The Rivers’ State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has described the various political associations, groups and individuals urging President Goodluck Jonathan to contest next year’s presidential election as haters of Nigeria.
The APC in Rivers State advised the President not to bow to the pressure being mounted on him by the selfish groups and individuals to contest the 2015 presidential election.
The party, in a statement on Monday by its state Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, predicted that Jonathan will lose if he allows himself to be deceived into seeking re-election next year.
The Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria has been in the forefront of the groups urging the President to run the next year’s presidential election.
The various organs of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party have endorsed the President for the election.
But the Rivers State chapter of APC pointed out that it would be in the best interest of the Jonathan and the country for him not to contest.
The party said: “President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has been advised not to bow to the pressure being mounted on him by selfish groups and individuals to contest the 2015 presidential election.
“Jonathan will lose if he allows himself to be deceived into seeking re-election next year.
“The handwriting is already on the wall for President Jonathan in view of the calibre of leaders and unprecedented masses that attended the historic declaration of General Muhammadu Buhari to contest the 2015 presidential election.
“It has therefore become imperative for President Jonathan to start writing his handover notes as his game is up.
“It is now clear why President Jonathan is scared and reluctant in accepting the call to contest the 2015 general election as evident in his recent statement.”
The APC quoted Jonathan as recently saying: “In deciding on an appropriate response to such calls, I will place the greater interests of national harmony, cohesion, unity, security, political stability, progress, equity, justice and fairness above any personal ambition or sectional agenda.”
The party pointed out that he deserves to be commended for “this wise stand as he knows that his contesting will not be in the greatest interest of national harmony”.
The President, the APC said, “must therefore, perish the thought if he really loves Nigeria and wishes to promote the greatest interest of national harmony.”
It added: “If Dr. Jonathan however succumbs to the pressure of haters of Nigeria to contest the 2015 general election, he should prepare to be the first sitting President to lose a general election since there is no basis whatsoever for him to win any election again as his record card shows that he is a failure.
“Today, Nigeria has never had it so bad as the present leadership under Jonathan has inflicted unimaginable suffering on Nigerians.
“Apart from the imminent failure awaiting him at the polls, Dr. Jonathan very well knows that his participation in the 2015 election would be totally immoral since he is not qualified to run, as he is presently enjoying a second term in office. “The Constitution of our country makes it clear that no one can enjoy three consecutive tenures as President and Jonathan is bound by the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.”
The oarty however expressed happiness over the high quality of tested and trusted leaders who have indicated interest to fly the flag of APC in its rescue mission.
Acording to the party: “PDP’s reign these past fifteen years has brought shame and hardship to our nation and we must unite to salvage this nation from the hands of the present confused leaders of PDP.”
The Rivers State APC said that it aligned with the position of its leader, Governor Chibuike Amaechi, who recently asked President Jonathan from where he intends to get the votes that will get him elected in 2015, knowing that he has lost Lagos, Kano and Rivers States before the election as rigging will not be considered for the 2015 general election.
The party concluded by echoing Amaechi’s position, saying: “For us as APC, we will line up behind the party. Go back home now and get your voters cards. We will punish these people. “Rivers State is not in their hands. Lagos State is not in their hands. Kano State is not in their hands. So, tell me where we are going?
“They are banking on using security against us. We shall teach them a lesson. We will fight with our body, with our lives because there must be change this time.
“There is no aspirant in APC that is not better than the aspirants in PDP. What we must do is not only to vote for the aspirants in support; we must also take the voters card so that when we finish nominating our candidate here, we will line behind that candidate and ensure that we will vote out Jonathan.”