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Jonathan has written his name in gold, says APC

By Adamu Abuh, Abuja
03 April 2015   |   12:56 am
THE All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday applauded President Goodluck Jonathan for the rare sportsmanship he exhibited by conceding defeat and congratulating its candidate, Major-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), even before INEC formally declared him as the winner.
Jonathan-24-1-2015

Jonathan

Ready for a virile, constructive opposition from PDP, others

THE All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday applauded President Goodluck Jonathan for the rare sportsmanship he exhibited by conceding defeat and congratulating its candidate, Major-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), even before INEC formally declared him as the winner.

In a statement issued in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party expressed readiness to accommodate opposing views and constructive criticisms from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other political parties in the polity.

The party said by that singular act which went a long way in dousing post-election tension, “the President has snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, written his name in gold in the annals of Nigeria’s history and catapulted himself to a statesman.”

APC said it is time for all Nigerians, irrespective of their political leaning, to put the acrimonious electioneering campaign behind them and to forge a united front to tackle the enormous challenges facing the nation.

While congratulating Buhari on his historic victory in Saturday’s Presidential election, the party thanked Nigerians for voting massively for the party to bring in a new dawn after a long and dark night.

The party said Buhari’s victory will make Nigeria work again, rekindle hope and bring succour to the long suffering people of the country. “Nigerians have used their votes to bring change. We hear their message loud and clear: They want a government that works, and will not hesitate to use the same votes to kick out any government that fails to deliver,’’ it said.

“The APC-led Federal Government will work for all Nigerians, whether or not they voted for us in the elections, or did not even vote at all,’’ the party assured. ‘’Our party will not discriminate against any Nigerian on the basis of religion, region, ethnicity or gender.

We are all God’s own people.’’ APC said it will also appreciate a virile opposition, because it is indispensable in any democracy that is worthy of that nomenclature. ‘’Having been in opposition ourselves, we know what it means to keep the government of the day on its toes with very robust and constructive criticism, and we expect no less from those who have swapped places with us,’’ the party said.

It commended the media for staying true to its constitutional watchdog role, saying without the support of this Fourth Estate of the Realm, Nigeria may neither have enjoyed democracy nor sustained it. APC thanked ECOWAS, the African Union, the EU, the UN and the entire international community for their support for the country’s democratisation process, describing as invaluable their role in the success of the ongoing political transition.

‘’Equally worthy of our gratitude is the Civil Society. Working relentlessly under the umbrella Situation Room, civil society organisations played an unprecedented and very important role before, during and after the Presidential/National Assembly elections.

We, and indeed all Nigerians, owe them a debt of gratitude for the success of the elections,’’ the party said. ‘’Finally, and most importantly, we want to give glory to God for His divine intervention that has always pulled our country back from the brink, even at times when hope was in short supply and the night seemed so dark and unending,’’ APC said.

19 Comments

  • Author’s gravatar

    Lai statement is a statement of reciprocity, enabled by convenience. Jonathan was forced to quit, simple. Commendable nonetheless, but nothing special. He lost and had no basis to hold onto power. More so when the eyes of the international community was on him right to the last minute. The events before the election can not be wiped away so easily. The over-bloated and overheated polity was due largely to the ambition-infused recklessness of his and his men. Who would forget that the use of card readers which made the relatively free and fair election possible was opposed by Jonathan and his party. Given enough breathing space, Jonathan and PDP would have made miracle of Damman a child’s play. Jonathan feared for his life and what would become of Nigeria if he continued to hold on to power in the face of mounting pressure from the whole world. Soon, when the dust settles, the real man in the mirror will be revealed when the master tape of the rigging plan is unveiled – just like the #Ekitigate.

  • Author’s gravatar

    Really? I thought they said barely a week ago that he was ‘clueless’? This transformation from a ‘clueless’ President to a statesman happened at the speed of light! Amazing.

    • Author’s gravatar

      Yes he may have been clueless but that singular act of accepting defeat was the real Jonathan (without the peeps around him who give him bad advices).

      Really He has written his name in Gold

  • Author’s gravatar

    If Jonathan is the Biblical John the Baptist -the forerunner to the Messiah, it means General Buhari has alot to prove as many people thinks that he is the long awaited Nigerian messiah. I beg to disagree. I have always believe Jonathan to be a man of rare character and truly God sent, but as for Buhari, we have always have false messiah appear and make all kinds of claims. I know, I won”t be deceived. So far, it is only a cheap talk, I have no trust or confidence in APC and the new mantle of white robes that they are trying to wear in the public eye. I simply won’t trust them.

