I will Handover If I Lose-Dr. Goodluck, Ebele Jonathan (GCFR)

The president of the federal republic of Nigeria Dr. Goodluck, Ebele Jonathan during the media chat held on the 12^th of February 2015 debunk the rumours that he will not hand over power after election on March 28th 2015.

His statement

“I will conduct free and fair elections and if I lose, I will gladly go home. I still maintain this nation is more important than anyone. The insinuations that I will not hand over power are unnecessary and unfortunate’’.

While speaking during the media Chat which was transmitted on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) to viewers and listeners, Jonathan said even if the military failed to eliminate Boko Haram in six weeks, the May 29 handover date will still stand.

According to him:

 “If in 2011, I said that I will conduct free and fair elections and if I lose, I will happily go home  and it should be recorded and as at that time no African sitting President had lost election but within this period a lot of African sitting presidents have lost election.”

But I said I want to create the history to be the first African President to lose election but let the world know that the elections are free and fair.

This nation is more important than anybody and I still maintain the fact that if anyone wants to hold the office of the President or any office at all and feels that he is more important than the nation that is not quite right.

“If as at that time I said that I was ready to conduct free and fair election and if I lose, I will go, not to talk about now that Nigerians have given me the opportunity to be here for four full years.”

“So if the elections are conducted and I lose, of course, we will inaugurate a new government; there is no way I will say if I lose I will not hand over.”

According to Dr. Jonathan, the percentage of permanent voter cards distribution should be fairly high.

Despite the threat by ex-militants to go to war if Jonathan loses, the President assured that everything will be done to keep Nigeria one and there will be no war.

He also responded to questions on Boko Haram, saying the goal is not to totally eliminate the insurgency before the elections, but to make adequate security arrangement for the exercise.

He also dissociated himself from the plot to remove Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof Attahiru Jega, before the elections, denying such plans.

Culled from the nation