Jonathan’s record does not qualify him for another term – Atiku

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said although he was not competent to speak on former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s letter to President Goodluck Jonathan because he was not privy to the communication, it was expedient for leaders consulted by the former president before the publication of the letter to intervene and reduce the tension created by the weighty allegations.

Abubakar, however, said that the records of the President does not qualify him to seek for another term but he could try his luck by running again in 2015.

He said when things are awry in a country, the sitting president indeed needs constructive criticisms.

In a statement issued by his Media Office in Abuja, former Abubakar said like every other Nigerian, he was nervous about the allegations made by the former president and that those elders mentioned by Obasanjo had a moral duty to add their voices to the issue.

According to Abubakar, the allegations were too disturbing to be treated with apathy by any political stakeholder like him.

He said at a moment of national anxiety or uncertainty, leaders across the country should rise to the occasion and reassure fellow Nigerians about the future.

He explained that at a time the rest of the world was looking at Nigeria as a beacon of hope for stability, the content of Obasanjo’s letter should be urgently addressed by former leaders and elders.

Abubakar said with the attention of Nigerians focused on the 2015 elections, there was the urgent need to reassure Nigerians.

“Our priorities for Nigeria are forging lasting solutions to our chronic unemployment, providing safety and security for all, and vastly improving our failing education systems. President Jonathan’s government has consistently failed to address these critical concerns,” Abubakar said.

He added: “That said, it is on record that I have firmly fought for a democracy where the voters choose their future leaders, not political party bosses. If the incumbent President insists on continuing to destroy his own party with vindictive internal wars and thinks his record of rising youth unemployment, never-ending violence, corruption and scandals is worthy of another term, then he is welcome to run. We are confident Nigerians will exercise their democratic right to choose new leadership in 2015.”

Jonathan was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, which has been in turmoil since the beginning of the year, with five of the party’s governors defecting to the All Progressives Congress.

Abubakar said with the attention of Nigerians focused on the 2015 elections, there was the urgent need to reassure Nigerians.

He explained that the President was free to run his government without interference, but said sometimes even sitting presidents needed outside constructive interventions to move the country forward.