Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Prof. Rufai Alkali, has said it will be unfair to deny President Goodluck Jonathan the right to seek re-election on account of the insecurity in the north east.
Alkali said this in an interview with newsmen, in Abuja, on Sunday.
He spoke at an event to mark the president’s planned official declaration in Abuja, on Tuesday.
He was reacting to claims in some quarters that the President was insensitive to the plight of Nigerians who were under siege by the Boko Haram sect, in the North East.
According to him, the President feels the pains of all Nigerians and was doing everything within his powers to deal with the situation.
He, however, said it was uncharitable for anyone to use the security situation to deny the President the right to seek re-election in 2015.
The presidential adviser said terrorism was not restricted to Nigeria alone because almost all continents of the world were dealing with it in one form or another.
He pointed out that opposition politicians criticizing the president over his planned declaration were being unfair, because most of them have not only declared, but have purchased forms to contest.
Alkali said “President took his time to say he will declare well after many others have done so.
“I feel that if others who despite the security challenges did not dissuade them from showing interest to contest then, I think there is no valid reason that will stop a sitting President from contesting.
“It does not make sense for you to say Mr. President should not declare or should not contest because there is crisis or security challenges but you, immediately INEC releases the time-table even before the ink dries up you rush to your party secretariat to purchase the form, organise a huge rally and dance around. I think what is good for the goose is good for the gander.
President Jonathan is scheduled to make public his desire to seek a second term in office, on Tuesday.
No comments:
Post a Comment