Action Congress of Nigeria has said its reaction to the “bribery allegation” against President Goodluck Jonathan over the construction or “renovation” of a church in his village, has nothing to do with religious or ethnic considerations.
In a statement in Lagos on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the issues involved were those of ethics, constitutionality and the rule of law, saying anyone or group that attempted to make it a religious or ethnic issue was doing a great disservice to the nation.
It also urged religious leaders in particular and other opinion leaders in general to always rise above politics and primordial considerations when commenting on such issues.
The party said, “Sadly, since the bribery allegation came to the fore, we have seen otherwise respectable religious leaders joined the fray and used uncomplimentary words just to be seen to be defending the President.
“We have seen how they attempted to use religion to divide Nigerians. This is unfortunate and must never repeat itself.
“Like these unwary religious leaders, we have also read comments from some ethnic jingoists making it look as if the criticisms of the President’s solicitation and acceptance of a church ‘gift’ from a foreign construction company doing business with the government he heads is targeting the South-South or the Niger Delta.”
The ACN added, “All these developments confirm what we have always known: That this President is the most divisive Nigerian leader ever, and he and his ‘supporters’ will not hesitate to play the religious or ethnic card even when the issues involved have nothing to do with that. Any criticism of his actions is immediately interpreted as an attack on the Ijaw, the Niger Delta, the South-South or Christians. This is not the stuff of good leadership.
“The last time we checked, President Jonathan was voted into office by people of all ethnic and religious groups. He is not the President of the Niger Delta, neither is he the President of Christians or Muslims, but the President of all Nigerians. He should always remember this.’’
The party wondered where the religious leaders now rushing to the President’s defence were when ACN campaigned rigorously for Jonathan to be sworn in as Acting President, when his boss was ill and he was marooned; “or why they never came out to defend the late President Umaru Yar’Adua when we criticised his administration’s policies.”
It said, “We will like to put it on record that our reaction to the issue was based on published reports that the President himself admitted soliciting and accepting the church gift. We maintain that this is an impeachable offence and that the National Assembly should investigate it and take the necessary action. Whether the National Assembly does so or not will not mitigate the rightness of our stand.”
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Look,ACN, should go and drink garri or boil beans! They would have preferred the president collecting the cash for personal use like building toll gates& extorting fees; building super mall & hotels! They just want cheap fame.They should stop being armchair critics.GEJ has not committed any offense ; he did not ask GITTO construction company to build church.If you are highly placed,people will do things for you .The company even issued a press release to exonerate Mr President of the claim .ACN should come out and tell us who owns Oriental hotel,Ikeja shop rite ,even the so called Lekki toll! Dem mama!
ReplyDeleteAmeachi, you are just being petty. This is a serious issues of transparent and honest governance which bordered on the rule of laws and constitutionality. You appear to be a man of little mind with pepper soup joint mentality. GEJ can conveniently handle the renovation of the church without any assistance if he had chosen to do the right thing but instead, used the power of office to compel government contractor to rebuild the church. Ameachi, if you have informations about the real owner Oriental Hotel and Ikeja Shoprite, please spill the beans and dont pas the bucks on ACN. Thx. Tommy.
ReplyDeleteWhy is ACN complaing about their candidate at the last presidential election? Why didn't the ACN vote its supposed candidate- Nuhu Ribadu? This should explain to them why Uncle Jona said it's only the PDP that's qualified as political party. To further add crendence to that they (ACN) can't ask their nass members to initiate an impeachment move. We are tired of this so called opposition: Tinubu is only using that association to protect his empire, not democracy. When the APP- Later ANPP was the main opposition as a party, not as one man show, the headlines would have been different; because they ANPP didn't have media expert or rather talkative in the person of Lai Mohammed- an empty vessel making so much noise. It's a shame on ACN. Please bury your shame in silence and stop all the noise pollution. You the right process as a party- that is if you are one- start impeachment and stop inciting the masses and calling another occupy Nigeria that will only end up as occupy Lagos- by Area Boys!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Lai Mohammed on this one...the president or any leader for that matter should be above board...in character, in speech, in actions, even in body language. Some of Jona's dispositions is condescending of his exalted office. Nigerians voted for him expecting a radical shift from business as usual but what we're currently seeing is not a departure from those of old who have denigrated same high office...Jona needs a paradigm shift!
ReplyDeleteConcerned Nigerian, I guess you are one of the desperate and anxious Nigerians who wants GEJ to wave a magic wand and turn around the age-long decayed Nigeria. I appeal to you and others to be patient with this Tactician GEJ who is doing exceedingly well. The end will justify the means. I appreciate the anxiety but I trust we will be there soon.
ReplyDeleteOpposition is entitled to their opinion but it should be constructive and not divisive, unfounded and incisive. Rog.
You can say what you like but without sentiment, it shows that corruption stems from the very top, from the president himself. Is is no wonder the country is not fighting corruption, AT ALL! Those who are defending GJ are just being sentimental, ignorant or naïve.
ReplyDeleteim not surprised dat shome pple are supporting the presidency even wit all the evidence against him. We all know dat it is wrongful for an office holiday to praise someone dat offers gift to anyone. The president is more learned enough to know this. He openly mentioned this so why turn back again on his words.
ReplyDeleteMy advise to the pple of South south is dat this is just something like a film very soon GeJ or wot ever you call em will leave that post and you will suddenly come down to mother earth and realised that your President is nothing but a figurehead to the northern caber with all his education.