Jonathan To Buhari: Don’t Blame Me For Your Party’s Self-Inflicted Woes

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines Tuesday, July 22nd, 2014

President Goodluck Jonaatan has accused Former Military Head of state and Chieftain of All Progressive Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari of being economical with the truth and moving away from the patriotic and statesmanlike position he is reputed on national security.

Gen. Mohammadu Buhari, Former Head of State and the leader of the APC

The accusation was made yesterday in a statement by President Jonathan Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati in reaction to a statement attributed to the former Presidential candidate, which indicted Jonathan of instigating impeachment against the opposition Governors and abusing public institutions to achieve his political ambition and his party – People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Abati declared that there was no other explanation or justification for the “unwarranted and very uncharitable assault on the conduct and integrity of Mr. President which the statement he (Buhari) issued today (Monday) represents”.

The statement faulted General Buhari’s grouse which he said was ill-considered, saying it was unfortunate that instead of working to put his house (party) in order, resolve the leadership crises and internal contradictions that have plunged it into a downward spiral, the APC leader and “his opposition allies have resorted to blaming a blameless President for their woes”.

Given the provision of 1999 constitution, Dr Abati affirmed that the President of Nigeria was not assigned any role in the process of impeachment of a governor, adding that President Jonathan therefore certainly has not played any role in the recent sack of former Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa or in the impeachment move currently being pressed against his Nasarawa State counterpart, Umaru Tanko al – Makura.

The President, Abati confirmed was fully committed to upholding the principles and spirit of the Nigerian Constitution as he has sworn and defending the rule of law and integrity of the democratic process with all his might.

The statement further indicated that contrary to General Buhari and other opposition members’ allegation of impunity, the President respected the rights, powers, authority and independence of elected representatives of the people, including the members of the state Assemblies who have concluded or initiated impeachment proceedings against their Governors on grounds they have deemed justifiable.

Dr Abati who insisted that Mr. President did not intervene in the ongoing sack saga, indicated Jonathan has not declared war on his own country or deployed Federal institutions in the service of partisan interests as General Buhari alleged in his statement. He added at no time, has the President ordered that any Nigerian should be kidnapped or be crated and forcefully transported in violation of decent norms of governance.

The President therefore urged General Buhari to tarry a while, ponder over his own antecedents and do a reality check as to whether he has “the moral right to be carelessly sanctimonious,” while putting it back to the opposition leaders, that it was time for them to pull the brakes, in the blaming of President Jonathan for the consequences of their self-inflected political troubles.