At the demise of Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, machinations were
designed by evil designing men to deny then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan
from assuming office as President as provided by the constitution of Nigeria.
They were ready to either thwart the constitution or have the late President
run the country as a late but sitting President.
Shortly after Goodluck Jonathan was confirmed President
by the moribund National Assembly which waited until we were about to be
plunged into crisis or until they were visited by bags of money in dollars or
euro, the talk rent the air that he must not attempt to contest the 2011
presidential elections.
Of course, President Goodluck Jonathan contested the
elections and was declared winner. Instead of congratulatory messages, the
trouble makers started again to agitate that he should not contest the 2015
elections. It is doubtful that he has been sworn in when the clamour that he
should not contest started rending the air. Journalists were to abandon their
role of demanding accountability for the immediate four-year mandate President
Jonathan has just collected and started asking if he would run for a second
term. They were probably sent by Jonathan's opponents or they are just making
mischief.
These days, nobody is demanding accountability from
President Goodluck Jonathan. All we hear are orchestration of threats of fire
and brimstone if he dares to contest for 2015 presidential election.
To wit, I have the following questions for these faceless
people clamouring against a Jonathan presidential re-election bid in 2015:
·
Why should President Jonathan NOT seek
reelection in 2015?
·
Who or what has abridged his constitutional
right to self-expression?
None of our previous leaders have ever stopped at one
term. Some of them wanted variously to run for three terms, others for life and
many were removed by a military regime. So why must Jonathan's own be
different.
The Nigerian constitution states clearly that a Nigerian
is entitled to serve for two terms of four years each as President. The clamour
by the North or others binding themselves together now as Jonathan's opponents
or enemies is in bad test. President Jonathan is the man to beat. He should
exercise his constitutional rights unfettered by any threats or hindrance. Other
Nigerians should also offer their services for the highest office of the land.
Anyone of them that gets the mandate should be allowed to rule.
There is no special reason for the North to be handed the
presidency in 2015. They should come like others to the contest. If they win,
they win. If Jonathan wins, he wins. The north has ruled Nigeria more than all
other ethnic groups put together. Jonathan is the first man from the region
that produces Nigeria's oil and only source of income. If any group should get
a preferential treatment in getting and holding power in this country, it is
Jonathan and his people.
If any ethnic group sponsors any military coup or
instigates unrest to embarrass President Jonathan out of the power equation in
2015, then, I expect Ijaw people nationwide to cut off oil supply and close
Nigeria finally.
The only thing people should talk about President
Jonathan is to have him wake up to the need to finish the East-West Road,
Enugu-Port Harcourt/Enugu-Onitsha Expressways, complete dualization the Lokoja-Abuja Road, build the
Calabar-Uyo-Aba Road, the Ikot Ekpene Umuahia Road and provide adequate power
supply. Let us encourage him to save our tertiary institutions from
infrastructural and technical decay.
The Nigerian constitution and equity is on the side of
President Goodluck Jonathan for the 2015 Presidential election and he should be
allowed to do as he has the opportunity like everyone else before him some of
whom asked for third term and life presidency.
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