Date Published: 01/08/10

PRESS STATEMENT  

VICE PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN NOT A THREATH TO ANY ETHINIC OR INTREST BLOCK OR ANY ONE PERSON- SOUTH- SOUTH ELEMENTS PROGRESSIVE UNION (SSEPU)

Rising from an emergency meeting as a result of the statement emanating from the Nigeria’s Governor’s Forum that the forum is solidly behind Vice President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. We want to say that the Governor’s statement is taken with a pinch of salt and the statement is hollow to its foundation. Yes, the Governor’s are in support of the Vice President, as stated but on what basis and Capacity. Are they in support of the Vice President? If they are in support of the Vice President the right thing to do is to ensure that the relevant sections of the constitution are strictly adhered to in all totality and not by mere word of mouth. We have not seen any action from the Governor’s geared towards ensuring that the constitutional impasse is corrected. Therefore we question their sincerity on this issue. We believe the Governors are all playing to the gallery and this is counter-productive for this nation. 

A dire consequence stares us in the face if this matter is not resolved constitutionally within the shortest possible time. The Group that is doing everything to subvert the Nigerian Constitution should listen to the rhythm of the drum beat, their dance steps certainly does not synchronize any more with the rhythm of the drum beat that men of good conscience are beating. 

Perhaps lots of Nigerian are being misconstrued on their position that the Vice President in the person of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan is sworn in as the President upon the fitness and arrival of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. We are not saying that President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua should resign from office, but he should hand over power to Vice President Goodluck Jonathan. And this should not be delayed a day longer than necessary for the good of Nigeria. After all before the President’s present predicament, we formed the All Nigeria’s Youth Alliance specifically to rally support for President Yar’Adua, we did this because we believed in his Programmes and policies. Right now since he his indisposed, we equally are saying that the Nigeria Constitution should be respected to its later and nothing more.   

When Jonathan was chosen by the leadership to be Yar’ Adua’s Vice President what qualities did they see in him before he was picked. Are they saying that the sterling qualities have vanished from the person of the Vice President that has now warranted his being treated with disdain? Jonathan did not thrust himself to President Yar’Adua to become his Vice President. Therefore, Vice President Goodluck Jonathan is not a threat and shall not be a threat to any ethnic or interest group or any one person. He is a detribalized Nigerian and a less ambitious person. 

The so called Yar’Adua Kitchen Cabinet are not the ones to tell Nigerians who is capable to become President of this country. The free will of the Nigerian people as expressed in the constitution should prevail. We are setting a very bad precedent in this country all in the name of politics and this is bad enough. It is the office of the Vice President that is being desecrated and denigrated and not Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as a person. And this is how any other occupier of that office shall be treated in future if we do not call ourselves to order.

In reiterating the true position and feeling of all well meaning Nigerians on this issue, we want to use this opportunity to commend and appreciate the Chief of Army staff, Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Dambazau, for placing the Nigerian nation above self and for also instilling same patriotism in the army’s rank and file. The commendation is coming on the heels of the warning issued to members of the military against working with unpatriotic and over ambitious politicians to derail the democratic gains we have achieved as a nation.

It is a naked truth that the long absence of President Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua from his duty post without handing over power to Vice President Goodluck Jonathan is unacceptable to the Nigerian people cannot be said to be an overstatement. 

In conclusion, we should all put our thinking caps on and ensure that the right thing is done by adhering strictly to the relevant provisions of the constitution. After all we are one big happy PDP family as we have been claiming to be.

Thank You and Godbless Nigeria. 
 

JOSEPH AMABKEDERIMO,

Associate Environmental Professional (AEP) 

FOR AND ONBEHALF OF: SOUTH SOUTH ELEMENTS PROGRESSIVE UNION (SSEPU)