President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday advised politicians to stop sowing seeds of discord. He added that despite the embarrassing utterances made by certain politicians in the country, Nigerians are the ones to decide who will govern them after the 2015 general polls, as Nigeria is nobody's personal estate.
The President made the remark while speaking at a special Christmas service at St. Mathew’s Anglican Church in Maitama, Abuja.
He urged politicians to market themselves without attacking him, saying that only Nigerians will decide their leaders at all levels.
He also made a veiled reference to Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi who recently threatened that the APC was ready to form a parallel government if next year’s elections are rigged. Jonathan questioned the basis of such threats, saying there was nothing that should make any office seeker brag that he would win his election.
In his words, “As a politician, you want people to elect you, to perform a responsibility. If you mean well for the country, the country is nobody’s personal estate but you want to serve. If people want you to serve, you serve, if they say no, you leave”
“Nigeria is nobody’s personal estate, Nigeria is nobody’s business enterprise, Nigeria is nobody’s father’s property, it belongs to all Nigerians.”
“I get embarrassed when we the politicians, maybe including me, make provocative statements; statements that create division among Nigerians; statements that can set this country ablaze. I don’t think that is what a leader should do. I don’t think that is the kind of seed a leader should sow.”
“Those who take government by violence, look at African countries, those who kill to take power, they never end well. Few cases, yes, probably in a society not everybody goes the same way but on the average one has recently happened in west Africa.”
“If a politician wants to take power whether at the House of Assembly level, at the House of Representatives or Senate or governor or president, you don’t sow seed of discord and enmity because of course, it will consume you.”
“As a nation, we know that if anybody who has the privilege of being a governor of a state after serving, he becomes a senior citizen of that state, it is your duty to assist in-coming government.”
“If you happen to serve as the head of government or as a president of this country, in fact at the national level, we have the highest authority called the Council of State, the permanent members of the council of state are past presidents and past Chief Justices of the country. The idea is that they have vast experience in a number of things and they can bring their experiences to bear in terms of advising any president at any time. That was why that body was created by the constitution.”
“But if we abuse ourselves, kill ourselves to be in office, then who will finish serving and still want to attend the Council of State meeting for somebody who probably abused you through life, it is not possible.”
“For us who are looking for various offices, we should just talk about what we can do for Nigerians, you can market yourself but not to sow the seed of discord.”
“For a politician to stand up, who is even a Christian to say that if he fails election, he will form a parallel government. What makes him feel that he must win the election? Even me as a serving president, what makes me feel I must win the election, no matter what I think I am? Nigerians will decide who will govern them at the state level, or federal level, state assemblies or the National Assembly in terms of the federal constituencies and the senatorial districts.”
“It is not you – who is looking for the office – to think that you are the best person to be there. Are you the most qualified person, even by certificates? Are you telling me your certificate is larger than that of others, or you even have more certificates? It is the choice of the people and the will of God”. The president concluded.
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