By Oghenekevwe Laba
LAGOS APRIL 13TH (URHOBOTODAY)-As the controversy over eligibility of President Goodluck Jonathan to contest for the position of Nigerian President in 2015 continue to hit the polity, group under the aegis of Network for Good Governance (N4GG) has insisted that Goodluck Jonathan must contest in 2015 in order to complete the good work he had put in place.
Making the declaration in a communiqué signed by Northern Regional Director of N4GG Malam Mohammed Goni after arising from the North-East Zonal meeting at Maiduguri, Borno State, the group argued that it is preposterous to insist that a sitting president should not go for a second-term when he is entitled to do so, stressing that those opposed to him should challenge him at the polls if they could.
They insisted that it is the constitutional right of the President to seek second term, having only been elected into the office once, adding that in the interest of peace, justice and equity advocates of equitable power sharing in Nigeria should support the President second term bid.
“If Nigeria must continue to remain one as we all desire, there must be equity and fairness, and we have not seen any damage it will do to any zone in Nigeria if someone from the South-South geo-political zone that produces the bulk of the resources on which the country is sustained is allowed to rule for eight years as guaranteed by the constitution,” the group argued.
The group disclosed that beside infrastructural achievements, Jonathan’s government has enshrined workable rule of law, respect for humanity, credible electoral system and freedom of expression which is now being enjoyed by everybody.
According to the communiqué, “The election in Edo, Anambra and Ondo where PDP lost is a great evidence that the Presidency is not interfering in the electoral process. National and internanally it had acknowledged that the President is reforming the electoral system to make it credible. Court orders are obeyed and judges no longer take their order from above.”
As for infrastructural development, the group pointed out that the rail system is speedily being revived, roads are built and rebuilt, airports have been rebranded, while the nation water transportation system is on stream.
The group disclosed that Jonathan is focusing on strategic areas of governance like the economy, agriculture and the power sector, adding the recent declaration of Nigeria as having the greatest economy Africa ahead of South-Africa is evidence that Jonathan is moving the country forward.
Thus, the group therefore argued that Jonathan should be allowed to rule the country for another four years so that he can complete the good work he had started.