The
factional Peoples Democratic Party spearheaded by Alhaji Baraje, a frontline
politician of nPDP has advised the President of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria, Mr. Goodluck Jonathan to forgo his 2015 presidential ambition as it is
not in the “best interest of the country”.
The
splinter PDP made its position known in a statement issued and signed by Mr Eze
Chukwuemeka Eze.
According
to the statement, “as a patriotic group that cares about the present and future
of our great country, and that wants President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to
succeed, the Abubakar Kawu Baraje-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after
reviewing the state of the nation and the pulse of Nigerians, wishes to advise
President Jonathan to abandon his plan to seek re-election in 2015 as this
ambition of his is not in the best interest of the country.
Continuing,
the faction said though Mr. President is yet to categorically declare his
intention to run, he has given enough clue that he is working towards doing so.
“The latest of such clues came on Sunday in New York, USA. Speaking at a
luncheon with Nigerian professionals in the United States, President Jonathan
insisted that he is eligible to contest in 2015 as we have a constitution that
makes a provision for a maximum of eight years for anyone who wants to become a
president or a governor.”
The
breakaway PDP said it is worried that Mr. President is intent on running
despite his earlier promise not to do so and in spite of the wise counsel of
well-meaning Nigerians, including respected elder statesmen.
“In February, 2011 while interacting with
Nigerians and diplomats working in the United Nations Economic Commission for
Africa (UNECA) and the African Union (AU) in Ankara, Turkey, President Jonathan
clearly stated: “I would have loved that the Nigerians in Diaspora vote this
year (2011) but to be frank with you, that is going to be difficult now.
Presently, the law does not allow the voting outside Nigeria and so this year
Nigerians in Diaspora will not vote but I will work towards it by 2015 even though I will not be
running for election.” Mr. President went ahead to add: “Four
years is enough for anyone in power to make significant improvement and if I
can’t improve on power within this period, it then means I cannot do anything
even if I am there for the next four years.”
“This
is a historical fact which Mr. President himself cannot deny now since he had
two years to deny that statement but never did so. How does Mr. President want
Nigerians and the entire world to see him for this volte face? Why can he not
keep his words as a man of honour instead of allowing himself to be misled by
selfish advisers to go back on his words, thereby overheating the polity?
“Mr.
President should heed the advice of well-meaning distinguished personalities
such as constitutional law guru, Prof. Ben Nwabueze (SAN) and Archbishop
Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, His Eminence, Anthony Cardinal
Olubunmi Okogie, all of whom have advised him to correctly read the handwriting
on the wall and stay away from the 2015 presidential race.
“By
2015, President Jonathan would have served our nation for six solid years.
This, surely, is enough time for him to achieve whatever he is capable of doing
for Nigeria. What else is he looking for that is making him desperate to participate
in the 2015 presidential election despite warnings that doing so may spark a
chain of events capable of culminating into the country’s disintegration
thereby bringing to pass the predictions of Lord Lugard that Nigeria as a
nation by 2014 maybe history, which was later confirmed by the USA Think-Tank
that Nigeria may disintegrate by 2015. Apart from all these, should President
Jonathan contest and win by 2015 it means he would have spent ten years in
office and will be sworn in three times as the President of Nigeria against the
Provisions of the country’s constitution.
“We
wish to appeal to Mr. President to abandon this ill-advised move and save our
nation from catastrophe. God has been merciful to you, Mr. President, lifting
you from being a university teacher to President of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria in so short a time is something you should be grateful and be contented
with. We urge you Mr. President to listen to the voice of reason and avoid
overstretching your good luck. A word is enough for the wise”.
Tags
Politics
Our calm and peace loving president shouldn't run for 2015 election? But the boko haram candidates and opportunist and vultures in this evil alliance nPDP can run....Mtcheeeee? Why are all the parties afraid of this university lecturer GEJ? Because they realise he is a formidable and uniting force, which most people prefer to the recycled political thieves.
ReplyDeletePapa GEJ u hv done noble things to our country thank u sir. But one thing u have to know is dat whn d stage is hot is d best time for one to leave or else it might b disgracing. Pls try and b a man of ur word dnt act lik a chameleon its not gud to ur status respect ur word. We have seen nothing so far after 4yrs and. No powers of ur own
ReplyDeleteThere is no Law anywhere that says that President Goodluck Jonathan should not contest for a second term. It is his right! Now, I dont see why a certain group of people are so afraid because he is contesting. Afterall to contest is not a guarantee that he would win. If any group feels that GEJ is not the right man to lead this country, they have nothing to worry about, let them prove it at the polls. It is so embarrassing how this so called splinter group that calls itself the new PDP is parading about crying wolf when there is no wolf! My candid réflexion on their view point is that they are being petty. The extent to which they have gone to make a case that GEJ should not run is childish when the constitution is clear on the matter. Even if GEJ in 2011 said he was not going to run in 2015 he has the right to change his mind just like any mortal. I dont see why it should give anybody sleepless nights. GEJ is not the only man in the world that has ever changed his mind. The view point that President Goodluck Jonathan's second term ambition is not in the interest of the nation is a myopic perspective and should be proven at the polls. Those of the splinter PDP that are peddling this campaign on the altar of Elder Statesmen and concerned Nigerians are doing nothing but trying to advance their own selfish interest.
ReplyDeleteWe should keep sentiment aside and move this country foward, nothing 've been put in place since GEJ addministration, indirectly he is taking the country backward .
ReplyDeleteBrillant
ReplyDeleteIf GEJ has done well I think Nigerians will even be the ones begging him to contest by 2015 but the problem here is that this administration is a total failure and until we see sigficant change then he can be considered by 2015
ReplyDeleteI beg he shld run may b as american's said he might d last elected president of d state of nigeria,b4it would go caput,atleast it will hasten the carefully monitored n studied of nigeria disintegration,com 2015n
ReplyDeleteBut on mine own I always say it,he might be d sacrificial lamb to d disintegration of d misconception called nigeria.
Hausas wnt to com bck whereas middle belt d@fought 4d unity of d nation havnt produced any.
Oh I forgot umunna,ibeanyi fa,ani nna(Igbo's havnt produced any)havnt either.nigeria we hail thee,GEJ fire on no time