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.
This Day.
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