2015: I Never Signed Single Term Pact With Anyone – Jonathan

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN (3RD-L) ANSWERING QUESTIONS FROM A PANEL OF JOURNALISTS DURING THE PRESIDENTIAL MADIA CHAT IN ABUJA ON SUNDAY (NAN).
PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN (3RD-L) ANSWERING QUESTIONS FROM A PANEL OF JOURNALISTS DURING THE PRESIDENTIAL MADIA CHAT IN ABUJA ON SUNDAY (NAN).

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday for the first time personally responded to the claim by some governors elected on the platform of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) that he signed an agreement to spend only one term in office saying he did not; either in principle or written form, and challenged those who have the pact to produce the document to back up their claims.

Hopefully, this should put to rest the clamour, especially by the G-7 governors that he should respect the terms of his pact and not seek reelection in 2015.

But Mr. Jonathan, who spoke last night during a Presidential media chat – his fifth since his election in 2011- broadcast on national television and radio station said: “I did not sign agreement with anybody; if I had signed an agreement, they would have shown you.

Advertisement

“What I said in Ethiopia was that should Nigerians agree to a single term of seven years, I would not be part of it so that they would not say I canvassed it in order to spend 12 years in office.

“A lot of people are misinforming Nigerians. I was in Addis Ababa when I advocated for this single tenure. I said if we look at the politics of Nigeria, especially now that the country is just developing…in terms of the political evolution, we started the First Republic, it collapsed, the Second Republic collapsed, the Third Republic collapsed. This is the very first time that we have stayed.

“So, I said if we look at the way we go about our politics, to be productive, definitely if a president wants a tenure of seven years of one term without any interference, he must be productive more than even in the so-called eight years. I advocated for that, people would say the president, having completed the late President Yar’Adua’s tenure and another four years that make it five years, want to serve for another seven year single tenure, that would make it 12 years.”

“If Nigerians agree to that single tenure, I believe it will be more productive for the country because I am thinking more about the country. I did not say oh, Jonathan is or not going to contest election. I discovered that  the concept of the single tenure which I was advocating at that time, it was when I was interfacing with some Nigerians in Addis Ababa, that some said I signed an agreement. They should show you the agreement.”

On his 2015 ambition, Mr. Jonathan said it is too early to declare adding that he will be guided by the electoral law.

He said: “We have laws in this country and our electoral laws regulate political activities. It gives the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) time frame to declare campaign open.

“My declaring early will create more problems for the system than solving it. A lot of people have been holding meetings silently but have you heard any of them coming out to say I want to be president or governor?” he asked rhetorically.

-The Nation

2 COMMENTS

  1. CALL FOR SOCIAL MEDIA PROTEST:
    “It was so terrible. They came with guns around 1a.m. and went directly to the male hostel of College of Agriculture in Gujba, Yobe state and opened fire on them” and all our President can say is, “I am not God, I can’t say terrorism won’t happen again”.
    #Nigeria University students which form 90% of total youths population in the country have been at home for 89 days because of the so called Asuu strike delaying and frustrating the future leaders. Hmmm what a sad moment.
    On this note I want to Appeal to all Nigerian students to make all our grievances trend on social media come
    october 1st. if we go on the streets protesting the GOVERNMENT will use the instrument of state (police)against us (some of us might even lose their live) , we shouldn’t be scared of protesting on
    social Media; update different status about the
    strike, killing of our students by trigger loving police men and various terrorist groups because of security break down , use Asuu strike pictures as profile pictures
    and DP just for that one day, post on the
    presidents’s wall, post on politicians walls, make
    ASUU strike trend and let’s tell d whole world the plight of Nigerian students, let all the International communities hear our plight and we
    pray something is done. do ur own part and broadcast this message to ur contacts on BBM or
    whatsapp or Facebook or any Social media. it will cost you just a little and if we can all endeavour to
    do our part, I believe something would be done. ALUTA CONTINUA, VICTORIA ASCERTA
    Comrade Victory Ahman1

  2. Comrade victory ahman, stop wasting your time. We nigerians will never be fooled again. On Boko haram, if your Emirs and sultans and governors and politician, can come out openly and declare war on this terrorist group,what do you want GEJ to do? Did boko haram start today? Am happy they are only killing over there in the north. The day they cross over to the south, we will wipe every trace of notherners in the south. Cowrads.