Presidency to APC: You can’t stampede Jonathan out of office

The presidency on Wednesday warned the All Progressives
Congress (APC) to talk less and plan more as the nation
moves towards the 29th May inauguration ceremony between
President Goodluck Jonathan and president-elect, General
Muhammadu Buhari.
The warning was given by the Special Adviser to the President
on Political Affairs, Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali.
Prof. Alkali”s warning was sequel to the alarm raised by the
All Progressives Congress, APC, that President Jonathan is
running the economy aground before handing.
According to Alkali, “the allegation is immature, reckless and
out of tune with the President’s desire and patriotic
commitment to a peaceful transfer of power”.
Alkali , in a press statement in Abuja, said, “Nigerians will
recall that shortly after the results of the Presidential elections
were announced, President Goodluck Jonathan inaugurated a
high powered transition committee to plan and organize a
hitch free transition programme for the inauguration of the
incoming administration.
“Surprisingly, it took the APC more than three weeks to wake
up to its responsibility to constitute its own transition
committee.
“How then can they turn round to accuse the government of
frustrating the transition programme?, he asked
The Special Adviser to the President on Politics reminded the
APC that “since the setting up of the committee, the President
and the entire machinery of the Federal Government have
been put on the transition mode and all government officers
have been giving maximum cooperation to the incoming
transition committee”.
He therefore cautioned the APC to refrain from blackmailing
the President over recent Federal Government policies and
decisions saying that “by the Constitution of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria, President Jonathan remains in office up to
the 29th of May 2015 when he formally hands over to the
incoming President”.
Alkali further warned that the President should not be
stampeded, coerced or undermined in the exercise of his
constitutional responsibilities.
According to him, “the machinery of government cannot be
put on hold or frozen because the country is in transition”.
On the allegations that government is running the economy
aground, Prof. Alkali reminded APC that “governance is a
serious business.
He added that with the sudden and unexpected concession of
victory to them, it appears that the APC is beginning to face
the full reality of managing the great challenges of a complex
nation”.
The Political Adviser observed that the APC’s “recent, frequent
and unnecessary attacks on the President clearly shows that
they are losing their nerves and are beginning to lay the
foundation to justify their failures in the near future”
He added, “and we want to remind them that Nigerians are
not ready to accept any excuses for their failure.
“They promised to bring change so they must bring positive
change to the well being of Nigerians and urgently too”.
Prof. Alkali urged the APC to give space to the joint transition
committee to work in harmony to ensure a peaceful and
seamless transition.