The Man Attahiru Jega

[bamalli]

The Man Attahiru Jega 
   
Written by Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, Kano 
   
The new National Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Mohammed Jega, hails from Jega town in Kebbi State. He was among pioneer lecturers employed at the then newly established Bayero University, Kano (BUK), immediately after graduating from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, with a B.Sc degree in Political Science.


Not long after his assumption of duty as a graduate assistant, Jega went to Northwestern University , Evanston, in the United States, where he bagged a Masters of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees. He was also on sabbatical and duty leave to several universities within and outside the country.

He was variously promoted to the ranks of lecturer II, lecturer I, Reader and Professor of Political Science. Jega also served as Head of the Department of Political Science, Dean of the Faculty of Social and Management Sciences, and Director of the Centre for Democratic Research and Training (CDRT Mambayya House), all in BUK.

He was the National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) between 1988 and 1994.

The professor was appointed as vice-chancellor of Bayero University in September 2005. His five-year tenure  would be ending next September.

Jega was a Federal Government delegate to the National Political Reform Conference (NPRC) in 2005 and also served in the  Electoral Reform Committee, led by Justice Muhammadu Lawal Uwais, set up by the then President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua.

Though best known as a labour activist and astute academic, Jega displayed great administrative traits as the vice-chancellor of BUK. Under his watch, the university underwent transformation in various facets, earning the position of Best University in Nigeria according to the National Universities Commission (NUC).

Jega is also reputed to be a strict disciplinarian. He introduced strict rules against indecent dressing on the two campuses of BUK and placed campus politics under critical watch. Jega introduced many courses to the university and erected several structures, including hostels and lecture halls.

His policies endeared him to most student of the institution, who call him with the endearing sobriquet of Baba Jega.

Sources said Prof.  Jega, who is the elder brother of Daily Trust editor Mahmud Jega, is a one-time consultant for INEC.

Prof. Jega is the author of the book, Democracy, Good Governance and Development in Nigeria, published by Spectrum Books in 2007.


FRM:Leadership

[Dan-Borno]

All Eyez on you.  Allah taya ka riko.

[HUSNAA]

Its a master stroke on the part of GJ to appoint Jega as the INEC chairman
It shows him as a free and fair man and out for whats best for Nigeria. It also makes him win my vote for the next presidential election!!
Up PDP!!! Up GJ!!! Hip Hip Hoorray!!!!

[bakangizo]

This is a good sign. I only hope Mallam Jega is not caught up the string of Nigeria's dirty politics. I would hate to see him lose his good name. Allah Ya taimake shi yayi aiki da gaskiya.

[ummutameem]

thats right bkgz, all we can do is pray, n pray really hard. these politicians are conniving SOBs, n i dont believe jonathan ll appoint smone dat ll not protect his interest, d guy is not that holy.

fellow nigerians lets pray for jega, Allah give him d will to do the right thing!

[Abu-Fatima]

Traditionally, the head of the National electoral body is picked from tribes or geo-political regions other than that of major contestants for the presidency: for the simple reason of having an impartial umpire. Comrades don't you see the choice of Prof. Jega as INEC chair tacitly blocking the North-West geopolitical zone from fielding a presidential candidate of the ruling party come 2011? With this development I wouldn't be surprise if the next chairman of the ruling party also emerged from the North-West geo-political zone.

[Suleman]

Aliyu, it depends on what you term as geo-political region here; if by that term you mean the 6 zones, then Jega coming from the North West does not preclude North Central (e.g Niger) or North East (Adamawa) from producing a powerfull (albeit not necessarily credible) candidate. If however you mean the North/south divide, then throughout Obj's term, it has always been a southerner that has Chaired INEC. I think the main issue at stake is free and fair elections such as the one that produced June 12 and 1999 (Obj), at the very least. With that, I make bold to say may the best person win, regardless of zone.

[gogannaka]

The selection of Jega as the head of INEC has been applauded by almost everyone.
Now my question.
How do you think Jega can uphold credible elections?
There are 10 commissioners also selected alongside Jega.
Does Jega have the independence to select the credible people(resident commissioners) to help him conduct the elections?

I think he has a huge task ahead of him given the high hopes people have in him.
Its good to be good!

[Suleman]

The selection of Jega as the head of INEC has been applauded by almost everyone.
Now my question.
How do you think Jega can uphold credible elections?
There are 10 commissioners also selected alongside Jega.
Does Jega have the independence to select the credible people(resident commissioners) to help him conduct the elections?

I think he has a huge task ahead of him given the high hopes people have in him.
Its good to be good!

