Nigeria: President Goodluck Jonathan – National broadcast on rescheduled 2011 Nigeria Elections
By Chinyere Ogbonna, Shout-Africa.com Correspondent – Nigeria’s President, Dr.Goodluck Jonathan has again appealed to Nigerians to sustain the patriotic zeal that they have displayed during last Saturday’s botched polls.
President Jonathan made the appeal in a national broadcast this morning.
He urged Nigerians to turn out en masse on Saturday and other subsequent election days to cast their votes for credible candidates of their choice.
Dr. Jonathan said that INEC’s Chairman, Professor AttahiruJega, has again assured Nigerians of the commission’s readiness to conduct credible polls.
He reiterated that the Federal Government is fully committed to the Independence of INEC to conduct free and fair polls in Nigeria.
The president pledged government’s continued support for the commission and providing all it requires to carry out its mandate.
President Jonathan who once more urged political stakeholders to remain faithful to the tenets of fair play and healthy competition at this critical stage of the nation’s national development, said Nigeria’s cannot afford to engage in acts of violence and discord.
He assured Nigerians of Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring the safety of lives and property of every Nigerian.
The President noted that Nigeria is bigger than anyone, stressing that no one’s political ambition is worth the blood of any citizen of the nation.
Dr. Jonathan thanked friends of Nigeria for their support and goodwill.
The President noted that 2011 General Elections represent an important milestone in the nation’s march to greatness.
He said that it is a collective responsibility of every Nigerian to stand up and be counted adding that participating in the electoral process is a way of demonstrating our faith in the future of the country.
President Jonathan called for continued prayer for peaceful conduct of the elections.
Still on 2011 elections,
Nigerians must bear in mind that the coming polls will have a bearing on their collective destiny and future..
This is why the electorate should not allow the events of the past few days to dampen their enthusiasm to vote massively in the elections. The Admonition was given by the Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Dr. Sunday Ola Makinde in Lagos. Dr. Makinde enjoined the people to remain optimistic about the elections.
Eligible voters have to exhibit patience and understanding with officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC who will be on duty on the election days.
Such qualities will smoothen the electoral process and consequently bring about free, fair and credible polls.
This is the submission of the Director General of the National Orientation Agency in Lagos State, South-West Nigeria, Mr. WaheedIshola, while speaking on “Issues in the News” the Radio Nigeria Lagos News and Current Affairs Programme.
Mr. Ishola Urged eligible voters in the state to conduct themselves with decorum and follow electoral guidelines.
Also contributing, a Lagos based Lawyer and politician, Reverend Ike Ezechukwu said that the call for the removal of the INEC Chairman, Professor AttahiruJega was not in the best interest of the nation.
Reverend Ezechukwu said that anyone found to have sabotaged the electoral process which led to the reschedlling of the elections should be prosecuted.
Meanwhile, a code of conduct has been issued to all soldiers on how to relate with the public, particularly the media during and after the elections. This was made known by the new Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier-General, Isiaku Isa, during an interactive session with defence correspondence in Abuja, The nations capital.
Brigadier -General Isa called for cooperation between the media and the military to ensure good conduct of the elections.