  • Author’s gravatar

    Lai, as the spokesman of the APC and a leader of the Change that the people awaits, one expects you to tell the truth at all times. You have just lied about GEJ. What indeed propels you to the conclusion you just made of him qualifying as a statesman!
    The latter reaction of the former President and his henchmen is borne out of cowardice and fear; having plunged the nation into the worst political uncertainty ever, he had to coin the greatest bribe of all by apeasing his victor and seeking a soft landing. Just in case.
    The real truth is that the electorates that voted GMB and perhaps the whole world does NOT expect APC to cover the corruption and misdeeds of PDP; it is expected that all misappropriation of our common wealth by this regime be exposed and recovered and the culprits be punished accordingly by a re-engineered EFFC.

    • Author’s gravatar

      Remember – 4 years. That is no brainer to start running after Diezani Alison- Madueke, Femi Fani-kayode, and gov. Moonbeam of Ekiti for examples. Buhari’s administration must stay on the right course – laying the foundation for the peoples wellbeing. The people voted for CHANGE not RETRIBUTIVE
      JUSTICE. Allow the Almighty to visit His judgment on those who looted the nations wealth. Buhari must lay the solid foundation to keep APC in the saddle for the next 16 years. Have a pleasant day.

  • Author’s gravatar

    either anybody trust them or not who cares all what i know is we can’t have it worse than jonathan anymore

  • Author’s gravatar

    GOODLUCK JONATHAN IS TRYING TO SAVE HIS SKIN, HOW DOES THAT TRANSLATE TO WRITING HIS NAME IN GOLD?. THE REAL WINNERS ARE WE THE PEOPLE QED. I HAVE BEEN SAYING THIS FOR A VERY LONG TIME I HAVE BEEB SAYING THAT WE THE PEOPLE WILL MAKE SURE THAT GOODLUCK JONATHAN WILL BE DEFEATED WHEN THE CHIPS ARE DOWN I HAVE BEEN PROVED VERY RIGHT. THE REAL LOSER IN THIS ELECTION ARE THE IGBO PEOPLE AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES COULD HAVE COME FROM THAT ZONE. NOW IT IS IMPOSSIBLE AS THERE IS NO SENATOR FROM THAT ZONE. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE VERY SHORT SIGHTED VERY GREEDY AND VERY SELFISH PEOPLE AS LEADERS OR PARADE AS LEADERS, WHEN THEY ARE JUST SHAMELESS DEALERS ONLY AFTER THEIR POCKETS AND INTERESTS. THE IGBO PEOPLE MUST NOW USE THEIR ‘NUMBER 6’ AND RECTIFY THIS SELF INFLICTED ANOMALY. I HOPE THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO?

  • Author’s gravatar

    In an election, somebody wins just as the other loses. Jonathan has demonstrated that when you lose to an oponent, you do not get consumed by consumed by a sense of self pitty, but you concede gallantly and go into a period introspective analysis plan your next path. Jonanthan has written his name embossly into the history of a great nation. He is arguably the finest african alive right now. He considered all as Nigerians deserving of his attention, even members of the bokoharam sect who have clearly lost the plot of waht it means to be Nigerian. This sect brutally fueled themselves in hatred for our own people. From where I stand and from a wide appreciation, Jonathan reached out to them to change without success and the final armed pursuit must have been painful to take for a Child of Nigeria who embraced all. Whatever GEJ considers next, he stature will be diminished if politics of the kind that failed him is ever an option. Politcs has to be out of the question, but leadership must be what he should be providing from a moral activism to the UN role in helping to mould opinion around justice for all people however small their perceived status. In every age there emerges a Child that challenges very deep insticts to self-importance. The emergence of GEJ is one such seismic event. His behaviour has challenged the long held opinion that ‘Power corrupts and … ‘ Nigerian and Nigerians can claim world relevance due the single emergence of GEJ in national politics.

  • Author’s gravatar

    President Jonathan being the teacher he is, has been used by God Almighty to teach us the pragmatics of love and sacrifice and selflessness. Enough of the wickedness and selfishness that has brought about the wanton destruction of our fellow citizens and brethren! Everyone has gory stories of family members who have used others for rituals just because of power, position and possession… Even our movie industry abounds with such story lines…
    But the rippling effect of Mr Jonathan’s concessions will go beyond the corridors of politics and power…
    May we learn the lesson the Almighty Father intends for us to learn through this process….
    Project Nigeria continues…
    The Nigerian who fears God is greatly BLESSED!!!

  • Author’s gravatar

    NAME IN GOLD? GIVE US A BREAK

  • Author’s gravatar

    Tribute to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan; the Definer of a New Era.

