President Goodluck Jonathan has again reassured the international community of the resolve of his administration to ensure free, fair and credible elections in 2015.
The President, who was speaking on Thursday night while hosting members of the diplomatic community to a cocktail at the State House, said the 2015 election will be better organized than the 2011 that was adjudged credible.
He briefed the Envoys on the processes that would lead to the election slated for early next year.
He therefore, called on the diplomats to inform their home countries that Nigeria will appreciate any assistance that can enhance the conduct of the election.
Jonathan said, “Let me also thank the dean for commending the elections in 2011, and I know that one thing that must be agitating the minds of diplomats that are here and the heads of your government is the next general elections in this country.
“The general elections will take place early next year but the processes that will lead to the elections will commence this year. Parties will select their candidate through primaries this year, campaigns will commence this year, so this year will be full of activities. And I know that there is some apprehension with the elections.
“I don’t know the kind of correspondences that you have been despatching to your own countries about that, but let me reassure you that, the election this year will be even be better than in 2011.
“I took over as the President of this country on the 6th of May 2010, quite close to the 2011 elections, so you can imagine a President that was still standing on one leg.
“I was not formally elected but I took over from the late president, and then I promised the elections must be free and fair and we kept faith with that our promise.
“Now that I am even more stable then, because I was formally elected by my people in 2011, I have the full mandate of Nigerians to do what is right.
“Let me reassure you that the general election that will come up next year will be better than the elections you witnessed in 2011. “As we progress into the year, some of these tensions will come down.
At the beginning of the electoral processes in most countries, especially developing nations, tensions use to be quite high even in developed countries. That is what we are witnessing now, but all these will come down. We will make sure that we maintain peace and security and those elections are conducted in the manner that will be seen as free and fair by everybody.
“I thank the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps who has already promised that some of the organisations and countries that helped us in the 2011 elections will also help us again.
“I am placing before you to communicate to your organisations and countries that we still need your assistance to make sure that the INEC conducts elections that are even better than the ones they did in 2011.”
The President also spoke on efforts being made to combat terrorism , saying “Until terrorism is wiped out, no world leader should sleep.
“In Nigeria, terrorism is a menace that must be defeated. The scourge has become many faceted”, he said and commended the diplomats whose countries have supported Nigeria by going beyond condemnation to support the country with training and equipment.
“We thank you for that. We are hopeful that with all the efforts we are taking, this menace will be successfully tackled”, he stated while also thanking them for the support given towards helping Nigeria secure numerous positions in global organizations”.
He also briefed them on the imperative of the national confab since Nigerians feel that the 1999 Constitution that was midwived by the military.
Speaking, the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassador of Cameroon to Nigeria, Salaheddine Ibrahima, noted that 2014 is very special because of the amalgamation of North and South of Nigeria 100 years ago.
His words, “We the diplomats feel lucky to be part of the event and we extend our hearty congrats to Nigerians.
“Being a pre-election year, and recalling the way you conducted the 2011 polls which made us all proud as it was adjudged the freest and fairest, we pledge to give our support in any way possible to ensure the success of the 2015 election”.
