President Goodluck Jonathan gave yesterday in New York perhaps the clearest indication yet that he will run in 2015.
Dr. Jonathan, who has not declared his interest in the yet-to-open but rancourous race, is faced with a group of seven governors elected on the platform of his party – the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)- challenging his yet unannounced bid to seek a second term.
At lunch with some Nigerian professionals in New York, United States, as a sideline of his visit to address the United Nations (UN), General Assembly, he said it was not illegal for a president or governor to spend two terms.
Jonathan said: “Already, we have a constitution that makes provision for maximum of eight years for anyone who wants to become a president or a governor. There is no president or governor that all citizens vote for but at the end of the election, if somebody emerges, you must allow the person to work.
“If you love your country, you would want your country to work. That does not mean that you will not vote against the person if you don’t like the way he works, but you must allow him to work.”
Apparently replying critics of his administration, Dr. Jonathan went philosophical. He said: “No matter how you feel about the political situation, consider the interest of your country first before yourself. If you are struggling to enter a house, you must not put dynamite to destroy the house. By the time you get there, there will be no house for you to stay.”
“So, first and foremost, we must collectively build our country. Don’t bother about who is there now because power is transient, very very temporary,” he added.
The President also urged the political class to drop do-or-die approach in politics and allow him to concentrate on his core mandate of governance.
He said Nigerians hold the power to vote out anybody they are not comfortable with.
According to him, political leaders must be mindful of what they say or do in order not to undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty.
The President also spoke on his fight against corruption and the ongoing university teachers’ strike which is nearing three months.
On corruption, he said: “So many people are saying we are not doing well in fighting corruption and before you say that, there must be a parameter for judging us. What are the yardsticks they are using to judge us?
“Before the advent of this government, the Federal Government was spending a whopping N25 billion on fertiliser with only 11 per cent reaching the farmers. But since the coming on board of his administration, government now spends between N5 to N6 billion on fertiliser and we are getting 80 per cent reach.”
“If we wanted to continue to steal money or look for money for election, we could have continued,” Jonathan said
Giving kudos to his team, the President said his administration had made significant progress in reviving rail transportation, aviation, road and other infrastructure.
He said the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) had politicised the teachers’ strike.
Jonathan, a former university teacher, said: “We’ve gone very far with the ASUU strike. We believe ASUU has some kind of politics that crawled into the strike, but we are still discussing with them. If things were normal, by now they would have called off the strike,” he said.
He added: “We are doing a lot in terms of improving infrastructure and every other thing in our universities. In fact, this is the very first time a government has set up a team to go around all our universities to examine the infrastructure and a report has been written, which was presented to the National Economic Council and all the governors, and we are working.”
With the President were Minister of Finance Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Olusegun Aganga, Dr. Doyin Okupe and Dr. Reuben Abati, among others. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Rubbish mtceeeeeeeeeeeeew.
ReplyDeleteWe are tired of your government, your government is the worse. we ever experienced in Nigeria, Please goooooooooooooooo. we don't need you again.
ReplyDeleteThis imbecile is not articulate at all....all he has said in this article cannot convince a 10 year old! do comot make we vote in another person....but who?
ReplyDeleteYou have spoken well Mr. President,,, those who want you out are frustrated criminals,,, by this time nest year the whole Nigerians will say continue
ReplyDeleteWell spoken Mr president. To the first 2 people who commented you have the right to not vote for him, thats your political choice. the majority will always win at the end of the day, thats the beauty of democracy. The fact that certain people are not comfortable with this guy strengthens my belief that things are no longer the same in governance in this country which is what we need in order for the country to move forward. He has mentioned his achievements, let the so called G7 governors tell us their collective and individual achievements in their 8yrs of being at the helm of affairs. mumu people like them. If the people opposing this guy are the well known corrupt politicians we all know then i say go on GEJ. Im yet to see someone highlight what exactly makes GEj govt the worst we have seen in Nigeria. when i do then i will start to take all this jokers seriously
ReplyDeletei av no shoe before but now i av many shoe but others still av no shoe. Oga at d top pls sometin time is going man.
ReplyDeletewhen you read and go round to see what was and what is, how it use to be and how it's been done now you will know Nigeria is going some where under your leadership my president, no Nigerian president has had it tough like you but then don't be distracted, those who are complaining are those you stop there from stealing our money Nigeria should ask them or they should tell us what wrong GEJ and SAMBO has done, well done my president, thank you for making Nigerian know that this country has good and willing to serve people without corrupt tendency. You have told us that you are most criticized and be most praised. I believe you.
ReplyDeleteCan fool some people sometimes
ReplyDeleteBut can't fool all the people all the time.
Now we've seen light
Just go home and sleep Jonathan
BabaPupa!
GEJ u ar da worst president we ever had.men pls give it 2 even isAmeci.iam a notherner who cares 4 9ja DONMALIK
ReplyDeleteGEJ should go and contest 2015 in Zoo. afterall, itz where he he belongs
ReplyDeleteGEJ devil is better than angel we have not see am not a politician without ringing GEJ we conduct free and fear election and he we will win ....bet it with me
ReplyDelete