scheduled general elections.
Dr. Jonathan gave the advice on Monday when youth groups in the Niger
Delta led by the President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Barr.
Pereotubo Oweilaemi paid him a courtesy visit at the Goodluck Jonathan
Foundation (GJF) Office in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
He said: “Without peace there cannot be development in the society. If we
want to develop Nigeria as leaders and citizens, then collectively we must
work hard and make sacrifices that will bring peace to our country.
“When we have conflicts, it creates a very negative impression in the
society and investors are very mindful of these impressions. The most
fundamental tool for building an economy of a nation is peace.
The former President also charged security operatives to demonstrate their
goodwill towards peaceful elections by desisting from extra-judicial
killings.
He said: “Anytime someone dies extra-judicially it reduces the integrity
of the country. So, if our security personnel are interested in peace,
especially during this electioneering, then they must do everything to
suppress extra-judicial killings; because when one person is killed
unlawfully, it affects everyone.”
Speaking earlier on the purpose of the visit, the President of Ijaw Youth
Council (IYC), Comrade Peretubo Oweilaemi said that their visit was to
align themselves with the peace philosophy of the Dr. Jonathan that
“nobody’s ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian.
Comrade Oweilaemi, in his speech said “during your time as President, you
emphasized that nobody’s blood is worth your ambition. You didn’t just say
it, but you live by it everywhere you go. You have always placed national
interest above personal interest.
“The Niger Delta is very peaceful today because of you and the role you
have been playing in peacebuilding. We watch and follow every of your
footstep and we can say we have become peace ambassadors because of your
conduct and mentorship on us.
“We are also aware that in a state, it is very difficult to have a former
President, without him and the incumbent governor not having issues. But
in Bayelsa, we haven’t heard about you and the Governor, Hon. Henry
Seriake Dickson having issues. This is a further testament of your
peaceful disposition.
“Our visit today Your Excellency, is to commend you on the role you and
the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation have been playing in the society, in
terms of peacebuilding and democratic stability in the country and we
consequently urged our youths to imbibe your philosophy of politics
without blood.”