Presidency condemns burning of Jonathan’s campaign bus
The Presidency on Sunday condemned the burning of one of the campaign vehicles of President Goodluck Jonathan in Jos on Saturday.
The Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali, said in a statement in Abuja that the burning of the vehicle has further demonstrated the level of the desperation of the opposition and their plot to intimidate other Nigerians out of the political space.
He declared that the incident will not deter the determination of President Jonathan to ensure free and fair elections are conducted nationwide next month.
He said, “We have observed a dangerous trend of politically motivated violence unleashed on innocent Nigerians by supporters of those who have shown desperation to assume political power at all costs.
“While we are not surprised by acts of desperation already shown by these people who have no articulate agenda for nation building, we are amazed at how quickly they are willing to manifest their evil intentions on our dear country.
“The incidence in Jos, Plateau State where our campaign vehicles were torched by irate youth underscores the need for vigilance as we progress towards the General Elections. This criminal behaviour, which is meant to intimidate others and deny them their freedom of choice, stands condemned.
“The leaders whose utterances and conduct have encouraged this kind of behaviour must bear full responsibility for this. With the way things are going, it seems the ultimate agenda of making Nigeria ungovernable as prophesied by these politicians is underway.”
He said in carrying out what he described as unpatriotic behaviour, Alkali alleged that those responsible for the act wish to first of all discredit the electoral process and set the stage for an orgy of violence once they fail in the elections.
The presidential aide said Nigerians are well aware of these antics and are fully prepared to protect their rights to freedom of choice.
In the statement captioned “This ugly trend must stop”, Alkali reiterated that the federal government was determined to make sure that no Nigerian is prevented from campaigning in any part of the country.
He said, “We declare unequivocally that no Nigerian citizen should be prevented from campaigning in any part of the country. We therefore call on the law enforcement Agencies to protect and guarantee the safety of every Nigerian legitimately canvassing for votes all over Nigeria.
“We invite law enforcement Agencies to note the pronouncements of desperate politicians who are bent on fanning the embers of hate and threaten the peaceful conduct of the 2015 elections.
Source: Punchng.com