Southerners Living In North To Stay Put, Vote For Jonathan, Says Minister

The Minister of State for Power, Alhaji Mohammed Wakil has Tuesday warned against the fleeing of tens of thousands of residents from the North to South parts of Nigeria to vote during the March 28 and April 11, 2015 general elections; as such “panicky practices” may be counterproductive in electing their leaders of their choice at polls.

The Minister gave the warnings yesterday in Maiduguri, while addressing the Borno state chapter of Christian Youth Coalition and Ohaneze Youth Coalition at a town hall meeting in the metropolis.

He said the Federal Government will protect the lives of all citizens in their states of residences, before, during and after the 2015 general elections in the country. President of the Ohaneze Youth Coalition (OYOC), Borno state chapter ,Chief Ikechukwu Egodike also urged the fleeing residents to the South to stay put, and remain in their respective communities and cast their votes at the forthcoming polls in the 19 Northern states, including the insurgency affected states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.

“Fleeing to run away from the North will deprive many southerners their voting power. The born of contention was that this country belongs to all of us and you must stay and use your votes to elect your preferred leader, so as to move this country forward and compete among the comity of nations in a democratically elected government.

“I also salute your courage in staying back to exercise your voting rights. The North needs Igbos and other non-indigenes. We urge those who have left to return and we appeal to those thinking of leaving to shelve the idea, as such exercise could be counter-productive in unifying the various ethnic and religious groups in the nation.

Wakil continued: “I am happy to hear that you have started

mobilisation for re-election of President Jonathan and Mohammed Imam. A PDP government in Borno will ensure non - indigenes are well represented in government in line with the tradition of this state.” Wakil told the people at the town hall meeting that a vote for President Goodluck Jonathan is a choice for continuous transformation of Nigeria for the better.

According to him, it is in the interest of the North to vote for

Jonathan so that by 2019, the North can commence it's tenure till 2027.

“I have repeatedly warned our people against supporting a one term presidency which General Buhari has committed. A vote for Buahri is a vote for the return of Presidency to the South-West through the backdoor,” warned Wakil On implications of fleeing residents, Egodike said: “Igbos should not run away from North as we should not succumb to intimidation and blackmail. If we run away from North, we are not going to be safe in the South East.

“The APC government is intimidating and harassing us .But we are not shaking. We are mobilising Igbos and other non-indigenes to vote for President Jonathan