President Jonathan this morning addressed the
nation in a TV broadcast where he called on
everyone to come out en-mass to vote for leaders
of their choice. What he said below...
Dear Compatriots,
1. As we prepare to go to the polls tomorrow, I
have come before you this morning to express my
immense appreciation for the opportunity you
gave me to lead this great nation of ours in the
past four years.
2. I also wish to place on record, once again, my
sincere gratitude for the support you have given
my administration without which the significant
progress we have made in recent years would not
have been possible.
3. In spite of the many challenges we have had to
contend with since 1999, our present democratic
dispensation continues to endure and grow
stronger in keeping with the yearnings and
aspirations of our people.
4. We have all worked very hard to nurture and
strengthen our democratic institutions and
promote the good governance practices which
they were designed to deliver for the better well-
being of our people.
5. I believe I can say without fear of contradiction
that we all clearly cherish the democracy we now
have and will never willingly give it up for any
other form of governance.
6. This much-cherished democracy of ours is
about to be put to the test once again.
7. I urge you all to troop out en-masse to
peacefully perform your civic duty of voting for
leaders of your choice tomorrow.
8. As we do so, let us all - political party leaders,
contestants, party members, party agents,
supporters and ordinary voters alike, be very
conscious of the fact that the eyes of the entire
world are on us.
9. We must therefore comport ourselves in a
manner that will further strengthen our democracy
and consolidate our place in the comity of truly
democratic nations.
10. I made a commitment on assumption of office
to progressively deliver freer, fairer and more
credible elections in our country. In keeping with
that commitment, the Federal Government has
given the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) all necessary support to
ensure that it conducts very successful elections
tomorrow and on April 11.
11. We have all been assured that INEC is fully
ready for the elections. I believe that we can all
trust that they are certainly more ready now than
they may have been before security issues and
other concerns necessitated a re-scheduling of
the dates for the 2015 general elections.
12. As an administration, we welcome the fact
that millions of Nigerians who were yet to receive
their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) as at
February 14, and would therefore have been
unfairly disenfranchised if the polls had gone
ahead on that date, have seized the opportunity
of the re-scheduling to collect their cards and can
now exercise their right to vote tomorrow.
13. We are also glad that our gallant Armed
Forces have successfully stemmed the seizure of
Nigerian territories in the North-East by the
terrorist group, Boko Haram.
14. They have recaptured most of the
communities and territories formerly occupied by
the insurgents, making it possible for thousands
of internally-displaced Nigerians to begin
returning to their homes and communities.
15. I heartily commend the very courageous men
and women of our Armed Forces for the immense
sacrifices which they continue to make in
defending the nation and protecting its citizens.
16. I also thank all Nigerians for keeping faith
with us over the past six weeks.
17. I call on all political parties and politicians in
the country to allow the free, unfettered will of
our people to be expressed without any hindrance
in the coming elections in keeping with the
hallowed principles and tenets of democratic
governance which we all profess.
18. The will of the people freely expressed
through the ballot is the bedrock of all
democracies and ours cannot be an exception.
19. Let us all therefore be prepared, as true
democrats, to graciously accept the outcome of
the elections as the rightful choice of our people
from whom all political powers in our democracy
must emanate.
20. My administration has done its utmost best in
the past four years to deliver on our promise to
positively transform our country.
21. Tomorrow’s election is another very
important milestone as we continue our march
towards the fulfillment of our God-given potential
for greatness.
22. The election offers us another opportunity to
empower leaders of our choice once again, and to
show the world that genuine democracy is alive
and well in our beloved nation.
23. I will like to restate my belief that no political
ambition can justify violence or the shedding of
the blood of our people.
24. I reaffirm once again, my personal
preparedness to ensure fair play during the
elections and to deploy the resources and
institutions of state only in the manner prescribed
by our laws.
25. Let me warn, however, that as President,
Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, I am
under oath to protect the lives of all Nigerians
and the security of our country at all times. I will
never abdicate my responsibilities in that regard.
26. Democracy allows dissent. It encourages
differences and even fervent disagreements. But
elections must never be mistaken for war or an
opportunity to set fellow citizens against each
other and tear our beloved nation apart.
27. Those who may harbor any intentions of
testing our will by unleashing violence during the
elections in order to advance their political
ambitions should think again as all necessary
measures have been put in place to ensure that
any persons who breach the peace or cause
public disorder during or after the elections are
speedily apprehended and summarily dealt with
according to our laws.
28. The nation’s security agencies are also fully
prepared and ready to deal decisively with any
group or persons who attempt to disrupt the
peaceful conduct of the elections or cause any
form of public disorder.
29. Our dear country, Nigeria is the largest
democracy amongst black nations of the world.
We are a nation of great accomplishments, with a
proud history of evolving affinities.
30. Let us go out tomorrow to vote peacefully
and set a fitting example of political maturity for
other emerging democracies to follow.
31. I wish you all and our dear nation, very
peaceful and successful elections.
32. May God Almighty continue to bless the
Federal Republic of Nigeria.
33. I thank you all.
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