Ibibio Reacts Over Jonathan’s Speech

… Says anyone can run 2011 election

 By Christian George

The two day working visit embarked upon by the President of and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has not only created impact on the state but has caused a lot of reactions due to his intelligence response to questions asked by the people of the state as well as countering the believes of the people.

            Majority of persons had already propounded in their minds the areas which they would want the Chief Security Officer of the Country to touch but alas, they discovered that the joints which they considered as being very salient were carefully avoided by the President.

            Also, many have expressed satisfaction over Jonathan’s deliberate refusal to mention whom he feels should run for gubernatorial election come 2011 in Akwa Ibom State, stating that such a speech would have caused a great fight in the land after the President’s departure.   

            In an interview with the Ntisong Ibibio, His Eminence, Dr. Essien Ekidem, during the funeral service of Late Chief Etim Effiong Udo of Ikot Obio Odongo, Ibesikpo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State recently. He noted that he was delighted as the President did not mention who will run for 2011 in the state.

            Ntisong Ekidem who was represented at the funeral by Mkpisong George Udofia described the President as a very intelligent fellow who did not pronounce who would run because that would have caused a great fight on the land after the President’s visit.

            The Ntisong Ibibio who spoke to Century Newsfront in Ibibio dialet thanked Dr. Jonathan for carefully avoiding to make such a statement as it would have caused a great problem on the land.

            In his statement, “I was very happy though, some people sat down and prepared to hear the President say that he is appointing this one or the other, or it is this person that would take the position which he can never do that in this state. The President is a very intelligent person. He is very very intelligent. He avoided making such a statement so that when he leaves, we will fight and die over it. So, it was a very good thing”.

            He saw politics as a play which anyone could join and that it is open to everybody. He added that anyone who wishes could run is qualified and should go ahead.

“2011, that thing is a game, politics is a game and is opened to everybody, any one who wishes, so far he or she is qualified”, he stated.

            He, however, advised the younger ones to always respect the leaders in their environment as it was in the years of old, pointing out that as they are young today, they would be old some day.

            He reiterated that youths should not engage in activities that would stand against them in the future, as that would not create a good way for them because if the person who is supposed to take them higher recalls the negative treats exhibited by them, the fellow may not be wiling to help them anymore.  

            He said that youths “should not let someone tell them, remember what you did to me.  It is not a good statement. Youths of nowadays do not even respect the elders, saying till you die, you may not drive the kind of car l am driving. Is that a good statement? He queried. It was not done that way. Youths should change their way of life”, He advised.

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