The governor, who made the submission yesterday in Akure during the opening session of the Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly (SNPA) conference, said even though Zakari’s personal integrity may not be in doubt, but the process of her assuming the mantle of lNEC leadership could make the opposition doubt her impartiality.
Mimiko said the need for a change in the leadership of the electoral body becomes imperative because against the norm in the country, the president and the head of the National body are not only from the same zone, but are from the same state and as well share family ties.
Mimiko also urged the president not to jettison the recommendations of the last National Conference, which he said proffered solutions to the myriad of challenges confronting the country even as he advised participants to the conference, to make the demand a crucial part of their communiqué.
Leaders of the SNPA at the well attended meeting included, Chief Edwin Clark, Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi, Senator Chris Ukpabi, Dr. Ifedi Okuwenna, Prof Ihechukwu Madubuike, Air Commodore Idongesit Njenga (rtd), Senator Femi Okunroumu.
Others are Dr Akpanyan Emmanuel Prince Olabisi Sangodeyi, Prof. Muibi Opeloye, Senator Danki West, Hon. Moshood Adegoke, Senator Kofoworola Bucknor- Akerele, Senator Adetunji Adelekan Prof. Toye Adekunle, among others.
Mimiko, who spoke contrary to the insinuations by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that the Peoples Democratic Party performed poorly in the last 16 years, noted that the PDP’s greatest achievement is the stabilisation and sustenance of democracy in Nigeria as well as conduct of peaceful and credible elections.
Stressing that President Buhari must be pro-active in correcting the wrong impression in the leadership of INEC and its independence, as it affects the choice of Amina Zakari as the boss,Mimiko also stressed the need for decentralised policing system, restructuring of Nigerian federation and putting resources control under concurrent list for every state to have the enablement to tap its resources for the betterment of the people.
He saluted the courage of former President Goodluck Jonathan to accept defeat, especially for putting a call through to President Buhari to congratulate him in the course of the last presidential election as that singular act, he said has gone a long way to make the nation peaceful.
While welcoming the SNPA leaders to the meeting, the co-chairman of the assembly, Rev Bolanle Gbonigi said the assembly is to proffer suggestions to the present government in the areas of security of lives and properties, good governance, rule of law and the development of the nation, not to score the administration’s performance.
He decried the act of insurgency of Boko Haram that had been reigning
in Nigeria in recent times, urging the federal government to intensify
effort at defeating it.
In their goodwill messages, the Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark and the former Vice-President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme (represented) called on the Buhari administration to ensure that the interest of the southerners was not jeopardised.
They advised President Buhari to ensure equity and fairness in his policies and programmes in line with his promise to work for all Nigerians.
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