Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan
CNPP National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, who spoke with Daily Trust yesterday, said the decision was an indication that President Jonathan is conscious of the frustration of Nigerians over the performance of elected officials since the return to civil rule in 1999.
Okechukwu said: “One does not think he is talking to all politicians, it’s apparent that he is talking to his party members. If that’s the case I agree with him, for PDP’s philosophy is ‘food is ready’ and their motto is ‘share the money.’
“That is why Mr President is warning them to work first before angling to share the money. He is in the know that Nigerians are fatigued and frustrated as their expectations at the return to civil rule in1999 have been thoroughly smashed.”
Also speaking, PPA National Chairman, Chief Sam Nkire noted that some politicians have turned the call to serve into a “gold rush”, adding: “Anybody who is already speculating on 2015 is worse than a political trader and does not mean well for the country.
“It is a good decision and I support him. Some politicians have turned the call to serve into a ‘gold rush’. Nothing matters to them again except to get ready for another rush. To add to what President Jonathan said, there is work to be done in every political office. It is not only about selfish interests, political and religious interests. There is need to settle down and give patriotic service to the nation,” he added.
But the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the Lawyers of Conscience yesterday dismissed President Goodluck Jonathan’s ‘ban’ on political meetings for the 2015 elections, describing it as diversionary and not for other parties except the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In separate interviews with our reporter yesterday in Abuja, National Publicity Secretary of CPC, Rotimi Fashakin and National Coordinator of Lawyers of Conscience, Barrister Benedict Ezeagu, were unanimous in advising the president to rather deliver the dividends democracy.
“This is patently a bankrupt regime showing much absenteeism in responsible governance.
“The president must have been admonishing his party members and not other political parties. It is constitutionally enshrined right to organise politically,” Fashakin said.
President Jonathan on Monday in Abuja at the opening of the PDP national executive committee (NEC) told politicians planning to stand for elections in 2015 to stop holding strategy meetings as their actions were distracting present office holders and warned that officials in his government would be fired if they are found to be involved in meetings to plan for the next general elections.
