EU welcomes Jonathan’s insistence on May 29 handover date

The Chief Observer of the European Union Election Observation Mission, Mr. Santiago Fisas, on Monday welcomed the position of President Goodluck Jonathan that the May 29 handover date is sacrosanct.

He said that statement was a good news because it was constitutional.

Fisas spoke with State House correspondents after meeting with Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said he was happy with the President’s assurance on May 29 handover date which he also reiterated during the meeting.

He said, “As the Chief Observer, European Union, I must meet with all the candidates for these elections.

“I met twice with Gen. Buhari and today President Jonathan very kindly accepted to receive me and my team, the EU Ambassador, the Deputy of Observer European Union colleagues, just to have exchange of views about the elections.

“I’m very happy to be assured by the President that the inauguration of the next President will take place on May 29. I think this is very good news because this is constitutional.”

When asked whether he believed what the President told him, he said, “Yes. I don’t see why I should doubt that. The President said that publicly and also to us. We asked questions on security and he said to us that in a very short period of time the security situation will improve a lot.”

Jonathan was said to have used the opportunity of the meeting with the EU delegation to say that those alleging that his administration was planning to put in place an Interim National Government were only being mischievous.

He therefore urged his guests, Nigerian and other stakeholders to discard the rumour which is fast gaining ground.