National
Leader, Action Congress of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has warned loyalists
and aides of President Goodluck Jonathan against taking the unity of Nigeria
for granted and setting the country on fire.
Leader, Action Congress of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has warned loyalists
and aides of President Goodluck Jonathan against taking the unity of Nigeria
for granted and setting the country on fire.
Tinubu, the former Lagos State governor, said in Lagos on
Thursday that the utterances of friends and aides of Jonathan had the potential
of putting the unity of the country in jeopardy.
Thursday that the utterances of friends and aides of Jonathan had the potential
of putting the unity of the country in jeopardy.
The ACN stalwart spoke as the guest of honour at the
presentation of Lest I Forget:
Memoirs of a Nigerian Career Diplomat, written
by Amb Oladapo Fafowora. Tinubu was represented by ACN National Publicity
Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
presentation of Lest I Forget:
Memoirs of a Nigerian Career Diplomat, written
by Amb Oladapo Fafowora. Tinubu was represented by ACN National Publicity
Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr.
Kingsley Kuku, and Leader, Niger Delta Peoples Volunteers Force, Alhaji
Mujaheed Dokubo-Asari, were recently quoted as threatening violence in the
country if Jonathan is not reelected President in 2015.
Kingsley Kuku, and Leader, Niger Delta Peoples Volunteers Force, Alhaji
Mujaheed Dokubo-Asari, were recently quoted as threatening violence in the
country if Jonathan is not reelected President in 2015.
The seriousness of the “threat” of the President’s men had
attracted widespread condemnation, with the House of Representatives calling
for a probe while others demanded the arrest of the duo.
attracted widespread condemnation, with the House of Representatives calling
for a probe while others demanded the arrest of the duo.
Tinubu, however, believed that such utterances, coming from
Jonathan’s kinsmen, posed a serious threat to the unity of the country if not
checked.
Jonathan’s kinsmen, posed a serious threat to the unity of the country if not
checked.
The ex-governor said, “By not taking it(country) for
granted, we will avoid taking measures or making comments that can threaten the
country’s unity.
granted, we will avoid taking measures or making comments that can threaten the
country’s unity.
“Unfortunately, that has not been the case in recent times.
Self-acclaimed friends as well as aides of the President have been making
comments that are capable of putting the unity of our country in jeopardy.
Self-acclaimed friends as well as aides of the President have been making
comments that are capable of putting the unity of our country in jeopardy.
“One says if President Goodluck Jonathan is not re-elected in
2015, the tenuous peace, now being enjoyed in the Niger Delta, will not be
guaranteed.
2015, the tenuous peace, now being enjoyed in the Niger Delta, will not be
guaranteed.
“Another builds on that, saying – with all the crudity in his
being – that not only will there be no peace in the Niger Delta, there will be
no peace everywhere across the country.
being – that not only will there be no peace in the Niger Delta, there will be
no peace everywhere across the country.
“Let us remember that these two are not the only ones making
threatening comments ahead of the 2015 elections.”
threatening comments ahead of the 2015 elections.”
Tinubu, who said the presence of former Head of State, Gen
Yakubu Gowon, and other eminent Nigerians had made the warning timely, added
that other close associates of Jonathan had taken the 2015 “threat” to a
ridiculous level.
Yakubu Gowon, and other eminent Nigerians had made the warning timely, added
that other close associates of Jonathan had taken the 2015 “threat” to a
ridiculous level.
He said, “Earlier, a gregarious presidential aide boasted that
he would no longer bear his name if by 2014 the new political platform called
the All Progressives Congress has not vanished into thin air! These are pretty
strong words.
he would no longer bear his name if by 2014 the new political platform called
the All Progressives Congress has not vanished into thin air! These are pretty
strong words.
“And without mincing words, these statements must be seen for
what they are: insensitive, inciting and incendiary. One must not forget to say
such threats are utterly irresponsible and unjustifiable!
what they are: insensitive, inciting and incendiary. One must not forget to say
such threats are utterly irresponsible and unjustifiable!
“Let us remember what Jodi Picout said, ‘Words are like eggs
dropped from great heights; you can no more call them back than ignore the mess
they leave when they fall’.”
dropped from great heights; you can no more call them back than ignore the mess
they leave when they fall’.”
The former Lagos State governor noted that elder statesmen in
the country should take the appropriate steps to curtail the increasing threat
to the unity of the country before the nation’s democracy was undermined.
the country should take the appropriate steps to curtail the increasing threat
to the unity of the country before the nation’s democracy was undermined.
Tinubu added, “It is also important for us not to keep quiet
when the dead-enders unleash these kinds of words on us. We must not allow the
ethnic militias to ruin our democracy or untie our unity.
when the dead-enders unleash these kinds of words on us. We must not allow the
ethnic militias to ruin our democracy or untie our unity.
“It is said that evil triumphs when good men do nothing. It is
therefore incumbent on all our acknowledged good men to speak out against these
ethnic jingoists, or those that the Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka will call
lickspittle.”
therefore incumbent on all our acknowledged good men to speak out against these
ethnic jingoists, or those that the Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka will call
lickspittle.”
He added, “To the best of my knowledge, President Goodluck
Jonathan was elected by Nigerians of different ethnic groups. And no one single
ethnic group, whether minority or majority, can single-handedly elect a
President. No ethnic warlord or groveling aide can single-handedly elect a
President.
Jonathan was elected by Nigerians of different ethnic groups. And no one single
ethnic group, whether minority or majority, can single-handedly elect a
President. No ethnic warlord or groveling aide can single-handedly elect a
President.
“There is strength in our unity. Let us guard it jealously. Let
us work hard to keep our country united. Above all, let us not take our unity
for granted.”
us work hard to keep our country united. Above all, let us not take our unity
for granted.”
Tinubu described Fafowora as a committed patriot, who “left the
service not in the best of circumstances”, noting that the book was “a rare
enrichment of our essence as Nigerians, with our collective institutional
memory”.
service not in the best of circumstances”, noting that the book was “a rare
enrichment of our essence as Nigerians, with our collective institutional
memory”.
Source: Punch
