Speaking yesterday at a press Conference in Lusaka, Zambia, the former President urged politicians contesting various positions in the country’s August 11 general elections to accept results of the poll and avoid violence.
Jonathan is in Zambia as the Head of the African Union Election Observers.
His comment was contained in a statement by his media aide, Mr. Ikechukwu Eze.
According to Jonathan, “Politicians going in for elective positions should be open-minded about the outcome because they can either win or lose. Politicians who want to play meaningful roles in governance should realise that it is not about them. Those who care only about themselves should quit politics and begin to manage personal businesses.
“Our states are not private enterprises. You cannot be interested in governance without sufficient interest in the affairs of the people. So the interest of the country should come first as politicians tick their priority boxes.
“This also requires politicians to accept the outcome of genuine elections because of the interest of the people. You cannot instigate violence and mayhem on the one hand and pretend that you are fighting for the people on the other. It does not make any sense to get involved in bloodshed, destroy properties, frustrate businesses and collapse the economy in order to win elections. Our advice is to put public interest above other expectations by accepting the results of elections.”
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