Jonathan: Votes’ll Count in 2011

Written by This Day Saturday, 01 May 2010

Acting President Goodluck Jonathan has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring that the votes of Nigerians count in the 2011 elections.

Speaking yesterday while receiving the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria led by its President, Most Rev. Felix Alaba Job, Jonathan assured Nigerians of his administration's commitment to free and fair election, noting that the era where a group of people would appoint certain individuals into elective offices in the name of election is gone for good.

While commending the Bishops and the Catholic Secretariat for the role they played  in monitoring elections in the country, the Acting President called on Christians and Nigerians not to accept any compromises in the forthcoming elections.
Jonathan said the issue of corruption was quite worrisome and government is determined to do what it can to reduce cankerworm in the country.

He charged Nigerians to get involved in the fight against the monster which he said is the bane of development in the country, saying “I fully believe that corruption could be reduced if all of us get involved in the war against corruption in any little way we can”.
He also commended the Catholic Church for its commitment to the development of the education sector in the country, noting that many schools in the country were once owned by missions and urged the religious bodies to continue as this would equip the younger generation for the task of nation building.
He thanked the Bishops for their fervent prayers for unity and peace in the nation.

In his remarks, Most Rev. Alaba-Job commended the Acting President for strengthening the anti-corruption agencies as he steers the affairs of the country.

The cleric also commended Jonathan for his pledge to ensure free and fair elections in 2011 and the positive steps taken by government to control militancy in the Niger Delta through the amnesty programme. “I encourage government to provide social amenities for the people of Niger Delta as a way of ending crisis in the region”, the Bishop added.

Alaba-Job then urged the Federal Government not to shield the perpetrators of the Jos crisis and reports of various committees set up to investigate the Jos and other crises should be published and implemented.
While praying for ailing President Yar’Adua, the Bishops renewed their commitment to continue to pray for Nigeria.