President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday insisted that an Interim National Government (ING) is unknown to the Nigerian constitution and constituting one is treasonable.
Assuring that elections will hold in Nigeria on the new dates of March 28th and April 11th fixed by the Independent National Electoral Commission, he declared that he can never head an ING in the country or push for an interim government.
Speaking at the opening mass for the plenary Assembly of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria at Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Pro-Cathedral, Garki, he said that interim government can only be set up by a military regime.
Besides, he said that such ING will not be acceptable to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN).
He said: “There is no way Goodluck Jonathan elected by people with clear mandate will now go and head interim Govt. The only interim Govt anybody can constitute is that of the military government which of course will not be accepted.
“ECOWAS, AU, UN won’t accept it. And Nigeria will not be a patriah state. Clearly the insinuation of interim government to me is treasonable.” He said
Stressing that the postponement of the elections was a blessing in disguise, he said: “Elections will be conducted as schedule by INEC”.
“Look at what happened in Gombe on February 14th, if the elections had been held the casualty figure after that attack in Gombe would have been great. It is better for us to conduct elections that will not be contested, elections that are credible, free and fair.”
“We believe no criminal element can come and prevent us from conducting our elections. I will not do anything because of personal interest that would jeopardize the interest of this nation. ”
Jonathan also faulted utterances that was overheating the polity and portraying Nigeria to be at a point of going up in flames.
“When I listen to how some of us politicians talk… but God is supreme this nation will survive”.
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