STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE
OBASANJO’S UNWARRANTED ATTACK ON PRESIDENT JONATHAN IS ODIOUS,
REPUGNANT AND SELF-SERVING
We find the false claims and
allegations reportedly made against President Goodluck Jonathan by Chief
Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday in Abeokuta very odious and repugnant.
As we have had cause to say
before, it is most regrettable indeed that a man like Chief Obasanjo, who
should know better, chooses to repeatedly, wantonly, and maliciously impugn the
integrity of a sitting President of his country for the primary purpose of
self-promotion.
It is obvious from Chief
Obasanjo’s serial vituperations against President Jonathan who is doing his
best to positively transform Nigeria for the benefit of all of its people that
he has willfully chosen to close his eyes to the present administration’s good
works and intentions. For reasons best known to him, Chief Obasanjo has set his
mind on regime change by fair or foul means.
Otherwise, it would be completely
senseless, irrational and out of place for Chief Obasanjo, who still claims to
belong to the same party as the President, to accuse President Jonathan of plotting
to win the rescheduled presidential elections by “hook or crook” and planning
to plunge the nation into crisis if he loses the election.
For the record, President Jonathan
has no such intention and will continue to give the greatest possible support to
the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other relevant federal
agencies to ensure that the rescheduled elections are successfully conducted.
Indeed, it is not President
Jonathan who remains faithful to his oath of office who is trying to plunge
Nigeria into crisis, but Chief Obasanjo who is scheming to plunge the country
into chaos in pursuit of a selfish and highly egocentric agenda.
Chief Obasanjo’s plot with others
within and outside the country to thwart the general elections and foist an
unconstitutional Interim National Government, which he hopes to head, on the
nation is well known to us, but by the Grace of God Almighty, his odious plan
to return to power through the back door will fail woefully.
We know very well that it is in
pursuit of this nefarious plot that the former President continues to sow the
seeds of discord and crises in the polity by purporting to remain in the ruling
party while openly consorting with the opposition, endorsing its candidates and
predicting victory for opposition candidates in a manner most unbecoming of a
supposed elder statesman.
Thankfully, the vast majority of
Nigerians who are patriotic and right-thinking cannot be fooled by Chief
Obasanjo’s antics.
We urge them to be assured that
President Jonathan's commitment to democracy in all its ramifications remains
constant and that he will never be party to the use of any unlawful means to
remain in office or gain political advantage over his opponents.
The President stands by his
commitment, which he reaffirmed on national television last Wednesday that on
his watch, all elections in Nigeria, will be free, fair and credible, and that
all certified election results will be respected.
As President Jonathan has also
assured the nation, the rescheduling of the general elections was in the best
interest of the nation and was never driven by any ulterior motive on the part
of government as Chief Obasanjo and others have alleged.
President Jonathan will continue
to put his best efforts into giving Nigeria quality leadership and will not be
distracted from his purpose by unwarranted and needless criticism by persons
who ought to know better.
The President also continues to
trust in the good judgment of Nigerians and to believe that in appreciation of
his sincere efforts to move the country forward over the past four years, they
will re-elect him for a second term on March 28, 2015 with a mandate to pursue
his agenda for national transformation to a successful conclusion.
Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
February 14, 2015
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