Former Nigerian president, Goodluck Jonathan has expressed
worry over what he described as ‘negative energy’ ahead of the 2023 general
elections.
Speaking during the commissioning of the 1.15 kilometre
Afi-Uko Nteghe Uda Bridge on Etebi-Enwang Road, in Mbo Local Government Area of
Akwa Ibom State on Monday, Jonathan said he has observed the level of
bitterness in campaigns, saying that politics is not about fighting, insulting
or abusing one’s opponent.
While urging politicians to market their ideas during
campaigns, the ex-president said politics of bitterness does not bring
development to any nation.
He said: “I am a bit worried by the negative energy
generated ahead of the 2023 elections. We have noticed a level of bitterness in
our politics that does not bring development and I plead with politicians that
marketing is about marketing your ideas. Politics is not about fighting, is not
insulting, is not about abusing.
“We have been reading in the newspapers and social media of
how billboards of presidential candidates, governorship candidates are pulled
down and I believe by hoodlums, but sometimes, they say some governments even
support those kinds of things.
“If you are a part of the team doing that, then know that
you are among the unfortunate miscreants, wolves, virus or pathogen that is
really decomposing our democracy. Please stop doing that; but in all these, I
believe the security services have a lot to do.”
He said further: “I believe anybody who commits a crime
should not be covered under politics. Arson is arson and is never
statute-bound, so for somebody who commits a crime, burns houses, kills people,
the record must be kept and whenever the investigation is completed, such
people should be prosecuted; that is the only way people would stop doing this.
“But if people commit criminal offences and walk away, then,
of course, other people would be encouraged to do same. So security services in
Nigeria have a lot to do, they must not spare any criminal.”
Jonathan who described the bridge as one of the longest in
West Africa, commended Governor Udom Emmanuel for his developmental
achievements, saying his administration has good intentions for the Akwa Ibom
people.
Also speaking, Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State
said he has satisfied his conscience with his achievements across the state,
adding that despite criticisms and the falsehood peddled against his
government, he has tried not to be distracted.
Emmanuel commended the community for supporting the
construction of the project, saying the project confirms his promise to open up
the riverine areas.
He said: “I said in my second term that we are going to open
up the riverine areas. In Nigeria today, I think we are very few in terms of
governors who can have 31 local government areas and development touching 31
local government areas simultaneously.
“This is the only place a subnational is signing a signature
in the sky, on the land, in the water. Today, if I had gotten the support of
the Federal Government, we would have gone far in this area. This is where the
industrial hub for the future [of] Nigeria lies.”
Describing the bridge, the Commissioner of Works, Prof Eno
Ibanga said the 1.15km bridge sits on 412 piles with a minimum depth of 30
metres each, segmented into 52 spans of 22.5 metres, which sits on 408 precast
beams.
On his part, the Managing Director of AMITEC Construction
Company, Aiman Saimua said the company was awarded the project four years ago
but the COVID-19 pandemic caused a delay in the project which was completed two
weeks behind schedule.
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com