2011: We will deal with trouble-makers –Jonathan

In an interview with CNN’s Isha Sesay yesterday in Abuja, the president said anybody who foments trouble because of his interest to vie for the presidency will  be dealt with. “If anybody thinks he will fuel crisis, we will take him on”, the president vowed, while responding to question on the likelihood of violence because […]

In an interview with CNN’s Isha Sesay yesterday in Abuja, the president said anybody who foments trouble because of his interest to vie for the presidency will  be dealt with. “If anybody thinks he will fuel crisis, we will take him on”, the president vowed, while responding to question on the likelihood of violence because of his ambition.

He, however, foreclosed the possibility of crisis over his intention despite security challenges, saying there are no signs that such will happen.  “We have security challenges, we have our challenges.

If my interest would instigate crisis that day, the signs would have showed”, he said. On the vexed issue of zoning, President Jonathan said:  “The argument about zoning and the presidency of Nigeria is like the philosophical argument of the egg or the hen. Who is older, through the evolutionary process?  Who came first? In the first place, if this country had agreed that the presidency rotates between the north and south, I would not be the president today.

I couldn’t have been if there is an agreement in this country that it rotates between the north and south. I couldn’t have been the president the day Yar’Adua died — another northerner would have taken over and I could have continued as the vice president.”

Responding to a question about his policies, the president said, “We want to lead a country where people will be less greedy, where people will know that the commonwealth of Nigeria belongs to all Nigerians, where people’s wealth depends on the people around you.”