Jonathan  Vows to  Leave  Power if Defeated   
 

President Goodluck Jonathan has assured Nigerians and the international community that he will leave power if defeated in the Presidential election which held Saturday across the country.

He spoke immediately after casting his vote at 12.35pm Saturday,  saying  that though he was in the contest to win,  he has offered himself as an experiment to prove that an incumbent can leave power if he loses an election.

Asked that given what happened in Ivory Coast,  if he will take defeat and leave, he answered “Of course, that is what we are talking about of offering myself as an experiment”.

He also prayed that to reduce tension across the country and also for economic reason, whoever will emerge winner should do so at the first ballot since it will task the resources of the country to conduct a run off.

Jonathan expressed happiness that democracy was deepening in Nigeria since it has become a standard practice for politicians to go to electorates to seek their mandate to rule.

“Let me use this opportunity to thank Nigerians for the interest they have shown in the present election. I have been involved in this current elections from the 2003.

“I have been involved as Governor and Vice presidential candidate. I am involved now in 2011 as Presidential candidate and I have seen that the interest shown by Nigerians,  young and old.

If I have not shown commitment, people cannot come out to do what is right, to come out and choose candidate of their choice, so I am indeed happy that we are consolidating democracy because democracy must be built on a solid foundation.

“The foundation upon which democracy is built on is the power of the ballot paper. When the ballot remains nothing, then there is no democracy. You can best describe that as pseudo democracy.

“We are now experiencing true democracy where we politicians have to go to the people because the power belongs to the people, it does not belong to those of us that are politicians. Power belongs to the people and it is expressed through the ballot paper.

“You can describe it as a new dawn in political evolution. We are happy for Nigerians”, Jonathan said.

The interaction of newsmen with Jonathan went thus:

Who did you vote for?
Well, I am a candidate, what do you want to hear from me, I am not an actor, I am a candidate.

You have just shown Nigerians that an incumbent President can conduct a free and fair election, most people, especially in the opposition don’t believe your statement?
I said I will conduct a free and fair election and I will not influence the electoral process. That has been demonstrated in the previous election.
People have observed that I have been sincere, you can go and find out from INEC people, I have not shown any interest. The day the election was cancelled, I was here to vote, so I heard it just like every other person, that shows you the degree of freedom INEC.

Another important issue is that this poll may run into a bye-election?
I don’t know. I will pray that  we do not go into a bye-election because of the cost implication. Nigeria is a big country to conduct one round of another election. Next the amount of money to pay adhoc staff higher. It is a colossal sum of money, so even economic reason, and to even reduce tension, we pray that whoever will win should win at the first ballot.

See what is happening in Ivory Coast, if you lose will you leave?
Of course, that is what we are talking about of offering myself as an experiment.

Are you sure of victory sir?
Of course. If I am not, I won’t be in the race.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) unlike in previous elections deployed early to ward 13 in Otueke, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State where President Goodluck Jonathan will vote.

As early as 7.15am the three corps members, a male and two females were already seated with materials though accreditation did not start at 8.00am on the dot because no one had shown up.

At 8.05 am, the corps members told THISDAY,  “We are ready but we have not started accreditation because we are waiting for the President”.

At 8.14am, the corps members no longer waited for the President but went ahead to start accreditation of voters at ward 13.

The Deputy Inspector General of Police Yesufu accompanied by the Commissioner of Police Bayelsa, Aderinle Shinaba arrived in a convoy but were not allowed to drive through the cauldron already set at the foot of Otueke bridge. They walked to the guest house where the President stays about 500 meters away.

At 8.41am, Jonathan arrived for accreditation with the wife Dame Patience and his mother, Ayi.
As at 12.30pm when voting started, 408 voters out of 908 registered had been accredited to vote.

-Guardian

Posted by admin on Apr 16 2011. Filed under Elections 2011, Goodluck Jonathan (2010-present), Presidency. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry