The youth wing of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has said that President Goodluck Jonathan’s timely acceptance of defeat in last Saturday’s presidential election saved Nigeria from bloodbath and political chaos.
The National President, Ohanaeze Youth Council, Mazi Isiguzoro, who stated this in an interview with our correspondent in Umuahia, said that if Jonathan had not conceded defeat at the time he did, Nigeria would have been up in flames by now.
He said that some retrogressive elements had prepared to unleash mayhem on the country had the presidential election result gone the other way round.
Isiguzoro, however, commended Jonathan for his courage and pro -activeness in averting the looming danger.
According to him, Jonathan had, by his action, demonstrated regard for the peace and unity of Nigeria above his personal interest.
He also urged politicians who lost in the last elections to emulate Jonathan’s forthrightness.
Describing the President’s action as a fillip to the growth of democracy in Nigeria, Isiguzoro pledged the continued support of Igbo youths to him despite the unfavourable outcome of the poll.
“We have no regret for supporting him and his rare sacrifice for the survival of Nigeria’s democracy shall ever be appreciated,” he said.
Isiguzoro, therefore, called on the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, to see the entire country as his constituency, urging that nobody or section(s) of the country should be vilified for their political choice.
He urged that the good policies of Jonathan’s administration should be sustained in the overall interest of the country.
He also advised the in-coming administration to focus more on things that would engender national cohesion and “deepen our evolving democracy.”
Isiguzoro particularly asked that the report of the national conference should not be jettisoned but implemented as quickly as possible so as not to rubbish the efforts and quality contributions of the conferees.
