‘We will force Jonathan to run for second term’

By Samuel Oyadongha, Yenagoa
A former Security Adviser to the Bayelsa State Government, Chief Richard Kpodoh weekend said the Boko Haram campaign of terror in some parts of the Northern states is targeted at stopping President

Goodluck Jonathan from declaring his intention to run for second term in 2015.

According to Kpodoh, though the decision to declare or not to declare to run in the 2015 Presidential election lies with President Goodluck Jonathan, the dangerous tactics of using insecurity as a tool of blackmail against the rising profile of President Goodluck Jonathan will not hold waters as he will be forced by the peace loving populace to run for second term in office.

Chief Kpodoh, who served under Goodluck Jonathan administration in Bayelsa State as Senior Special Assistant on Strategy and Policy Monitoring, in a statement in Yenaoa  urged President Goodluck Jonathan to shun the dangerous antics of opposition politicians through the sponsored killings by the Boko Haram and declare for re-election.

He said:”There is no better time for the President to declare than now. We have studied elected presidents from the time of the second republic with Shehu Shagari, and the military era with Olusegun Obasanjo, Ibrahim Babangida, Buhari and the elected Olusegun Obasanjo and discovered that the style of administration of Goodluck Jonathan in spite of provocation and temptation, has remained calm, cool and collected.”

“Under past Presidents, the opposition claim they were bold and decisive could not be proved. Many paid oppositions and genuine critics have lambasted, without facts, some policies of the Jonathan administration and nothing violent and deadly happened to them. The so called bold civilian administrations of Obasanjo and the military era of Buhari and others would have boldly dealt with opposition.

“Some of us embarked on criticism against Jonathan administration and nothing evil happened to us.The kind of utterances against Jonathan has never been accommodated by any administration in this country. It is not weakness but an administration style that has human feelings and the one that believe in the unity of the country.”

Chief Kpodoh noted that though the Northern leadership have been at the fore front of criticism against President Goodluck Jonathan, they have failed to accept that the style of Northern leadership have failed and President Goodluck Jonathan should not be blamed for it.

He added: “the Yoruba leaders led by late Chief Obafemi Awolowo believed in the future of his people and created free education policy that has created millions of educated and creative youths.

“Even in the South-east, Igbo leaders allowed education and backed it up with empowerment programme through trading and settlement. In the South-South, empowerment and education led to various questions and improvement from the leaders. There are many businessmen to show for it. How many of such industrious youths were created by the Northern leaders?”

“Instead, what they have created is the league of homeless youths known as Alimajiris. They prefer to feed them daily and hand them dangerous weapon to fight.The Northern successful politicians are interested in building a dynasty of Alimajiris. Is this caused by Jonathan?

“A check on the ownership of oil blocs will show that 60 per cent are Northerners. Let the North leave Jonathan alone. They should solve their problem themselves.”

Chief Kpodo called on President Goodluck Jonathan to shun the antics of Boko Haram and its sponsors and declare his intention to run in 2015.

“What have they done that they have never done. They have killed innocent people in Nyanya, Jos, Kano and many others in order to stop Jonathan at declaring for 2015.”

Jonathan should call the bluff of the Boko Haram and it’s sponsors and declare to run.Or we will declare for him.”

“Instead of sponsoring these deadly onslaught against the people of this country, the sponsors of Boko Haram should invest the fund in campaigns and strategies to contest against the monumental achievements of President Goodluck Jonathan.

“If they claim the worst will happen if Jonathan declares, we want to remind them that nobody or region is born to rule. Everyone or tribes fought in the Nigerian Civil War to keep the nation together. To keep Nigeria one was a task done by all Nigerians. The Ijaws fought and Jasper Adaka Boro died amongst many others.”