Jonathan won’t speak on single-term controversy – Presidency

 

President Goodluck Jonathan will not speak on the single-term agreement controversy, the Presidency said on Wednesday.

The Presidency said since this was not the time to start electioneering, the President would not allow anyone to drag him into the matter.

Governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangia Aliyu, on Friday had said the President agreed to a single-term of four years with the Peoples Democratic Party governors.

Since Aliyu raised the issue, there have been renewed calls by stakeholders for the President to speak on the agreement.

Curiously, the President has not denied or confirmed having any such pact with the governors.

However, the Presidency through the Senior Special Assistant to Jonathan on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, in a statement on Wednesday, said the President would resist any attempt to drag him into any political discussions relating to a presidential election in 2015.

The statement said, “Our attention has been drawn to issues raised by some political leaders to the effect that President Goodluck Jonathan signed an agreement with some governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party prior to the party’s presidential primaries in 2011.

“From time immemorial, for every major event or contest in the world, there is always a time and a season apportioned. We wish to state categorically that this is neither the time nor the season to begin electioneering or related discourse for the 2015 presidential election and so President Goodluck Jonathan will not jump the gun.

“Mr. President will therefore stoutly resist any disguised or open attempt to drag him into any debates, arguments or political discussions relating to a presidential election in 2015.

“The President considers this as an attempt to sway him from his chosen pursuit of the set out constituents of the transformation agenda which form the basis upon which Nigerians overwhelmingly elected him to steer the ship of the Nation in 2011.”

The President’s aide said Nigerians had elected Jonathan to fix Nigeria and “that is what he is determined to do”.

He added, “For the purpose of emphasis, the present focus of President Jonathan includes, completing ongoing projects in the power sector to ensure that Nigerians enjoy steady power supply for domestic and industrial purposes, and improving infrastructure in road, rail and air transportation.

“He is also working towards providing youths with good and functional education; ensuring that Nigerians have greater access to improved and affordable health care facilities as well as transforming the agricultural sector to guarantee food sufficiency, as well as ensuring that Nigeria becomes a net exporter of food and agro based raw materials within a very short time.”

He said President Jonathan would not for any reason abandon these goals, which he described as laudable, to engage in “a distractive political debate with any individual or group of persons.”