I am not in Akwa Ibom for money - INEC's REC Igini speaks
- Mike Igini, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Akwa Ibom says he was pressured to compromise during the elections
- Igini maintains that those calling for his removal were behind the plot to make him compromise his integrity
- The REC says it is very difficult to maintain one's integrity in Nigeria
Mike Igini, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Akwa Ibom, has revealed that those who want him out actually tried to make him compromise to no avail.
Igini, who spoke in an interview with Vanguard, also said his job in the state is to allow equal and fair opportunities to all candidates and their parties.
“Those looking for compromise in the process are the ones who are also calling for my removal. Why would you remove a man who says he wants to give everybody an equal opportunity, equal chance and there is no evidence so far of any compromise of any kind because I carry everybody along.
“I have never stepped into the house of any human being since I came to this state.
“When adults and supposedly respected people, who have held public offices before could tell lies from the pit of hell that the son of man had been having meetings with people that he doesn’t even know, it is most unfortunate,” he said.
The REC said since taking up the job in the state, he had never entered the home of anyone.
He also said from his experience in public service, he had come to realize that maintaining integrity is a difficult task.
“The question is why do you want to remove me? That is the question. Why is it that in our country today, when a man says he wants to do the right thing, a man who has embraced certain pristine values to do the right thing is the one having problems?
"Why is it that, that is the kind of thing you find in our country? That people want to do the right things; they are putting all kinds of hindrances on his way. Why is it so?
“My friend, if I had compromised, I wouldn’t have any problem today. I can now confirm to you that in my experience in the Nigerian public, integrity is very difficult to maintain. You are endangered if you are talking about integrity. What kind of country are we?
“Why was it as if we were going to war? Look at the number of people that were killed in other parts of the country during last the election. Have we lost our sense of humanity? We are grateful to God that nobody died here in Akwa Ibom, but the fact that people were killed in other places is worrisome,” he lamented.
Igini made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Uyo on Saturday, March 2. He said that the allegation was not true and that the election was not manipulated.