ & Co.
The results of GEJ action was what have led to this high rate of wailing all over the places.

Gej my hero

Cc:Lalasticlala

I don't understand how we keep playing into the hands of northerners; so, what would have happened if GEJ genuinely won the election? Will the north start killing people in barbaric manner as they did in 2011? We should all know that no one has monopoly of violence; making all this statement that GEJ saved this country because he didn't contend the result is simply insulting to other regions aside the north.

well, okay... Jonathan installed jega so he gets double point... also the tribunal is undoing all they free and fair election that Jega did... not nice!

The collapse is still just overhanging with the way the country is being run now. GEJ did not want it to happen under his watch.