I’ll deal decisively with troublemakers – Jonathan

The president, in his New Year broadcast text to the nation made available to Daily Trust last night, warned that unlike in 2011, firm and decisive action would be taken against any individual or group that attempt to disrupt the public peace before, during or after the elections this time.He described the forthcoming elections as […]

The president, in his New Year broadcast text to the nation made available to Daily Trust last night, warned that unlike in 2011, firm and decisive action would be taken against any individual or group that attempt to disrupt the public peace before, during or after the elections this time.
He described the forthcoming elections as very important for Nigeria, saying their successful conclusion would further strengthen the nation’s democratic institutions and place it even more firmly in the comity of truly democratic nations.
Jonathan reassured Nigerians and the global community of his administration’s “resolute” commitment to free, fair, credible and acceptable elections, noting that given the challenges that had characterised some previous electoral contests in Nigeria, the eyes of the world would certainly be on the conduct and outcome of the country’s fifth post-military rule general elections.
Claiming that his administration had “worked hard in previous elections to prepare all key stakeholders including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and the electorate optimally, to ensure a progressively improved electoral process in the country under my watch”, he said his government would continue to do so for the coming elections.
The president said he was optimistic that with the cooperation of all law-abiding Nigerians, his administration’s commitment to having a peaceful and violence-free election would be actualised.
Jonathan also cautioned politicians against promoting “sectionalism, disunity, intolerance, hate, falsehood or the malicious abuse of political opponents. “Whatever we feel or seek, we must have a nation and a people before we can dream of political ambitions. Let us put the nation and the people first,” he said.
Jonathan, while wishing Nigerians a happy and prosperous 2015, urged them to enter the New Year with renewed hope, patriotism and zeal to serve their fatherland.
Noting that none of the nation’s challenges was insurmountable, Jonathan asked all Nigerians to come together as a people and work with single-minded unity of purpose to overcome the challenges. The president specifically assured the citizens that his administration would defeat terrorists.
He praised the “gallant” officers, men and women of the armed forces and other security agencies who, he said, had been in the forefront of the war against terrorism and violent extremism in Nigeria.
“I want to assure you that the terrorists will not get away with their atrocities: they will not win; they will be routed,” the president said.  He also assured that political campaigns and the 2015 general elections would not distract his government from its ongoing efforts towards significantly improving the citizens’ living conditions.
He pledged that steps would be taken by his administration to shield the poor and low-medium income earners from the full brunt of measures included in the 2015 budget in order to ensure the stability of the national economy in the face of the current downturn in the prices of crude oil.