Friday, 18 July 2014

President Jonathan's Re-election Bid May Break Nigeria, Igbokwe Declares

Less than nine months before Nigerians go to the polls to elect their president, incumbent president, Goodluck Jonathan has been urged to jettison his re-election bid.

Pro-democracy activist, Comrade Joe Igbokwe made this plead while addressing journalists in Lagos on Wednesday, 16 July, 2014, saying that Jonathan’s reelection ambition is not in the nation’s interest.
Igbokwe also stated that the harassment of the opposition, the Boko Haram insurgency and impeachment of opposition governors underscored the President’s desperation to retain power.

The activist said these are among incidents that put democracy under threat in Nigeria.
* President Jonathan
* President Goodluck Jonathan
Igbokwe stressed that if the quest for power was anchored on good performance, Dr. Jonathan is unfit for a second term because his handling of national affairs had been tragic and disastrous.

The activist urged the President to respect the zoning in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), adding that Jonathan’s plan to rule for 10 years may break up the country.

* Igbokwe
* Joe Igbokwe
Igbokwe said: “Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, from the South ruled Nigeria for eight years. It was also expected that the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, from the North, would rule for eight years, all other things being equal. But he died after two years in office. President Jonathan, Yar’Adua’s erstwhile vice-president from the South, took over the mantle of leadership. It was expected that he would complete the first term of Yar’Adua’s tenure and step aside for the North to complete their eight years.
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“Against protests from the North, Jonathan sought another term and got elected. By 2015, he would have ruled for six years. Seeking another term of four years will endanger our polity and create ethnic and religious tension, as we are witnessing now. We are in a democracy and, if we are still one country, there is need for equity and justice. Jonathan’s ambition to rule Nigeria for 10 years may break Nigeria.”
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The activist accused the Federal Government for waging war against the All Progressives Congress (APC) in order to make the PDP retain power.
It could be noted that President Jonathan has not declared his ambition for a re-election, but individuals and partisan groups have endorsed him for a second term and are urging him to publicly declare his interest.

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