The United States government has said its concern for stable democracy in the country informed its support for the Acting President Goodluck Jonathan.
The American ambassador to Nigeria, Robin R. Sander who spoke on the current leadership crisis in Nigeria’s presidency at the Petroleum Club in Lagos weekend said the acting president needs everybody’s support in ensuring the country’s democracy not only continues to mature but that the country remains stable.
The acting president, she stated, needs the support of the entire nation at this point in time to ensure that the way forward for Nigeria is not only democratic and maintains unity of purpose, but also inspire the right actions on election reform and addressing the fundamental areas of development. To her, concluding the peace initiative in the Niger Delta and encouraging more transparency in the petroleum industry and local content bills for the energy sector are also crucial.
She said the US government cares deeply about Nigeria, not only how it is doing as nation, but where it is going, and how it is planning to get there. The bottom-line of all these support is to enhance the wellbeing of the people, she said.
She said one thing that is critical to the Nigerian democracy is electoral reform which would lead to free and fare elections in the country. “Nigeria in 2010 will weather this political uncertainty stronger than ever and your friend, the United States of America, will be there with you”
The time line for election, she said, is worrisome because there are lots of things to be done between now and when the election would hold. “There are major logistic challenges”, the ambassador said, adding that there are about 11 areas of the Electoral Act that do not need constitutional amendment.
The U.S government would continue to assist the country to enthrone stable democracy, she said