Yakubu Gowon
Former military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd), has stated
that the duo of President Goodluck Jonathan and former Chairman of the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru
Jega, through their actions during and after the last general election
saved the country from imminent collapse.
He said Jonathan’s acceptance of defeat even before the final result of
the presidential election was announced and his phone call to President
Muhammadu Buhari, as well as Jega’s determination for free and fair
elections, even in the face of pressure, showed that they both loved
Nigeria and would never want the country to be thrown into chaos or
disintegrate, as some people had predicted.
Stating this during the conferment of a lifetime achievement award on
Jega and the investiture ceremony of 22 new fellows into the Nigeria
Academy of Pharmacy in Lagos, he said in his capacity, he monitored the
election and saw Nigerians who were ready to make things work, as this
contributed to the largely acclaimed peaceful election.
According to him, “This again showed that the citizens of this country
believe in the indivisibility of the Nigerian state. Both men and women,
Muslims and Christians, all prayed for the success of the election, and
indeed, God heard our prayers.”
Also, in a bid to reduce counterfeit drugs in the country, he called on
the pharmaceutical sector to put measures in place to further reduce
counterfeit and substandard drugs, adding that a lot of Nigerians were
still dying from the use of fake products.
“Although the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and
Control (NAFDAC) has done well over the years to fight counterfeiters,
they are still far from been chased out of the market.
“I understand these manufacturers go to certain countries to help them
make below standard drugs in order to make more profits by selling them
to unsuspecting Nigerians,” he added.
Jega, who was honoured by NAPharm, said he was honoured to receive a
lifetime achievement award, adding that the award was dedicated to all
the staff of INEC who made the last general election successful.
“I alone will not take the glory, it was a collective effort of the
commission’s staff who despite very difficult circumstances, made sure
they remained professional.”
He also dedicated the award to Nigerians, adding that their resolve to
see a peaceful election, despite the few challenges experienced with the
card readers, was largely responsible for the successful conduct of the
elections.
He explained that when he came on board as the INEC boss, he met a
commission that had acquired a very bad name. “But when I came in, I
discovered there were actually honest INEC staff, so all we did was to
encourage them to remain professional,” he stressed.
He also noted that one of the issues affecting the general health and
well being in the country was drug abuse, which he said was becoming
very common among youths.
“I believe this is a growing phenomenon which needs to be halted.
Non-prescription of drugs are contributing to the dangerous problems of
our country. We all have either family members or neigbhours who are
enmeshed in drugs, especially non-prescription drugs,” he said.
He called for improved regulation and punishment of those engaged in drug abuse.
On his part, president of the academy, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi,
said a total of 22 distinguished pharmacists were selected across the
country for the investiture, adding that this was a call on them for
more action and service to humanity.
On behalf of the academy, Adelusi-Adeluyi also presented a card to Gowon, whose birthday was on October 19.
THISDAY
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