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‘Jonathan Not behind Impeachments’–Reports

‘Jonathan Not behind Impeachments’–Reports New York[RR] Abuja–According to emerging interview President Goodluck Jonathan told reporters that he is not behind impeachment, Republic Reporters has learned. “One of the candidates for the Rivers State governorship ticket on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, Paworiso Samuel-Horsfall, in this interview with Nume Ekeghe, speaks on some of […]

President Jonathan 2

‘Jonathan Not behind Impeachments’–Reports

New York[RR] Abuja–According to emerging interview President Goodluck Jonathan told reporters that he is not behind impeachment, Republic Reporters has learned.

“One of the candidates for the Rivers State governorship ticket on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, Paworiso Samuel-Horsfall, in this interview with Nume Ekeghe, speaks on some of the developments in the country.

“This is a global phenomenon and activity. So that of Nigeria should not be seen as an exception. Now in this dispensation, we are faced with Boko Haram. For me, I don’t know where they belong because I have Muslim friends who are completely opposed to their ways. They say they detest western education but even the guns they use are not bow and arrow, they use sophisticated guns made from the western world. They drive vehicles that are manufactured by the western world and yet they say no to western education. It is crazy and only God knows where they come from.

“So, it is not something that is localized; it is a global thing and I honestly believe that President Jonathan is putting in all to ensure that it is curbed. Some people think he is slow at it but he is also taking precaution because we have experience of what happened in Russia where they tried to release captives and they killed all of them. He doesn’t want the Chibok girls to be killed so he is working out possible ways in collaboration with the rest of the world that have come in to assist in whatever measures to ensure that the Boko Haram insurgency is curbed, and the girls being held are released alive.

Excerpts:

Concerning the impeachments going on in some APC-led states of the country, and how they have been linked to the PDP and President Jonathan’s administration, how do you think this would affect Nigeria?

Impeachment is a process and impeachment of a governor can only come from a state House of Assembly; which has procedures to impeach when they have reasons to do so. Today, what we have is a situation whereby governors have on their own without conferring with the state, constituency, assembly, have moved to another party. Let me give a typical example of my state. Now, if you take into cognisance of the fact that the supreme court ruling on Amaechi’s case says that it is the party that won the election not the person and he decides now to move to another party; on his own he decides to move without conferring with the state or any other body.

If he does that and assuming the state House of Assembly does not agree with his movement, and within the period he moved, he also committed some impeachable offences, they could commence an impeachment process. That is in line with democratic process. So for anybody to insinuate that President Jonathan has a hand in it by imagining how it would affect 2015 elections, is entitled to his or her opinion. But the president I know is a gentleman and someone who has come to really show and practice democracy. He hardly gets involved in his own state not to talk about some other states. He allows the rule of law and democratic process to take place, so it would be unwise for anyone to insinuate that.

Nigeria has been in the news over the issue of terrorism. How do you think it can be contained, and do you also see President Jonathan doing his best to containing it?

This is a global phenomenon and activity. So that of Nigeria should not be seen as an exception. Now in this dispensation, we are faced with Boko Haram. For me, I don’t know where they belong because I have Muslim friends who are completely opposed to their ways. They say they detest western education but even the guns they use are not bow and arrow, they use sophisticated guns made from the western world. They drive vehicles that are manufactured by the western world and yet they say no to western education. It is crazy and only God knows where they come from.

So, it is not something that is localised; it is a global thing and I honestly believe that President Jonathan is putting in all to ensure that it is curbed. Some people think he is slow at it but he is also taking precaution because we have experience of what happened in Russia where they tried to release captives and they killed all of them. He doesn’t want the Chibok girls to be killed so he is working out possible ways in collaboration with the rest of the world that have come in to assist in whatever measures to ensure that the Boko Haram insurgency is curbed, and the girls being held are released alive.

When people who want it to happen overnight, they forget it is possible to have them killed and that we don’t want; we want them alive. I believe he is putting all his best in ensuring that it is resolved. Moreover I also know the chief of army staff who was my senior in secondary school and I have been able to follow up his progress in the army to his present position and I can attest to the fact that he is a soldier’s soldier. He brings in professionalism to ensure that he would have a way to get these girls out.

There are speculations that the Presidency has handpicked Nyesom Wike to be Rivers State governor in 2015. Is it true? Do you think it would affect your chances in the upcoming election?

That is wrong and unfair especially to him for anyone to insinuate that. President Jonathan has never done that and would not do that. I am talking about the president of the country that I know personally, who was also my senior in the university. His kind of person would not and has not done that. People like to drop names and say all sorts; we have heard of some others who have claimed so too. Example is that I can come out to say he has done the same for me too, because I am probably closer to him than anybody else. He wouldn’t have done that to Wike.

Knowing him for who he is, he would not do that. Most times if you listen to him, he tells you of how he emerged himself and takes a very serious look at the God factor in his own life. He believes that God has a hand in the affairs of man and especially in positioning men and he expects that God would do that while allowing the democratic processes to take place. I can say categorically that President Jonathan has not handpicked Wike or any other person in the state. And so my chances are as bright as you could imagine.

President Jonathan has been called several things, from being weak to being a tyrant. What kind of person do you think he is?
How can someone be called weak and a tyrant at the same time? People in an attempt to malign the person of the president completely forget themselves. One thing about him that I know is that he is a lenient and kind person, but don’t take his leniency for weakness. He knows he is commander- in- chief and he has power, but power itself when given to you from God is not intended that you use it in such a way that you undermine the person you are governing; you have to apply wisdom. No wonder King Solomon asked for wisdom over all things and that is the same thing President Jonathan I know had asked and is still asking of God – the wisdom to rule his people.

So he is not a weak person because when it is time to take certain actions needed to preserve the territorial integrity of the country or of a state, he would go ahead to do it. When he does it, they call him a tyrant, but when he doesn’t they say he is weak. It is unfortunate, but he also knows that he is the most criticised president.

Presently there are divisions in the polity based on region and religion. How do you think we can move beyond disunity and become a united nation again?

We must appreciate the fact that we are a country and that we are indivisible, and realise that there is unity in diversity and the kind of strength America enjoys is on their level of diversity. We must also take an inventory of where we are coming from, where we are and where we want to get to. We must realise that one major factor that should bind us as a country is love and to be our brother’s keeper and standing on the truth. We should not allow the motions or other negative vices to override our reasoning. We should realise that no personal interest can override the interest of the country. We do not have another country, and it is in the best interest that we Nigerians should come together to unify ourselves.

If you become Governor, what plans do you have for Rivers State?

I have a seven point agenda. First is to return the state to God, because with the experience I’ve had, I realised that they have deviated from Godly values. And we need to seriously look at the security issues, conflict resolution. We need to look at human rights, the judiciary. We need to also look at the empowerment of women. We need to develop sorts, health, the educational sector, agricultural sectors, and recreation. We need to focus on the roads and infrastructure as a whole. Also diversifying to agriculture is important because it is the alternative to oil. And we need to look at environmental issues. If you look at UNEP reports and how it affects the Niger Delta states and her people, there is a whole lot and environmental issues are topical.

I was the commissioner for environment not just in the state but in the country. So when it comes to environmental issues, I am very passionate about it. Some people don’t realise that environment is key, but truly it is. If you look at the UNEP report on Ogoni, the damage is colossal in magnitude and needs to be addressed fully. I would encourage the federal government to see through to it, to ensure it is done speedily and properly so the lives of the people can be restored. As a governor I want to bring back the lost glory of the state, and really look at the welfare of the people and bring smiles to their faces. Also, I would want to invest in human capital development.

Credit: ThisDay

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