We haven’t started Jonathan’s re-election campaign – GEJites reply APC

From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

Supporters of President Goodluck Jonathan under the aegis of GEJites Volunteers yesterday said it has not commenced campaigns for his re-election as alleged by the All Progressive Congress APC.

GEJites Chairman and National Coordinator, Chief Anthony Tosan Prest while reacting to APC allegation said the group was only mobilizing support for who they think could solve the country’s problems.

He said the group was aware of the electoral guidelines as stipulated by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The APC in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, has described as utterly callous and insensitive the ongoing campaign by GEJites for the President’s re-election at the same spot where the ‘bring back our girls’ campaigners have been staging daily protests demanding the safe return of the over 200 Chibok girls.

The group said it strongly believed that Jonathan has been the hardest working President ever produced by the country and will be the best loved president of Nigereria ever, hence; the reason for the support.

Prest noted that Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda’s policies on governance is already tackling most development challenges such as poverty, unemployment, security and deplorable state of infrastructure.

He said: “The APC should know Nigeria is a free country and everyone has the right to support whoever he or she wants, even the freedom of association is guaranteed. The same right that ‘bring back our girls’ protesters have is exactly the same we Gejites have to seek volunteers in support of the President’s efforts to bring back the girls and rule Nigeria perfectly.

“These people should know it is not Jonathan who kidnapped the girls. The President already said he has remained quiet about the continuing efforts by Nigeria’s military, police and investigators to find the girls kidnapped in April from the town of Chibok by the terrorist group Boko Haram.

 “He expressed his deep concern and that his silence as his administration works to accomplish the task at hand is being misused by partisan critics to suggest inaction or even weakness.

“He also noted that his silence has been necessary to avoid compromising the details of ongoing investigation. Jonathan has assured that his government, security and intelligence services have spared no resources, have not stopped and will not stop until the girls are returned home and the thugs who took them are brought to justice,” Prest stated.