Call for violence: Jonathan warns Buhari, others

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, on Tuesday, warned his co-presidential candidates to desist from calling for violence during the coming April polls, averring that candidature of a party never confers on anyone of them the right to make such calls.Jonathan said he wanted his co-candidates to take his warning as a timely caution ahead of the elections, just as he said the desire of some presidential candidates to campaign on the basis of ethnicism and religion was a sign that those involved were frustrated.Jonathan said he decided to build his presidential ambition on the plank of love after realising that the state of stagnation of the country and its attendant scant progress was caused by the absence of love, thus calling on all presidential candidates to direct their campaigns in a manner that will promote love, togetherness and understanding among Nigerians.Love has been missing for long in Nigeria and that is the reason the country had attained little progress. It is sad the more when some presidential candidates decide to base their campaigns on religion, ethnicism and violence. It is frustration that has been making such candidates to call for violence,he said.The president spoke during a meeting of the Igbo from the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory with representatives of Neighbour to Neighbour Campaign Group for President Jonathan in Abuja.Chief Godsday Orubebe, who delivered President Jonathans address during the event, said presidential race should not be anchored on a do or die spirit as he called on political actors to note that every destiny has always been in the hands of God.The presidents spokesperson told the representatives of the Igbo that he, Jonathan, symbolised peace and the spirit of one Nigeria, given his humble background and willingness to further weld Nigeria together, just as he called on the Igbo nation to vote overwhelmingly for Jonathan during the presidential election.He recalled that Jonathan who has only spent nine months in office had recorded laudable achievements, including ensuring peace and progress of the country, resolution of the Niger Delta crises, promotion of unity by basing government appointments on merit and fair representation.
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