Northern politicians opposed to the re‑election of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 have no power to stop him from running for a second term in office, former Petroleum Minister, a Professor Jubril Aminu, warned, yesterday.
The former petroleum minister said while it was proper for people to hold their views in a democratic setting, it was wrong for some elements to cause avoidable political rancour over a matter that did not warrant any protracted argument.
He pointed out that any Northerner who wanted to stop Jonathan from getting a second term should not try to stop him by stoking unnecessary debate, which the law court could settle, but should go to the poll to vote against him.
Aminu said: “I don’t support the argument that Jonathan has the right or not to contest in 2015. That is not the issue because you cannot stop him from exercising his political right.
“But I want to say that instead of arguing whether Jonathan is qualified or not, let those opposed to him use the ballot box to vote him out during the election.
“If those opposed to him can muster enough votes to prevent him from winning, will the President not stand down?” he asked.
Aminu, who spoke exclusively to Vanguard in Abuja, claimed that most of those parading themselves as Northern politicians opposed to Jonathan’s re‑election, did not represent the voice of the northers, but their selfish interest.
BY SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North
