By Emmanuel Nduka
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has congratulated all presidential aspirants vying for the nation’s most exalted seat in 2023.
In a statement posted on his social media platforms on Thursday, the former Bayelsa State Governor congratulated winners of “various primaries across the political spectrum, particularly Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu who has won the presidential primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC)”.
He also greeted “Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Malik Ado-Ibrahim, Young Progressives Party (YPP), Chief Dan Nwanyanwu, Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Dumebi Kachikwu, African Democratic Congress (ADC) as well as Adewole Adebayo of the Social Democratic Party (SDP)”.
He further urged the aspirants to conduct their campaigns “in a manner devoid of acrimony, divisiveness and treachery so that at the end of the day Nigeria will win, democracy will triumph and humanity will be better for it”.
Jonathan told the aspirants to imbibe the virtue of democrats and see Nigeria as a common heritage which they must all strive to protect, prosper and preserve for the future generation.
The icon of peace noted that Nigeria is at a critical junction in its march to nationhood, even as it grapples with security and economic challenges, adding that “the 2023 elections present an opportunity to renew our union, rebuild the dreams of our founding fathers and revitalise our economy”.
“As you progress towards the electioneering campaigns, it is important that the issues confronting the country and credible solutions take centre stage.
“As I have always said, no ambition is worth the life of another. As candidates, you must eschew violence and acts that will encourage any form of bloodletting or exacerbate the national fault lines. We live in a season of unprecedented violence and all political leaders have a responsibility to de-escalate the tension in the country. The candidates by conduct and language must prioritise non-violence and peaceful coexistence,” he added.
