Jonathan Fires Back at Buhari: You lack moral right to complain about impunity

President Goodluck Jonathan has responded to comments attributed to a former Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari, castigating him for an alleged brutal crackdown on the opposition in the country.



In a statement by his spokesperson, Reuben Abati, Mr. Jonathan described Mr. Buhari’s statement as uncharitable and unwarranted.

The president advised the former head of state not to blame him for his party’s woes.

“We therefore urge General Buhari to tarry a while, ponder over his own antecedents and do a reality check as to whether he has the moral right to be so carelessly sanctimonious,” Mr. Jonathan said.

“It may well be time to pull the brakes, as General Buhari says in his statement, but it is he and others who have resorted to idle scapegoating and blaming President Jonathan for their self-inflected political troubles who need to stop their inexcusable partisanship and show greater regard for the truth, democracy, constitutionalism, the rule of law, peace, security and the well-being of the nation.”

Read full statement below:

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE

DON’T BLAME ME FOR YOUR PARTY’S SELF-INFLICTED WOES – PRESIDENT JONATHAN TELLS BUHARI

We have noted with much surprise and regret, the statement issued by General Muhammadu Buhari today in which he made some wild and totally unsustainable allegations against President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

Although he tries very hard to deny it in the statement titled “Pull Nigeria Back From the Brink”, there can be no doubt that General Buhari has sadly moved away from the patriotic and statesmanlike position he recently adopted on national security, which President Jonathan publicly commended, and has now reverted to unbridled political partisanship.

There can be no other explanation or justification for the completely unwarranted and very uncharitable assault on the conduct and integrity of President Jonathan which the statement he issued today represents.

General Buhari’s main grouse which clearly motivated his ill-considered statement appears to be what he called “the gale of impeachments or the utilisation of desperate tactics to suffocate the opposition and turn Nigeria into a one-party state”.

It is most unfortunate that instead of working to put their house in order and resolve the leadership crises and internal contradictions that have plunged their party into a downward spiral, General Buhari and his opposition allies have resorted to blaming a blameless President for their woes.

The processes for impeaching an elected Governor are clearly stipulated in the National Constitution which Nigeria has operated since 1999. The President of Nigeria is not assigned any role in that process and President Jonathan has certainly not played any role in the recent impeachment of Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa or in the impeachment drama currently being played out in Nasarawa State.

For the record, President remains fully committed to upholding the letters, principles and spirit of the Nigerian Constitution as he has sworn, and defending the rule of law and integrity of the democratic process with all his might.

General Buhari talks about anarchy. He needs to be reminded that President Jonathan from his humble beginnings as a Deputy Governor in Bayelsa state to date, has never in his acts, or utterances, recommended or promoted violence as a tool of political negotiation.

Contrary to whatever General Buhari and his new friends may imagine, President Jonathan fully respects the rights, powers, authority and independence of elected representatives of the people, including the members of the state assemblies who have concluded or initiated impeachment proceedings against their state governors on grounds which they consider justifiable.

The constitution does not give the President any power to intervene in such proceedings and President Jonathan has never arrogated such powers to himself or sought to exert any nefarious and unconstitutional influence on state assemblies in Adamawa, Nasarawa or anywhere else in other to secure undue political advantage for his party as General Buhari unjustifiably alleges.

President Jonathan remains true to his declaration that no political ambition of his is worth the life of a single Nigerian. The President has definitely not declared war on his own country or deployed federal institutions in the service of partisan interests as General Buhari falsely claims. Neither has he been using the common wealth to subvert the system and punish the opposition, as the former Head of State inexcusably asserts.

Also, President Jonathan has never at any time ordered that any Nigerian should be kidnapped or that anyone should be crated and forcefully transported in violation of decent norms of governance.

We therefore urge General Buhari to tarry a while, ponder over his own antecedents and do a reality check as to whether he has the moral right to be so carelessly sanctimonious.

