"Obama Didn’t Issue Certificate To Jega" – US Embassy

According to Mr. Robert Kerr, the acting American embassy counsellor for Public Affairs in a letter to The Leadership explained that contrary to reports, The United States president, Barack Obama has not issued any certificate of commendation to the chairman Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Attahiru Jega, the United States embassy in Abuja has said;

“President Obama did congratulate INEC and Chairman Jega for successfully conducting the March 28 presidential elections, a letter of commendation was not presented to Chairman Jega.”

He stated further that the picture being bandied as the award was that of the US ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador James Entwistle and Jega while the latter was “presenting a plague to the Ambassador when the Ambassador visited INEC office some months ago.”

Mr. Kerr stated further that the text of the statement issued by the White House in relations to Nigeria’s presidential election lauded the INEC and Jega, saying they “deserve special recognition”. The statement by the US Department of State dated April 1 commended “Nigeria’s commitment to democratic principles.”

It added that INEC and Jega “deserve special recognition for what independent international observers have deemed a largely peaceful and orderly vote.“I commend INEC for its extensive efforts to increase the credibility and transparency of the electoral process,” the statement said.

Source: The Leadership