Jonathan to governors-elect: Don’t fight your predecessors

By Ihuoma Chiedozie, Abuja  2 May 2011
President Goodluck Jonathan President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday cautioned all the winners of the 2011 general elections, particularly the newly elected governors, to avoid unnecessary quarrels with their predecessors. Jonathan, who is currently on a working retreat at the Obudu Mountain Resort in Cross River State, noted that most times, squabbles between newly elected officials and their predecessors ended up being counter-productive. The warning by the President is contained in a statement from his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ima Niboro. Already, some of the governors-elect have publicly stated their intention to investigate the administrations of their predecessors. Jonathan, who also congratulated all winners of the general elections, said rather than seeking to settle scores, they (winners) should be magnanimous in victory. He equally advised the losers to take their defeat in good faith by conceding defeat and congratulating the winners. The President advised those who genuinely believe that malpractices were committed by their opponents during the polls to seek legal redress rather than taking the law into their hands. The statement by Niboro reads in part, “President Jonathan urges winners in the elections to be magnanimous in victory and to commit themselves to good governance for all their constituents without discrimination. “He urges them not to engage their predecessors in unnecessary battles, which may turn out as counterproductive. “The President sympathises with those who lost. He calls on them to gallantly concede defeat and congratulate the victors. He urges them to refrain from taking laws into their own hands and take the legal route where they feel dissatisfied with the outcome of the process.” However, Jonathan in the same breath said the 2011 general elections were the freest and most credible since 1999. “President Jonathan believes that in spite of untoward incidents such as the violence witnessed in parts of the country, all Nigerians can be justifiably proud of the 2011 general elections which have been acclaimed locally and internationally as the freest and most credible elections held in the country in the current democratic dispensation,” the statement added. According to the statement, the President will work with all stakeholders to address outstanding challenges in the country’s electoral system in order to consolidate on the gains of the 2011 elections. “The President is determined to move Nigeria further along the path of democratic consolidation in the next four years to build on the gains of the 2011 general elections. In this regard, he is committed to working with all stakeholders to address any observed weaknesses which persist in the country’s electoral system,” it said. The statement also disclosed that Jonathan had directed all the country’s security agencies to remain on full alert to check any case of post-election violence. “The President has directed all national security agencies to remain on full alert, especially in identified flashpoints across the country, to thwart any further attempt to breach the peace and deny patriotic Nigerians the huge gains they have made to consolidate democratic governance in the country through the 2011 general elections,” the statement said. Jonathan, according to Niboro, looks forward to working with all winners of the general elections to transform the country in the next four years. He thanked all Nigerians for their roles in the electoral process, singling out the Independent National Electoral Commission and the National Youth Service Corps members, for special mention. Niboro said, “President Jonathan congratulates all re-elected and newly-elected state governors, all re-elected and incoming members of the National Assembly, as well as re-elected and newly elected members of state Houses of Assembly across the country. “ The President looks forward to working harmoniously with them all in the next four years on the implementation of his agenda for national transformation. “With the 2011 general elections all but concluded, except for the supplementary elections scheduled to hold in parts of Imo State on Friday, the President wishes, once again, to thank all Nigerians and friends of Nigeria, who have contributed to the delivery of the free, fair and credible elections promised by this administration. “He expresses appreciation to the chairman, commissioners, permanent and ad-hoc staff of INEC, especially members of the NYSC some of whom sadly lost their lives in patriotic service to the country, the national security services, local and international observer groups as well as millions of Nigerians who trooped out thrice in the month of April to peacefully vote for leaders of their choice.” punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201105024183350