It may well be time to pull the brakes, as General Buhari says in his statement, but it is he and others who have resorted to idle scapegoating and blaming President Jonathan for their self-inflected political troubles who need to stop their inexcusable partisanship and show greater regard for the truth, democracy, constitutionalism, the rule of law, peace, security and the well-being of the nation.

Reuben Abati

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

July 21, 2014
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  1. No reasonable human being can sympathize with Buhari and his kitchen group. They never mean well for this nation and trying to make it ungovernable. Let me tell them that their unguided utterances shall terminate their evil agenda aiming towards this great country Nigeria. Long live right thinking and good people of Nigeria.

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    1. Are u among the right thinking and gud people of this country. If u are among u will tell jonathan to release nigerians from bondage. Firstly asup striked for 13 months asuu for 7 month now nigeria medical doctors. Is looking for how he will indirectly finish the northerners bringing boko haram. U beter wake up from your slumber. Dont allow ritualist to buy.

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    2. Most of you guys has taking this politics to set Nigeria to war,, or problems if I may say,,
      There is never a time a south east insulated sitting northern president the way president Jonathan is been insulted,, you guys should think very well where this will end all of US in time to come,,, we need to work together for our future children,, we need to have a rethink that presidency is for north alone,, you people should nor worry,, but have it in mind that everything is in the heart of the south east all the killings all the bombings are all recorded in our hearts,,
      We give God all the glory

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  2. ungovernable statement should be investigated. Did buhari actually mentioned that?

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  3. But Buhari is a dictator how how can he complian?

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    1. U lack GNS pls go back to school

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  4. Ooh nigeria,what a country. Imagine a “murderer and a common criminals“ like jonathan and he‘s irresponsible cabinet members talking of moral right and impunity,it‘s really shameful to have such a shameless and unreasonable elements as our leaders. Shame on gej and his blind and hypocrites supporters,ooh what a people!

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    1. useless bastard born of a pig! Tarauni the idoit how many innocent soul have u killed today and chanting allahu akubah, useless allah devil worshippers

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    2. And buhari is what???

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  5. What Sardauna said and believed "Truth is the only weapon" should be applied by present politicians. If what General said has beating Jonathan hard as to react, the best way to do it is to show Nigerians by way of making frantic efforts to salvage Nigeria. We are no fools to be woed by political jargons. Who is Reuben to determine what Nigeria should be, allow the President to answer the populace not hiding under. REMEMBER WE ARE BOUND TO ACCOUNT BEFORE THE ALMIGHTY FOR THE STEWARDSHIP ENTRUSTED. You can fool people sometimes, but you cannot fool the people all the time The only way forward is TRUTH AND PURPOSE.it should be allowed to judge..

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  6. Buhari's statement was totally uncalled for. It is out rightly irresponsible. Jonathan hs no blame in the impeachment episodes currently rampaging the opposition camp. The governors ought to reexamine their modus operandi if they intend to remain as governors. There are three arms of government, one of them should not over shadow the other two and expect them to be quite. What we are seeing is the reaction of the legislature and judiciary against the tyranny of the excutive in some states!

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  7. Abati, some years ago you were the same person critizing this Government... How did you change soo fast... Money is powerful Mr. Abati. What is the government doing to cub the BH menace?

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  8. Buhari I believe said and let me just explain in my own words "wahala go dey if dem rig election". This simply means that there will be no wahala as long as rigging no take place and wahala go dey only if rigging occur. Which also means na only rigging go cause wahala. So you have nothing to worry about as long as you don't plan to rig but you have reason to worry and shout as long as you have plans to rig.
    This is common sense but can only be comprehended by he who has common sense and can make good use of it. Thank you

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  9. The Presidentt is not supposed to reply Buhar! ,Well meaning Nigerians are responding to his childish statement. This shows that he has already failed .we thought APC has a good plan for Nigeria not knowing that they are synagogue of Satan planing on how to bring one man down. Making evil motivated statements that is capable of destroying the nation. Other than planing on election and better things for the country. They are Fighting GEJ only one man. Ha ba.! Please note that Jonathan is running Gods agenda and no human can stop him.you better align with God or be destroyed .

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