If we take a cue from the 2007 general elections, the entire excercise failed even before election day. Reasons; well no comprehensive electoral register, politicizing of candidate screening (Atiku), not enough personell to man electoral wards, not enough printed votes, lack of security numbering on the electoral votes (which had been paid for but was not delivered), not following the right procedure in announcement of results..... I am sure there are hundreds of failings that could be attributed to the man in charge, Iwu. So if Jega decides not to be Iwu, and be himself, then that will go a long way in making a difference.

[gogannaka]

I would want Jega to set an election standard.
If any election fails to reach that standard then t should be officially annulled.
Any voting center where voters or INEC officials are harassed or threatened should have the results disqualified.
All centers should have their materials in time.
Agents should meet an integrity requirement. Thugs should not be allowed as agents.
Resident electoral officers/commissioners should be lodged at a very secure location where they will not interact with the political office holders.
Presidential and gubernatorial elections should be held same day and results announced at centers.
Had it been that he came in early i would have recommended the electronic voting.

[bakangizo]

I would want Jega to set an election standard.
If any election fails to reach that standard then t should be officially annulled.
Any voting center where voters or INEC officials are harassed or threatened should have the results disqualified.All centers should have their materials in time.
Agents should meet an integrity requirement. Thugs should not be allowed as agents.
Resident electoral officers/commissioners should be lodged at a very secure location where they will not interact with the political office holders.
Presidential and gubernatorial elections should be held same day and results announced at centers.
Had it been that he came in early i would have recommended the electronic voting.

A tall order in Nigeria. How do you screen out agents on the basis of who's a thug and who's not? Ai dukkan agents din yan siyasan najeriya thugs ne. And when you say any polling voting centre where INEC officials are harrased or threatened shold be disqualified, you are inviting chaos. Believe me the moment those thugs sense that their candidate is losing in any particular polling unit, they would simply make trouble so that the the centre's votes are disqualified and won't count in the final analysis. The best is to provide adequate security and ensusre that the security agents act in an impartial manner. There should also be a clearly announced punishement (jail, fine, etc) for any security agent and/or INEC official caught conniving with political agents.

[gogannaka]

That sounds like a good suggestion too.
I just read in the news that most of the 19 resident electoral commissioners are members of the PDP.
I don't see any way free and fair elections can be conducted with card carrying members of the ruling party holding forte at INEC.

"For instance, Amb Mohammed Anka was a PDP governorship aspirant in Zamfara State in 2007, Gen A. B. Mamman is a well known chieftain of the PDP in the Federal Capital Territory while Yakubu Shehu was a PDP senatorial aspirant in Kaduna State in 2007."

Gaskiya Jega has a lot of work to do.

[Suleman]

That sounds like a good suggestion too.
I just read in the news that most of the 19 resident electoral commissioners are members of the PDP.
I don't see any way free and fair elections can be conducted with card carrying members of the ruling party holding forte at INEC.

“For instance, Amb Mohammed Anka was a PDP governorship aspirant in Zamfara State in 2007, Gen A. B. Mamman is a well known chieftain of the PDP in the Federal Capital Territory while Yakubu Shehu was a PDP senatorial aspirant in Kaduna State in 2007.”

Gaskiya Jega has a lot of work to do.

Certainly 'an ce hannu daya baya daukan daki', Jega by himself cannot deliver free and fair elections for us. Every citizen has a role to play on this issue. The very least the electorates could do is to cast their votes. A repeat of 'A kasa a tsare a raka' will also do a lot to curtail rigging. The trouble with "us" the ordinary citizens, is that we are expecting a quick solution to our problems, that does not necessarily involve us taking any proactive role. We all want a change in the system to occur either miraculously or through 'someone elses' goodwill, but never through our inputs.

[Muhsin]

Allah ya taimake ka Baba Jega, amin.

[bakangizo]

That sounds like a good suggestion too.
I just read in the news that most of the 19 resident electoral commissioners are members of the PDP.
I don't see any way free and fair elections can be conducted with card carrying members of the ruling party holding forte at INEC.

"For instance, Amb Mohammed Anka was a PDP governorship aspirant in Zamfara State in 2007, Gen A. B. Mamman is a well known chieftain of the PDP in the Federal Capital Territory while Yakubu Shehu was a PDP senatorial aspirant in Kaduna State in 2007."

Gaskiya Jega has a lot of work to do.

I read today that the said commisioners might likely be removed. I smelt something fishy about the whole thing. Is the president saying he wasn't aware that they are PDP members when he appointed them as electoral commisioners?