Jonathan: Interim govt insinuation treasonable

The President spoke yesterday in Abuja at the opening of the Assembly of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference where he said the concept of an interim government was alien to the constitution.He said the idea would not be acceptable to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN).The […]

The President spoke yesterday in Abuja at the opening of the Assembly of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference where he said the concept of an interim government was alien to the constitution.
He said the idea would not be acceptable to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN).
The main opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and some senators have alleged lately that the President, fearing that he would not win re-election, was trying to delay the election, until when he could manoeuvre to put in place an interim government
But the President said: “There is no way Goodluck Jonathan, elected by people with clear mandate, will now go and head interim government.
“The ECOWAS, the African Union, the United Nations won’t accept it. And Nigeria will not be a pariah state. Clearly, the insinuation of an interim government, to me, is treasonable.”
The President said rescheduled elections had turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
“Look at what happened in Gombe on February 14th. If the elections had been held, the casualty figure after that attack in Gombe would have been great. It is better for us to conduct elections that will not be contested; elections that are credible, free and fair.
“We believe no criminal element can come and prevent us from conducting our elections. I will not do anything because of personal interest that would jeopardize the interest of this nation.
“When I listen to how some of us, politicians talk…but God is supreme. this nation will survive,” he said.
Stop poisoning the air
Earlier, the Archibishop of Abuja Diocese, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, had urged the President to ask his aides and supporters to stop “poisoning the air”.
The cleric decried rivalry among the political parties, charging them to desist from negative campaigns and focus on rational issues that would benefit all.
He said: “Politics is very much in the air. It’s a notable and sacred task meant to serve the common good of the family that is the nation.
“The hot competition between political parties should not make them forget the common objectives that everyone should be pursuing: justice, peace, prosperity, harmony, good order, building a nation we can all be proud of.
“The differences are in strategies and priorities. These are what should be presented to us, positively and transparently, to guide our free choice at elections.
“There should, therefore, not be room for negative campaigns. Personal insults and caricatures should give way to rational discussion of issues that concern us all. Truth must be sacrosanct even in politics. Lies, deceit, calumnies cannot move us forward.
“They’re the hallmarks of bad politics which haven’t allowed us to achieve the high level that we deserve as a nation.
“These are what build tensions, heat up the polity, spread dangerous rumours and cause deep distrust among rival political groups. All this is not in the interest of our people,” he said.
On the general elections, Onaiyekan said, in order to avoid dire consequences, they should not be postponed again.
He said since Jonathan had promised that the elections would hold and that May 29 remained sacrosanct for the inauguration of new government, he should be given the benefit of the doubt.
He said: “However, while judging the wisdom or even justice of the postponement of the elections, we should commend the political parties for patiently accepting a fait accompli that seriously disrupted the plans – and maybe even budget of many of them.
“Can we spend the time left to change attitudes, repair broken relationships and build trust? For example, Mr. President has declared publicly that he’s committed to free and fair elections.
“While we believe him, we hope that he won’t allow any of his supporters to poison this holy resolve.”
Onaiyekan also warned clergymen against making reckless utterances that compromise their sacred role.