Akinjide drums support for Jonathan

The former minister expressed concern over crises in his party

A former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Richard Akinjide, has urged Nigerians to give full support to President Goodluck Jonathan for the success of his administration.

Mr. Akinjide, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, made the plea in a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan on Sunday.

The politician, who is a member of the Board of Trustees of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, also expressed frustration over the ongoing decimation of the ranks of party.

“I feel greatly concerned about the crises in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in certain sections of Nigeria. I am particularly concerned with what is going on in the South-West Nigeria,” he said.

While stressing the need to support President Jonathan’s administration, the lawyer said, “We now have one of our brothers from the Niger Delta as the President. I say categorically, without doubt, that we must support him in our national interest. Any contrary move will have negative and serious consequences.”

Speaking on the 37 members of the House of Representatives, who recently defected from the PDP to the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr. Akinjide said that the provision of the Nigerian constitution does not permit them to remain members of the legislative chambers after dropping the party that sponsored them there.

“Section 68. Sub-section I of the Electoral Act 2011 says, “A member of the Senate or of the House of Representatives shall vacate his seat in the House of which he is a member if- (g) being a person whose election to the House was sponsored by a political party, he becomes a member of another political party before the expiration of the period for which that House was elected. The vacation of the seat by the Member is mandatory,” he quoted.

The former minister also blamed the ongoing political crisis plaguing the country, particularly the exodus of PDP members to the rival APC, on greed.

“Excessive greed is dangerous. Nigeria is so large that the game of nations for the government during our time is available to all. The Nigerian nation and economic resources are so enormous that nobody will be left out. In 1910 and 1914, we contracted our marriage. All parts of Nigeria are the beneficiary of that marriage. From Lagos to Ibadan to Maiduguri and from Sokoto to Abuja to Benue and Calabar and from Kano to Benin, the sky is not the limit. I hereby urge all Nigerians to be loyal to Mr. President and to the PDP and to control their personal emotions. Again, I repeat that the PDP must remain as one united political party. We are all in the game of nations,” the statement said.