If Jega resigns or is fired, there will be violence, says Akanbi

Nigerians were urged on Tuesday to prevail on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega, not to resign.
They were also told to send a strong message to the presidency that if Jega is fired, there will be violence in the country.
Speaking during a public lecture in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, the pioneer chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC), Justice Mustapha Akanbi, said any resignation or sack “will be the beginning of violence”.
“We must encourage Jega not to resign before the elections. If he resigns, that will be the beginning of violence. Jega that I know is a man of integrity; if you change him at this nick of time, that will draw us back.”
He urged the electorate to vote wisely and shun ethnicity and religious bigotry in electing people into public offices just as he condemned Monday’s attack on the convoy of Mrs Aishat Buhari in Ilorin, saying the attack was a pointer to fears that the coming elections might not be peaceful.
“We should not do things that led to the cancellation of the 1993 presidential election won by the late MKO Abiola. We should know that Nigeria is greater than all of us, therefore, whatever we do concerning these elections must meet international standard. I’m happy that Jega has declared that he would not resign before the elections.
“Let’s hold the elections and show the World that we are decent people. We should not allow predictions about possible breakdown of Nigeria after the elections become a reality.”
In his presentation, the guest lecturer, Professor Danny McCain, reminded the political class that winning or losing the elections would not remove from the honours of the major presidential contenders.