2015 Polls: Interim National Govt Is Treasonable, Says President Jonathan At Abuja Mass

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan should call his supporters and aides to order, Catholic Archbishop of Abuja John Cardinal Onaiyekan, said yesterday in his review of the political activities in the country. Many Nigerians are worried about the manner government officials and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign Council members have been heating up the polity. Contrary to President Jonathan’s statements, his campaign team has been pillorying the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega.

Some of the President’s supporters have been making inflammatory statements, including saying Dr Jonathan must win the elections or the nation will burn, according to The Nation.

But the President has always insisted that his ambition is not worth the blood of anyone.

Yesterday, the President said he would not be part of any Interim Government, an idea he described as treasonable and alien to the Constitution. He also affirmed that the March 28 and April 11 dates picked for the general elections will remain sacrosanct.

Dr. Jonathan and Cardinal Onaiyekan spoke at the opening mass for the plenary Assembly of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria at Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Pro-Cathedral, Garki, Abuja.

The President said he would not head an Interim Government (ING), which can only be set up by a military government. Besides, he said an ING will not be acceptable to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN).

He said: “There is no way Goodluck Jonathan, elected by people with clear mandate, will now go and head an Interim Government. The only interim government anybody can constitute is that of the military government which, of course, will not be accepted.

“ECOWAS, AU, UN won’t accept it. And Nigeria will not be a pariah state. Clearly, the insinuation of interim government to me is treasonable. Stressing that the postponement of the elections was a blessing in disguise, he said: “Elections will be conducted as scheduled by INEC. Look at what happened in Gombe on February 14… If the elections had been held, the casualty figure after that attack in Gombe would have been great. It is better for us to conduct elections that will not be contested, elections that are credible, free and fair. We believe no criminal element can come and prevent us from conducting our elections. I will not do anything because of personal interest; that would jeopardize the interest of this nation.

Jonathan also faulted utterances that overheat the polity and portray Nigeria as being at a point of going up in flames.

“When I listen to how some of us politicians talk… but God is supreme, this nation will survive”, he said.

He also thanked Christians for the prayers for the nation, adding that the whole world was going crazy because of the bloodshed by terrorist groups, including Boko Haram.