As Jega’s tenure as INEC chairman winds up, HENRY ODUAH writes on the marks the professor is leaving for his imminent successor to build on.
It is just a little over a month since Nigerians marched to the polls and the result of the presidential election still appears like a mid-day dream. For the first time in the history of Nigeria’s democracy, a sitting president, Goodluck Jonathan, was shown the door by the electorate who preferred an opposition candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.).
Before the election, only a countable number of persons could see the possibility of an incumbent losing his prized seat to his fierce and long-time rival. But one man, many believe, made it all possible – Professor Attahiru Muhammadu Jega, Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Prior to the March 28 elections, it seemed Nigeria would go down in flames if things didn’t go the way of some factions. The hate campaigns grew in intensity and content. The polity was heated to boiling point. Even the postponement of the national elections from February 14 to March 28 did not help matters, as it provided avenue for Jega’s INEC to be re-examined.
Jega was put under intense pressure that many doubted his competence, capability and impartiality in the conduct of the polls.Eventually, he worked to bring about what we have today as a peaceful country, post-election, through his actions, words and even body language.
Jega’s gigantic responsibility began on June 8, 2010 when he was nominated by President Jonathan as the new INEC boss, subject to Senate approval as successor of Prof. Maurice Iwu who vacated the seat on April 28, 2010.
That redefining moment placed on the shoulders of the academic, a priceless duty to country and countrymen to deliver what is usually called credible elections. Jega stayed true to the provisions of the constitution even in the introduction of the card reader technology which was only to certify the holder to exercise his constitutional rights and not to serve as the actual voting process.
Jega was born on January 11, 1957 in Jega, Kebbi State. He attended Sabon Gari Town Primary School, Jega, between 1963 and 1969, and proceeded to Government Secondary School, Birnin Kebbi and then was admitted into The Ahmadu Bello University Zaria’s Bayero University College, Kano, in 1974, graduating in 1979 with a Second Class Upper Division BSc degree in Political Science.
After completing the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme in Cross River State in 1979, he rejoined the academic community in Bayero University, Kano, this time no longer as a student but as teaching assistant. In 1981, he won a fellowship at Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois in the United States where he obtained his Masters. Four years later, he pocketed his Ph.D in Political Sciences with specialisation in Political Economy. While at Northwestern, he also obtained a Certificate in African Studies.
Other appointments included visiting Senior Research Fellow at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos (March 1992 – March 1993); visiting Research Fellow, Department of Political Science, University of Stockholm, Sweden (1994); Deputy Vice-chancellor (Academic), Bayero University (1995–1996); and Director, Centre for Democratic Research and Training, Bayero University (2000–2004). Jega was appointed Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University in 2005.
Although Jega oversaw the conduct of the 2011 general elections, which many today still harbour doubts of its fairness, he sought ways to redeem his public image domestically and on the foreign stage by abating the extent of rigging and electoral malpractices enforced on election days. And in came the card-reader technology which no one saw coming, not even the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) holding sway at the centre.
Jega now has the moment to savour the result of his doggedness and the accompanying praises of world leaders, despite the criticisms trailing how he conducted the poll. He is already aware that most Nigerians describe him as a complete failure. President Barack Obama was arguably most interested in the matter, as he swiftly awarded him a “Certificate of Commendation” through the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle.
One of Jega’s truly commendable actions on the lips of right-thinking Nigerians is the mature handling of Godsday Orubebe’s attempted disruption of the announcement of presidential election results. Jega sat calmly and watched closely as the former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, who was PDP’s representative at the Abuja collation centre, made a mockery of himself and his party. As typical of most Nigerians, one would expect Jega to order that Orubebe be escorted out of the premises immediately he appeared to be disrupting the process. But the professor knew what was at stake and chose to sheathe his sword, lest PDP supporters nationwide go violent.
There were unconfirmed reports that Orubebe’s action was part of plans for some clique to disrupt the elections and the results. So, if that report was anything to go by, the chief electoral umpire, with his matured treatment of Orubebe, beat them to their game.
“I cannot receive petitions in this hall on this platform. As we speak with you now, I have not received anything from the secretary of the Commission. That is as far as the so-called petitions. With regards to what you said about the result allegedly published by the APC on its websites, I didn’t release result to anybody. The results that are announced formerly by INEC are results that are declared here. And we have warned everybody to be careful and to ensure that they did not declare results which are not officially announced. So, as far as I am concerned, I have not seen any result and I have not given anybody any result. So for you to even engage me on that issue, I think frankly it is not fair on me. I have not seen the result. How can I speak on something I have not seen?” were the words Jega used to calm the situation.
Although Jega played a key role in overseeing the recently concluded elections, one cannot downplay the contributions of President Jonathan, who should first be commended for keeping Jega on the job; second, for allowing him free hand in the discharge of his duties and essentially the use of the card-readers; and finally for his timely congratulatory message to the President-elect, Buhari, few minutes after Jega declared Buhari winner.
Now, five long years have passed since Jega’s appointment, a lot has happened and one would have no argument about his deserved rest. Little wonder the astute academic spared no time to say that he would quit as soon as his tenure expires in June – maybe to forestall any hope of a reappointment. But the chances of reappointment are slim.
A president of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) from 1988 to 1994, Jega was appointed a member of the Justice Mohammed Uwais Electoral Reform Committee, which submitted a report on December 11, 2008 with recommendations that included establishing commissions to deal with electoral offences, constituency delimitation and political parties registration and regulation. The committee also recommended proportional representation and that the INEC head should be appointed by the judiciary rather than the president.
The Jega-born academic has also served in the following capacities: Member, Presidential Panel on Review and Harmonisation and Rationalisation of Federal Government Parastatals, Institutions and Agencies (1999-2000); Member, Governing Council, the African Centre for Democratic Governance (AFRIGOV) from 1997 to 2003; Member, Governing Board, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, from 2002 to 2004.
He was also Chairman, Governing Board of the NYSC (2003-2004); Member, Presidential Advisory Council on Youth Affairs (2001-2007); and Member, Vision 20:2020 Committee.
From 1992 to 1998, Professor Jega was Director of Research, Nigerian Political Science Association; Member, Presidential Panel on Rationalisation and Streamlining of Federal Government Poverty Alleviation Programmes and Institutions (1999); and Member, Presidential Technical Committee on the Consolidation of the Tertiary Education Sector (2006-2007). He was also Member, Electoral Reform Committee (August 2007- December 2008).
Professor Jega is a recipient of many academic and honorary laurels which include the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) by the Federal Government of Nigeria in 2005; Fellowship Award by the National Association for Research and Development (2006); “Man of the Year” Award by Newswatch Magazine, 1993 and 2011.
He is widely published, with several books, articles, monographs and reports in areas such as government policies, political economy, democracy, political process, good governance and identity politics.
Professor Jega is happily married with children.
