The Northern Elders Forum has said that only a declaration by President Goodluck Jonathan stating that he will not contest the 2015 elections can douse the political tensions in the country.
The Deputy Chairman of NEF, Dr. Paul Unongo speaking to Punch said President Jonathan must abide by the single term pact he made with chieftains of the PDP during his 2011 campaign.
Unongo stated that the resignation of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur was a welcome development but was not wholly capable of redeeming the PDP from the crisis plaguing the Party.
He said, “I think if the PDP had done this (forced Tukur to resign) a long time ago, it would have perhaps stemmed the avalanche (of crises) that happened. Tukur represented the ugliest face of the PDP. He was insensitive; he was not caring; he was brutal.
“He already decided that Mr. Jonathan must be the presidential candidate of the PDP in 2015 and anybody who didn’t like that should go to hell. It is wonderful that after a long time, the PDP realised what some of us told them. We had told them that you don’t take Nigerians for granted, thinking you can do whatever you want.
“I hope that for the sake of the PDP, now that they have finished with the issue of Tukur, they will deal with the issue of Mr. President by deciding that he should not stand for election, so that the gentleman agreement between the North and the South will prevail. The one-term has been the main cause of the crisis in the PDP.”
Commenting further on the crisis rocking the PDP, he said the factions consisted of those who advised President Jonathan to run for elections in 2015 and those who were against it.
“It’s been between the people, who have been insisting on the President respecting the one-term pact and those who have been using him, and are telling him to go ahead and stand for election; that nothing will happen.
“You have young governors telling him, ‘nothing will happen; the Middle-Belt is with you’. The only thing that can save PDP now is for Mr. President to state categorically that he will not contest election in 2015. Otherwise the defections will continue and the PDP will lose the election if it fields Jonathan,” he said.
I wonder why northerner always want power by all means.. U have serve as nigeria president than any other part in this country.. If u like kill yourself finish wit Boko u invented bcos of Jonathan.. U can’t stop him from contest.. Jonathan must serve for 8years and then gv it to anoda south.. So prepare to destroy all your north part wit more Boko Haram.
All I ever pray for is what is best for Nigeria whether Jonathan or herdex or Asare Dokubo or me. Let God have his way.
Paul Unongo U are a fool, I mean stupid idiot. Tell me when has
Jonathan signing agreement with the Northerners for 1 term becomes
Nigerian concerns? Are the so called Northerners the Nigerians OR the
Nigeria Constitution? Paul Unongo give your self brain there oo before I
vex here now. Jonathan has every right to still contest even if
tomorrow there is 3rd Term.
This guys think we don’t think, north being the president has never helped the ship of state. Sometimes they takj from both sides of their mouth
Its sad that our late president Y’ardua passed on. however it only took some time for our leaders to be honest with the reality on ground, its so pathetic. What if it was a southern president that passed on, will they still have this notion or it could have been an instant staging. We should think as one unit, brothers, sisters, nation for us ALL to move forward.
Many parts of the north are suffering because of some of their leaders who THINK ABOUT THEMSELVES ONLY.
Until their people have a change of mindset about their “system” it will be a “LONG WALK”