    Mr. President, the elections may have come and gone but the lessons
    remain in our hearts. While many celebrate the winner in a contest as it
    is traditionally, you have made us this day to celebrate not just the
    winner of a historic election but to celebrate your person too for being
    a winner, though not of our votes but our hearts. We know that many who
    supported you, did so for your strengths which include, respect for
    others, gentlemanliness, restorative abilities, consultative abilities,
    transformational achievements, humane disposition, sincerity and trust,
    which was your greatest undoing because many believe that leadership is
    the ability to crush others or whip them to submission but you proved
    them wrong.
    Those who did not support you saw your strength as
    weakness. They wanted you to exercise force even when it meant crushing
    others, take some drastic decisions without recourse to the rule of law
    or respect for the dignity of the human person, and use the power at
    your disposal to your gains but these you resisted knowing that you held
    power in trust for the people to whom power truly belongs. Like David
    in the bible who had the opportunity to slay Saul but refused, you have
    written your name in gold as a man after God’s heart and a man whose
    strength though perceived as weakness has redefined who a hero is.
    Nigerians will ever be grateful for being the definer of a new era of
    respect for the people and the rule of law, which your predecessor, Late
    President Yar’adua believed. That you conceded defeat means that you
    are indeed a winner. You may not have won the votes of all Nigerians
    within and outside Nigeria, but you have won their hearts and by your
    actions this day, you have become the one we celebrate today. Rather
    than allow our blood to be spilled so that you can remain in office, you
    chose to be the sacrifice so that there will be a people to be
    governed. You chose not to follow the path of those whose kinsmen and
    countrymen have been slain for the purpose of power.
    Like oil that
    prevents friction, by your action, you lubricated the joints of our
    togetherness as a nation so that we can live as one entity. Truly, you
    believed in the togetherness of our nation. As a symbol of the oil
    region you came from, rather than use the oil as fuel to consume all of
    us, you chose to use it as a lubricant, so that we can function well and
    move in one direction, a direction created by our founding fathers. You
    put to shame, those who for their selfish gains drummed for war.

    When the story of our democracy is told to future generations, you will
    not just be a sentence or a paragraph, the entire book will focus on you
    as the true father of a democratic Nigeria; a father who though is a
    dear son of the Niger Delta, is indeed greater than his fathers who have
    ruled Nigeria. Congratulations Mr. President for winning our hearts.
    Long Live Nigeria; one great nation under God!
    Long live Mr. President, our present and future hero!

  • Author’s gravatar

    Not yet, he needs to go back and sort out the militancy issues at his home. Then can we say his name is written in Gold. For professor Jega, we can say that of him.

  • Author’s gravatar

    Listen Nigerians, let it be known to you all that the Goodluck Nigerians are clamoring for is the Buhari presidency. Jonathan is an instrument used by God to bring Goodluck to Nigeria. Buhari wouldn’t have come to Power if the cabals still hold on to power. God rightfully manipulated the process from Late Yaradua to allow Jonathan come to Power paving way for the Goodluck to come to Nigeria via Buhari Presidency. Jonathan is not the goodluck but an accessory to goodluck. God knows that only in person of Jonathan could pave way for change. See it as God’s plan. Those bad eggs, I supposed, must have been preparing to go on exile…..IBB and co. Buhari is a “mean” man and never forgives! And let me say here that Buhari is the only genuine president elect on the ground of a legitimate free and fair election since the existence of Nigeria.

  • Author’s gravatar

    This statement gives me much more happiness ” Finally, and most importantly, we want to give glory to God for His Devine intervention that has always pulled our country back from the brink, even at the time when hope was in short supply and the night seemed so dark and unending” Apc.You see, every one is weeping inwardly because of emotional love of nation . No body want chaos, that is why God used President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, an “INSTRUMENT” of His devine intervention to the peace of the nation. President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is” AN AVERTER” judging by what happened in 2011 , after the result of election was announced by the man l personally own a respect , Atahiru Jega.

  • Author’s gravatar

    To me pres Jonathan is the father of Nigerian democracy he is the turning to our path to greatness people do not respect great people when they are around I believe he is a victim of the previous directionless 1st ten years of our democracy he is the greatest leader we ever had histor will forever salute him,if he were the 1st pres of the 1st 8 year nigeria will have been better the most outrageous thing is that the actors of those wasteful time blamed him for correcting their purposeless occupation of the position of power,they suddenly realised what they did no do and how they missed their chance,now where jonathan is in statemanship they can’t be there because they did not have the character the press was not free the opposition were hunted or murder substitution and forceful removal of innocent candidate but for jonathan the father of Nigerian democracy and greatness it was difference I salute the greatness of this rear Nigerian may you live long to see the greatness you have started
    Thank you sir

  • Author’s gravatar

    Simply the best all our past leaders are eclipsed in his greatness they are looters subverters of democracy , jonathan is our greatest leader taking the place of past crooks wicked selfish fagots
    History will remember pres jonathan as our turning point in greatness, the real father of our democracy ,the previous leader are no statement but opportunist who exploited us, wherever goes in the world none of them can for their character is doubtful. May pres jonathan live to see the greatness he started. Be blessed sir