Jonathan to rioters: Enough is enough : Judicial inquiry coming

 

He said, “As President, it is my solemn duty to defend the constitution of this country.  That includes the obligation to protect the lives and properties of every

 

People fleeing for fear of reprisal attacks take refuge at the
 Onitsha military barracks in Anambra State, yesterday.

 To all those youths who have been rioting in many states to protest the outcome of last Saturday’s presidential elections, newly-re-elected President Goodluck Jonathan handed down a stern warning this morning: Enough is Enough! He spoke in a televised broadcast this morning on the post-election crisis. Saying he will invoke his full powers as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to deal with the crisis, Jonathan also promised to set up a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to look into the post-presidential election violence and bring to justice those involved in the mayhem.

Nigerian wherever they choose to live.

“I will defend the right of all citizens to freely express their democratic choice anywhere in this country; to enjoy every freedom and opportunity that this country can offer without let or hindrance. I assure all Nigerians that I will do so with all powers at my disposal as President, Commander-in-Chief.

The President described the current unrest as a reminder of the events that led to the Nigerian civil war of 1967-70. He said the intention of the rioters and their sponsors was to frustrate next week’s governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections billed for Tuesday, April 26. The elections will go on as scheduled, he said.

Dr. Jonathan also said in view of the attacks on corps members in some places, he has directed state governors to take personal responsibility for their security and safety of corpers in the states where they serve and he directed security agencies to use “justifiable force to bring an immediate end to all acts of violence.”

“I have directed that the perpetrators of these dastardly acts of violence and all those who seek to continue to breach the peace and stability of this nation must be fished out and made to face the full weight of the law. In this regard, a Judicial Commission of Inquiry will be constituted to look into the immediate and remote causes of this recent tide of unrest,” the President said.

He also said, “This Administration had taken practical steps to ensure the attainment of its goal of delivering free, fair and credible elections. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was reconstituted with credible and non-partisan people to the acclaim of Nigerians and the international community. Despite a few challenges, the new INEC has provided an atmosphere for the conduct of credible elections right from the review of the voters register to the Presidential elections which took place last Saturday.

“Sadly, some misguided elements do not share in the spirit of our democratic achievements.  They formed into groups of miscreants; and struck with deadly and destructive force in some parts of the country.

“They killed and maimed innocent citizens.  They set ablaze business premises, private homes and even places of worship.  In some cases, they showed utter disrespect to all forms of authority, including our most revered traditional institutions. They systematically targeted population groups.  They singled out and harassed nationalistic politicians.  They intimidated travellers.

“The mobs also targeted government offices and facilities, especially those of INEC.  They waylaid vulnerable Youth Corps members even though we all know that these young and innocent Nigerians are guests within our communities and are agents of public good and national unity.

“We are shocked by these horrific acts which strike at the heart of our nation. These disturbances are more than mere political protests.  Clearly, they aim to frustrate the remaining elections.  This is not acceptable.

“If anything at all, these acts of mayhem are sad reminders of the events which plunged our country into thirty months of an unfortunate civil war. As a nation we are yet to come to terms with the level of human suffering, destruction and displacement, including that of our children to far-away countries, occasioned by those dark days.

“In recent years, we have also witnessed other acts of intolerance, violence and destruction of human life perpetrated by unpatriotic elements for no justifiable reason.  Indeed, the nation still bears some of the scars of other similar events like the aftermath of the June 12th 1993 elections that brought our polity to the brink. It is inconceivable therefore, that there are some in our midst who seek to re-enact a stalemate in the political process.

“On behalf of all Nigerians, I express heart-felt condolences to the victims of this violence. I lament the loss of lives; destruction of means of livelihood; the burning of homes and places of worship “All Nigerians should therefore go about their businesses without fear and exercise their franchise on April 26th to vote for candidates of their choice in the next round of elections.

“To those who persist in sowing the seeds of discord, I say – You may hurt and bring grief to some innocent families momentarily, but you will never succeed in stopping our transformational journey: a journey that will lead this country, by the grace of God, to emerge stronger, more prosperous and more united.

“A nation where the bonds of our common aspirations and goals will spur and re-energize our resolve towards greatness. A nation where our children from North and South, East and West will grow with hope and live together as brothers, sisters and friends.  Let us always remember that we are all part of a shared destiny.”

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