We read with clearer understanding of Dr. Umar Ardo’s open letter to the PDP National Chairman and our group under the aegis of National Coalition Against Fraudulent Politicians decided to meet and take a stand on this issue of national importance.
First of all, it is pertinent to note that any student of Law will be accustomed to some of the relevant clauses and cases cited by Dr. Ardo in his submission. However, it is also important for Nigerians who are not vast in Law or constitutionality to have a clear understanding f the message Dr. Umar Ardo sent to the public domain. Either Dr. Ardo is right or wrong in his submissions is left for constitutional lawyers to proof in a Court of Law.
Our opinion on the matter is based on the moral rights of President Jonathan who has continued to take Nigerians for a ride in his attempt to stage manage a third term bid through the back door. We applaud the courage of Dr. Umar Ardo who has headed for the court of Appeal for interpretation in the constitutional provision for an occupant of the executive office to stay beyond eight years.
More so at a time when brown-nosers have taken control of the political space and praise singers are now the deciders of our destiny. Dr. Ardo’s gallant effort to approach the court of Appeal at his own expense to buttress his views about the ineligibility of President Jonathan to contest the 2015 election is commendable.
Be that as it may, we are not unaware of the political game plan by some political spent forces hiding under the cloak of regional representation to extend the tenure of office of President Jonathan in an attempt to make him the longest serving President Nigeria ever had. The third term agenda of President Jonathan is not a secret as his leaders and advisers from the south-south have continued to beat war drums if he does not succeed. However, we are sure that this is just an effort in futility! The insecurity of our people in the North Eastern part of Nigeria where civilians are killed and maimed on a daily basis attested to his inability to stay a day more in office after May 29th, 2015.
Ardo has unveiled to discerning hearts a good example from one of the worlds’ longest democracy, the USA from where we copied our brand of democracy. For example, out of the nine past Vice Presidents in US who for one reason or another took over the rein of leadership from their principals never went beyond the provisional eight years of two terms in office. Some of them sacrificed their personal ambitions to resist the political temptations to contest an election.
For a man who rode into power without spending a kobo as he became the deputy governor of Bayelsa state on a platter of gold, one would have thought that he would thank God for leading him to where he is today. We are aware, just like other reasonable Nigerians of the circumstance that surrounded his ascendancy as governor the state which came as a result of the impeachment of his boss, Diepreye Alamasieghba for looting the state treasury. Alamasieghba today calls the shots at Aso Villa as the Governor General under the watch of Mr. President who had earlier granted him State Pardon for looting the treasury of his state while Mr. President was his lieutenant.
Jonathan became the Vice President of Nigeria with the help of his political godfather and within a year mother luck smiled on him as the country lost the president, Late President Musa Ya’radua to pave the way for him to become the President of Nigeria.
Again, one would have thought that by now Mr. President will be magnanimous enough to start planning his retirement from active politics come 2015 and leave the political arena for other Nigerian who have not benefited from the country as President Jonathan. But this is not to be as Mr. President continues to heat up the polity while his foot soldiers are busy campaigning all over the country without any care for INEC rules and regulations.
We can only hope and pray that Mr. President will do a rethink and step aside before he is disgraced at the poll in 2015. We hereby endorse the position taken by Dr. Umar Ardo while aligning with fundamental issues raised by him in the interest of peace, unity, rule of law, due process and national tranquility.
Signed:
- Movement for the Protection of Peoples Rights – Mallam Abdullahi Mohammed
- Northern Youth coalition for Justice – Comrade Umar Falalu
- Supreme Niger Delta Youth Assembly – Prieye Godson
- Oodua Progressives Forum – Oluwagbemiga Segun
- South East Network for Good governance – Prince Chinedu Hillary
- Pragmatic Initiative for youth Empowerment and Good Governance – Daniel Obasi
