Former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan,
on Monday tasked Nigerians to embrace
peace and shun violence ahead of the
rescheduled general elections.
Jonathan, who was in Bayelsa, his home
state at the weekend for the polls earlier
scheduled for Feb. 16 and March 2 but
postponed by one week to Feb. 23 and
March 9, called on Nigerians to remain
peaceful.
NAN reports that Jonathan spoke at a
meeting with Niger Delta Youth Leaders on
Monday in Yenagoa, where he urged the
electorate to shun vote buying, instead
vote according to their conscience.
“Use of money to induce voters has
become very prevalent in Nigeria.
“It is more pronounced here than many
African countries I have been to monitor
elections and it is unhealthy for our
development.
“My NGO is however, working on advocacy
against it.
“Politics should be about the people but
anyone who wants to make quick money
should go into business and quit politics,
which is all about service to the people.
“People should vote according to the
dictates of their conscience and not be
induced by money.
“I have said it several times that no
ambition should be worth spilling of the
blood of any Nigerian.
“Peace is fundamental to economic
development and the reports of insecurity
and violence scares away investors.
“Anytime someone is killed either by
security agencies or by any other exra
judicial means, it affects the reputation of
the country adversely and that is why
peace building is very essential, especially
with the youth.
“Our youths are critical in our democracy
because the future belongs to them, so, my
advise is that we should be patient and
shun violence in the coming elections,â€
Jonathan said.
Source:
dailypost.ng/2019/02/18/nigerian-
elections-jonathan-tells-nigerians/
