Yar’Adua: US charges Nigerians to take control of their destiny

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Yar'Adua: US charges Nigerians to take control of their destiny

...questions credibility of INEC leadershipFollowing the arrival of President Umaru Yar'Adua under cover of darkness on Wednesday, the power play that ensued at the presidency, and the cloak of secrecy over his health status, the United States has asked Nigerians to take control of their destiny and start asking their leaders questions.The US has made it clear that it believes President Yar'Adua is currently surrounded by a wrong group of persons more concerned about their own personal interests than in the greater good of the nation thus jeopardising the country's nascent democracy. The US ambassador to Nigeria, Robin Sanders, told journalists during an interview at her Abuja residence that her government was quite worried about the upcoming 2011 elections considering what they believe to be among others the questionable leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Sanders said, "You've got to decide what kind of leadership you have in INEC, is it the leadership that can give you transparent elections. I don't have to tell you that Anambra had its challenges...it's doable no matter how many obstacles are in your way. If you stumble but if you have the right leadership and it's transparent and you have the technical tools in place, logistical tools in place to do it you can do it, but you are looking at the clock. Is Anambra an example of you being ready logistically, organisationally? I don't need to answer that question. "It is important to think about what you want over the next couple of months....I talked about not only good governance today but good government and I made the distinction for a number of reasons because good governance is really about the transparent platform, but good government is also about making sure that you are doing the best for the people that you are supposed to be representing. So the question is for Nigerians, do you think that's happening and it's for you to decide if you don't think that's happening what to do to change that". Sanders had earlier on the same day noted in a speech to mark the US national day that, "each nation keeps its own vigil over its own destiny and America wishes all Nigerians well as you chart the way ahead through these troubled waters". "I know some people will think that we are being hard on Nigeria but its just like a friend with a bad cold you see that they are not doing the right thing to get better and to get back on track then you want to say something because you care so much and its really out of that dedication and love for Nigeria that we are saying these things," she adds.

Source: Businessday :: News you can trust

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