President’s Victory End To Ethnic Politics

A cross section of Nigerians have hailed the victory of President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2011 presidential elections, saying it represents a new dawn in the political evolution of Nigeria.

Reacting to the victory in an interview with The Tide in Port Harcourt, yesterday, the stakeholders said the victory of Jonathan at the polls signalled the end of  ethnic politics in the country.

Last Monday, the Attaihuri Jega-led Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared President Jonathan as the winner of the presidential elections with 22,495,187 votes, while his  closest rival, Mohammadu Buhari polled 12, 214, 853 votes.

Declaring Jonathan the winner, Jega said the PDP presidential candidate won 25 per cent in 31 states plus the FCT seven states more than the  mandatory constitutional requirement of 24 states, while Buhari scored 25 per cent in 16 states and  the FCT.

Excited over the victory, Senator George Thompson Sekibo representing, Rivers East Senatorial district at the National Assembly said the election of President Jonathan represents the determination of Nigerians to put an end to ethnic politics and support for any leader that will deliver democratic dividence that would promote their well being.

Senator Sekibo, who was re-elected, said Jonathan receiving more than 25 per cent of the votes in 31 states and FCT shows that Nigerians have kept their promise to elect a humble committed and detribalised leader.

The Executive Director of the Centre for Development and Support Initiatives (CEPS), Mrs Mina Ogbanaga attributed the success story of Jonathan at the polls to hardwork and determination .

Also speaking, the Secretary of Rivers State Female Aspirants Forum, Mrs Asele Abigo Tshuinza, said that the victory has shown that there is no more minorities in Nigeria.

“There is always a time when God directly intervenes in the affairs of men. I believe that this time, God has heard the cries of the minorities and has decided to choose a son to lead and transform Nigeria, West declared.

The former Director-General, State Security Service (SSS), Chief Albert K. Horsfall while commending the transparency of the conduct of the Saturday’s presidential election in the country, said the process and subsequent declaration of the results has rekindled hope that the democracy has come to stay.

The former SSS boss who is also the chairman of the Social Rehabilitation Committee in Rivers State also commended the youths of the Niger Delta for not  retaliating the violence that occurred in some parts of the northern states, adding that this has shown that they embraced the amnesty programme of the federal government.

Former ACN leader in the state, Prince Tonye Princewill said Nigerians voted for Goodluck Jonathan because of his personality and his commitment in the past 10 months to restore the lost glory of Nigeria.

Princewill said the election of Jonathan was not the  wide acceptance of the PDP but the peoples appreciation for his transparency in the system even as he condemned the post-election violence that erupted in some parts of the north.

The traditional ruler, Eze Ekpeye Logbo, Eze Robinson O. Robinson and NULGE, Rivers State Chapter Chairman, Barr. Franklin Ajinwo agreed that Jonathan’s victory was well-deserved.

“President Jonathan has shown within the short period he has been in office that he is equal to the task of governing our great nation. Under him, there has been improvement of power from what it used to be; perennial fuel scarcity is now history as the long queues at filling stations have disappeared for good, workers welfare have been improved upon. And we can all see his humility and sincerity of purpose so he deserves to win for him to do more for the nation,” the Ekpeye monarch said.

Eze Robinson, a former Chairman, Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers however thanked their counterparts in the North for the rallying support for Jonathan at the election, describing it as unprecedented in the history of Nigeria.

Ajinwo, said Jonathan’s victory was not unexpected, going by his track- record within his relatively short stay in office as president and advised him to double his efforts at recording more achievements for the country.

He challenged Jonathan to rise to the challenge of revamping the economy especially in the power sector  as well as ensuring that members of his new cabinet are those who truly believe in his vision of a great Nigeria

He also made case for industrial development of the country as well as the need to ensure the automony of local government

Let him ensure that he boosts the industrial development of this country by tackling the power sector. It is not an impossible thing for Nigeria to have steady electricity.