Politicians distracting Jonathan with 2015 polls – Presidency

JULY 30, 2013 

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan
| credits: File copy

The Presidency on Monday said some desperate politicians were distracting President Goodluck Jonathan with their clamour for the 2015 elections.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said this while featuring on a private radio programme, Fact File.

He, however, noted that despite the distractions, Jonathan was committed to carrying out his responsibilities as the President.

Jonathan had last year said it was too early for him to begin to discuss the 2015 elections.

The presidential spokesman claimed that the President was already making visible progress and was committed to sustaining the achievements.

He said, “The President has never at any time discussed 2015. He has never at any time say this is his position on 2015.

“His position has been consistent and straight forward and that has been the President saying look let us focus on governance. The Nigerian people have given him an assignment and that is to deliver and move the country forward, which is what we want to focus on. That was the statement about the midterm report public presentation.

“Two years down the line, the President presented to the Nigerian people scorecard of what they have been able to do. He said I took over and now two years down the line, I have moved the country forward, this is the evidence. Nobody has been able to dispute the evidence.

“So we must be able to make a distinction between politicking, the fact and reality. The President stands on the side of truthfulness, of fact, of reality. He wants engagement at the level of his performance. And I will continue to tell Nigerians that this President will remain focused.

“He is doing the job that Nigerians have given him and he is making progress and has provided evidence that he is making progress. People who concentrate on politics want to distract Mr. President.”

On the President’s recent statement that some politicians were heating up the polity ahead of 2015 elections, Abati said Jonathan had the responsibility to ensure security and the well-being of all Nigerians.

He said Jonathan would therefore not be detached while there were issues that could over heat the polity.

Abati recalled that the President declared that he had a responsibility to end the political excesses in the country at a meeting with the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association.

Rather than castigating the President, Abati said he needed commendation for being sensitive to his primary responsibility as a citizen and a head of state.

On why the President waited for the NBA visit before making such a statement, the presidential spokesman said the delegation brought up the issue about the political process and the President noted that people were overheating the polity because of 2015.

Abati added, “The President as a person believes that we are in 2013 and we should continue to focus on good governance at all levels.

“It did not take the visit of the NBA for the President to make that statement. He had directed me on more than four occasions to say that as a political leader, he was interested in providing leadership and transforming the lives of Nigerians not just the 2015 elections.

“At that meeting with NBA he alluded to the fact that some people were just desperate for power and he made the point that the issue was not about power but about governance.”