President Goodluck Jonathan has advised the leaders of the All Progressives Congress to market their candidates to Nigerians rather than attacking his person on the road to 2015 general elections.
According to him, no candidate will be able to force his way to power, declaring that Nigeria is nobody’s business enterprise.
Speaking on Thursday during a special Christmas Day Service at St. Mathews Anglican Church, Abuja, the President enjoined Nigerians to ignore those who are threatening to form parallel government should they lose he general elections.
He also berated some former leaders who he accused of failing to take advantage of the instrumentality of the Council of State to vent their views on national issues but prefer to go to press to criticize his government.
Mr. Jonathan was apparently referring to former Heads of State, Olusegun Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari, who are permanent members of the Council of State but have criticized his government in public severally.
The President used the occasion to appeal to politicians to market themselves without attacking him, saying that only Nigerians will decide their leaders at all levels.
“It is a week to the end of the year. From January, we will see all political actors campaigning and from the middle of February to the end, we will have the elections at the various levels.
“I believe we the politicians from our utterances. I am very sure that those of you who meant well for this country will never be happy with us.
“The country is nobody’s personal estate but you want to serve. If people want you to serve, you serve, if they say no, you leave, Nigeria is nobody’s personal estate, Nigeria is nobody’s business enterprise, Nigeria is nobody’s father’s, property, it belongs to all Nigerians.
“I get embarrassed when we the politicians, maybe including me make provocative statements, statements that create division among Nigerians, statements that can set this country ablaze. I don’t think that is what a leader should do, I don’t think that is the kind of seed a leader should sow.
“Those who take government by violence, look at African countries, those who kill to take power, they never end well, few cases, yes, probably in society not everybody goes the same way but on the average one has recently happened in west Africa.
“If a politician wants to take power whether at the house of assembly level, at the House of Representatives or senate or governor or president, you don’t sow seed of discord and enmity because of course, it will consume you.
“In fact, at the national level, we have the highest authority called the council of state, the permanent members of the council of state are past presidents and past Chief Justice of the country.
“The idea is that they have vast experience in a number of things and they can bring their experiences to bear in terms of advising any president at anytime, that was why that body was created by the constitution.
“But if we abuse ourselves, kill ourselves to be in office, then who will finish serving and still want to attend the council of state meeting for somebody who probably abuse you through life, it is not possible.
“For us who are looking for various offices, we should just talk about what we can do for Nigerians, you can market yourself but not to sow the seed of discord.
“For a politician to stand up, who is even a Christian to say that if he fails election, he will form a parallel government. What makes him feel that he must win the election? Even me as a serving president, what makes me feel I must win the election, no matter what I think I am.
“Nigerians will decide who will govern them at the state level, or federal level, state assemblies or the National Assembly in terms of the federal constituencies and the senatorial districts.
“It is not you who is looking for the office to think that you are the best person to be there. Are you the most qualified person even by certificate? Are you telling me your certificate is larger than that of others or you even have more certificate? It is the chance of the people and the will of God,” Jonathan said.
On the security challenges confronting the nation, the President had this to say, “As a nation, we have our challenges, every day we hear what is happening to some parts of the country, including Abuja, bombing by terrorists and extremists.
“These are temporary things, surely God will see us through. It will surely come to an end the way it started. All what I request from you is to continue to pray for the country as you have been paying.
“Pray for the victims of terror, we have widows, widowers and orphans, some children are just few days old and their parents are killed, so what is their fate, their communities shattered, people have to run to different places but that is the handiwork of the devil. As a nation we will pull through”.
