Why politicians should not see election as coup — Jonathan

Jonathan says, “There is nothing wrong from a governor or president picking somebody from another party and making him commissioner or minister”

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has advised Nigerian politicians not to see elections as coup or war, but rather come together to support whoever emerges winner.

Speaking during the victory thanksgiving/anniversary service to mark Governor Douye Diri’s one year in office, on Saturday, Jonathan advised those in politics not to play it with bitterness.

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He said: “In Nigeria, what we know especially at the national level is change of government through coups during the military era. And at the end of that coup, whether the coup succeeded or not both parties live as enemies. Sometimes they stay as enemies till they die.

“But our democratic process is recognised by law. So we the modern day politicians should not begin to practice democracy and contestation to power as if we are organizing coup.

“At the end of the political process, we expect that both parties should come together and the winner carries everybody along and leaders that contested the election must know that it was a political process known by law and whoever wins, we agree that God gave him that position.

“I want to thank Governor Diri for opening his hands and welcoming every citizen of Bayelsa state irrespective of political divide. Immediately you win an election you become the governor of everybody. And you can’t be governor of only the party you belong.

“There is nothing wrong from a governor or president picking some body from another party and making him commissioner or minister or any other office in government, because at the end of the process whoever emerges serves everybody” he said.

Also speaking, the Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri appreciated God who made it possible for him to be sworn in as the governor even when he had least expected.

He ascribed his victory at the Supreme Court on February 13, 2020 to the prayers from the men of God and the people of the state.