President Goodluck Jonathan has denied he was planning to send INEC chairman Attahiru Jega on forced leave.
He spoke during a “Presidential Media Chat” Wednesday evening which was broadcast live on television and radio.
He also cleared the air on a statement he had made in the past, “Stealing is not corruption.” A thief should be called a thief, he said, and not a corrupt person. He said he relied on a statement made by Justice Akanbi, a former appeal court justice and first ICPC chairman.
The president also restated his determination to leave the presidency if he is defeated in this year’s election.
On the mud thrown at his opponent Gen. Muhammadu Buhari by his supporters, he said the mud thrown at he himself was more. The reason for the mudslinging this year is that the choiristers have changed from what they were in 2003, 2007 and 2011.
The “chat” lasted about 75 minutes during which he fielded questions from Ibrahim Sheme (editor of Blueprint newspaper), Ibanga of Premium Times and two broadcast journalists.
