2015: My fears for Nigeria —Jonathan •Says forces are working to truncate polls

Posted by admin INEC Politics, Presidency Thursday, June 12th, 2014

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, on Thursday, raised the alarm that undemocratic forces exist in the country and are working to truncate the 2015 general election.

He has, therefore, called on citizens not to allow such forces to exploit the weakness in the system to perpetrate their evil desires.

The president, who disclosed this in Abuja, at the all-political parties summit organised by the Office of his Special Adviser on Inter-Party Affairs, Senator Ben Obi, said “there are still very remorseless anti-democratic forces operating in the political system, ever ready to exploit lapses in the management of our political and electoral processes.

“Some of these forces may, during the forthcoming elections, truncate the nation’s hard-won democratic liberty.

“But dear compatriots, with respect to the 2015 elections in particular and our journey as a nation in general, we must never allow these negative forces to prevail.”

Speaking on inter-party relations, Jonathan observed that the outlook for the country was grim, as the conduct and utterances of leading politicians were heightening tension in the country and advised that the current security situation in Nigeria was better addressed by a united political class.

“The current national political outlook with regards to inter-party collaboration is less than salutary. Indeed, the conduct and utterances of leading politicians at home and abroad are rapidly creating and spreading unnecessary tension in the country.

“Such unguarded utterances on their part fester the embers of discord, bitterness and rancour. Such unfortunate development play into the hands of extremist elements waging a vicious campaign of terror against the state.

“The recent mindless bombings and killings of innocent Nigerians in the FCT, Jos, in Plateau State; the killings in Adamawa State, including that of the traditional rulers, as well as the heartless criminal abduction of over 200 schoolgirls from Chibok, are better addressed by a political class united in its commitment to defend the polity, irrespective of political differences,” he added.

He cautioned against politicising the fundamentals and core imperatives of defending the state, adding that doing so could only embolden the terrorists and other enemies of the country.

“We must never give them such opportunity. Our political parties must remain positive and constructive in their engagements as we seek to build virile and stable nation that can compete with other states in the world,” he said.

The president said the summit offered the opportunities for political parties and, indeed, politicians “to reflect and review the possible consequences their actions, conducts and utterances in the recent past have had and will have on our polity and corporate existence.”

According to him, “if our state enterprise fails, no political party or politician can stand it. Hence, at a time such as this, when our existence as a nation is threatened by anti-democratic forces, we, politicians and political parties, must rise to the higher moral grounds in defence and protraction of our existence as one nation and one people.”

The president observed that the concept of inter-party relations and collaboration presupposed that though political parties may differ in ideology, process and structure of governance, they must remain united in the common objective of preserving and consolidating unity and democratic foundation of the nation.

Going down memory lane, the president observed that Nigeria’s political history since independence was replete with examples of viable collaborations among political parties in and out of government.

He said in the past 15 years of the Nigerian Fourth Republic, several milestones had been recorded in the country’s political development, adding that “our electoral processes have been transformed, strengthened and subjected to a guiding principles of universal electoral standards with greater election credibility.”

Jonathan also spoke on the responsibility of the Nigerian media, which he observed was one of the freest in the world, adding that this freedom of expression had also been robustly and exuberantly embraced by the social media.

He, however, said “the freedom of association, assembly and expression within constitutional provision is largely taken for granted.”

While noting that the nation’s democracy had witnessed unbroken political transition and successful session of government from 1999 to date, Jonathan warned that stability and democratic consolidation could be undermined by indifferent attitude of critical stakeholders.

The president expressed gratitude to all political parties and statesmen “that answered the clarion call,” particularly, former head of state and All Progressives Congress (APC) leader, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, saying “he has, indeed, demonstrated statesmanship and patriotism, as well as the willingness to put partisanship aside in the collective will to preserve our nationhood.”

Also speaking at the summit, the National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, publicly accused the APC of promoting political violence ahead the 2015 general election and called for caution in the interest of democracy.

“For instance, the PDP had a good outing in Ekiti State last week during the electioneering for our governorship candidate, but to our greatest surprise, the state governor came out the second day with APC members, saying that they wanted to sweep our legs away and, in the process, innocent people were either killed or wounded,” he said.

Mrs Sharon Ikeazor, reacting on behalf of the interim national chairman of APC, Chief Bisi Akande, however, said the party was for unity and peace of the country.

Ikeazor said the merger of parties to form APC was the best thing that would ever happen to the country since existence, adding that the party was united and had been praying for the immediate end to the activities of the insurgents in the country, as well as the early release of the abducted Chibok girls.

Former president, Alhaji Sheu Shagari, pleaded with the Federal Government to grant a modified amnesty to insurgents in the country for peace to reign and urged the political class to play politics of inclusiveness and constructive engagement.

Shagari, who was represented by his son, Honourable Aminu Sheu Shagari, while commending the summit, said when he was in office, he formed a council of all political parties which paved the way for the opposition to get ministerial slots and urged the present administration to follow the same direction.wp_posts