President Goodluck Jonathan
By Ike Abonyi in Abuja
The executive, legislature and judiciary have been called on to save Nigeria from imminent disintegration as serious security challenges and unhealthy political intrigues raise the stakes ahead of the 2015 elections.
This urgent position formed the core of the meeting held in Calabar over the weekend, by the Southern Solidarity Forum (SSF), the umbrella platform for all political pressure groups in Southern Nigeria.
In a communiqué by the group signed by its Secretary General, Prof. Henry Onyeke, and made available to THISDAY, the SSF stated that, “severe security and political challenges are pushing our great country to the brink.
“The Southern Solidarity Forum hereby calls on the three tiers of government – the executive, legislature and the judiciary to rise up to their responsibilities and save Nigeria from disintegration.”
The body further called on President Goodluck Jonathan to “as a matter of urgency address the issue of corruption”, noting that “the aforementioned has destroyed the corporate image of Nigeria and has contributed immensely to the dwindling fortunes of millions of Nigerians.”
On the controversial impeachment threat of the president, SSF dismissed the belief in some quarters that it was a northern agenda targeting derailment of the Jonathan administration.
“We hereby condemn the belief in some quarters that it is a northern agenda aimed at derailing his government. SSF hereby commend the president and the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on the patriotic ways they have been handling the issue and urge them not to allow sycophants misguide them.
“We plead with the leadership of the House of Representatives to back-down from their impeachment threat and show patriotism in the interest of peace and stability of the country,” SSF said.
On other fronts, the SSF condemned the raging press war between former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida and prominent Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clerk and appealed to the duo to stop inciting people from their regions.
While acknowledging Babangida’s contribution to unity of Nigeria, the group urged, “our leader and elder stateman Dr. Edwin Cark to use his strong contacts in the north to the benefit of President Goodluck Jonathan and promote peaceful co-existence.”