Merit Ibe
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has tasked the electorate to resist vote-buying, embrace peace and shun violence; ahead of the rescheduled general election.
Few hours to the commencement of the polls, last Saturday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) postponed the presidential and National Assembly elections to February 23 and the governorship and House of Assembly polls to March 9.
Jonathan spoke in Bayelsa State, at the weekend, during a meeting with Niger Delta Youth Leaders in Yenagoa, the state capital.
The former president further urged the electorate to vote according to their conscience.
Said Jonathan: “Use of money to induce voters has become very prevalent in Nigeria.
“It is more pronounced here than many African countries I have been to monitor elections and it is unhealthy for our development.
“Politics should be about the people but anyone who wants to make quick money should go into business and quit politics, which is all about service to the people.
“People should vote according to the dictates of their conscience and not be induced by money.
“I have said it several times that no ambition should be worth spilling of the blood of any Nigerian.
“Peace is fundamental to economic development and the reports of insecurity and violence scares away investors.
“Anytime someone is killed, either by security agencies or by any other extra judicial means, it affects the reputation of the country adversely and that is why peace building is very essential, especially with the youths.
“Our youths are critical in our democracy because the future belongs to them, so, my advise is that we should be patient and shun violence in the coming elections,”Jonathan said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, yesterday, raised the alarm over missing INEC result sheets for Enugu West senatorial district.
This was even as he called on Nigerians not to despair over the postponement, but strengthen their resolve to improve their lives through the ballot box.
Ekweremadu, in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media), Uche Anichukwu, spoke during Town Hall meetings he organised across the local governments in his senatorial district; to gauge the pulse of the people and sensitise them on the need to participate in the rescheduled dates for the elections.
Speaking at Oji, headquarters of Oji River Local Government Area, Ekweremadu alleged the result sheets remained missing, although he said he brought it to the notice of INEC authorities.
“Some people intended the Saturday elections for evil, but all things work together for good unto those that love God, those who repose their absolute trust in Him.
“Don’t forget that some people had earlier boasted how they would overrun us by isolating the state for a staggered election. You must also have read the reports that Enugu was one of the states that didn’t receive materials or materials were incomplete.
“They ensured that the result sheets for entire Enugu West senatorial district were missing or not delivered. I have lodged a complaint with INEC authorities, but, the result sheets are still missing, as I speak.
“So, I urge you and, indeed, Nigerians to remain vigilant. Don’t despair. Don’t allow your spirits to be broken. We have come very far in this struggle and we are now at a point of no retreat, no surrender.”