I am not oblivious of the fact that the topic of my discourse is capable of provoking mixed feelings among Nigerians and global citizens. Nonetheless, I have deliberately written this discourse to join other progressives in clearing the air and settling the dust that had been raised by some Nigerians from Northern extraction calling on Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan the incumbent president of Nigeria to quit and vacate the presidential seat by 2015 for a Northerner to mount the saddle.

Before I move further, I wish to make my position crystal clear. I am not in anyway speaking the mind of Mr. President neither am I campaigning for him. I have carefully followed intrigues and propaganda in the political hemisphere. And I deemed it fit to unmask my silence as a Nigerian and a pro-democracy activist to help douse tension and cool down the heat emanating from polity. There is no gainsaying the fact that Dr. Jonathan is free to seek re-election in a democratic dispensation-constitutionally, democratically and legally, he is as free as gas to give the 2015 presidential race a shot. Just as other Nigerians from any part of the country could seek election, so also is Dr Goodluck Jonathan.

I am not oblivious of the fact that the topic of my discourse is capable of provoking mixed feelings among Nigerians and global citizens. Nonetheless, I have deliberately written this discourse to join other progressives in clearing the air and settling the dust that had been raised by some Nigerians from Northern extraction calling on Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan the incumbent president of Nigeria to quit and vacate the presidential seat by 2015 for a Northerner to mount the saddle.

Before I move further, I wish to make my position crystal clear. I am not in anyway speaking the mind of Mr. President neither am I campaigning for him. I have carefully followed intrigues and propaganda in the political hemisphere. And I deemed it fit to unmask my silence as a Nigerian and a pro-democracy activist to help douse tension and cool down the heat emanating from polity. There is no gainsaying the fact that Dr. Jonathan is free to seek re-election in a democratic dispensation-constitutionally, democratically and legally, he is as free as gas to give the 2015 presidential race a shot. Just as other Nigerians from any part of the country could seek election, so also is Dr Goodluck Jonathan.

I do read almost on daily basis media stories coming from Northern Nigeria totally condemning the administration of Mr. President and threatening him not to re-contest. Well! I don’t know when those fuelling such intrigues have become the determinant of what ought to be done in the political terrain of Nigeria neither can I really comprehend when those political gladiators and desperados have become the mouth piece of Nigerians.

It is against this backdrop that South-South activists like Alh. Asari Dokubo, Mrs. Briggs, Chief Edwin Clark and Chief Kuku have registered counter threat that President Goodluck Jonathan being a Southerner must complete his eight (8) year tenure without cause for alarm.

My position is that any qualified Nigerian, from any pat of the country is free to contest. It doesn’t matter the person’s gender, faith or political party. It doesn’t matter whether the person in from South-South, South-East, South-West, Middle-Belt, North-East, West or south. What matters most is the person’s sterling leadership style and the person’s quest to engender development in all ramifications without minding whose ox is gored. The person must strive to sanitize Nigeria and wash it clean from the numerous woes that had bedeviled her and prevented her from standing tall in the comity of nations.

Jonathan’s presidential fate would be determined through transnational consensuses so also that of other presidential contenders not through what some persons want against the wishes and aspirations of Nigerians.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

by Dapar Satmak Alexander

Dapar Satmak is a mass communication student of the University of Jos, he writes for ViewPointNigeria from Jos, Plateau state.

He can be reached at the following email address: daparsatmak@yahoo.com

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Dr Jonathan is free to contest by Dapar Satmak Alexander