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| Doyin Okupe |
As the country prepares for the 2015 general election, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe has said President Goodluck Jonathan is not desperate to seek re-election.
Okupe also informed the public that as a politician, he never engaged in election rigging for himself or anyone, thus, politicians should avoid 'do or die' politics and seek alternative platforms to persuade the electorates.
The Presidential aide spoke at the 4th Annual Public Lecture and Award Ceremony of Nigerian Pilot Newspaper, held in Abuja.
"We struggle for power blind folded and it is not a national struggle. It is not an ideological struggle but a personal struggle.
"Every time we need to fight for power, it is do or die, me or nobody and that is why we have not make too much progress. I am part of it. I am not removing myself. These are my thoughts. I feel political parties should offer alternative platforms to cast their ballots. I have never ever...i have contested virtually all elections, i have won very few but i have never ever rigged election for myself or for anybody. I have never done it.
"As a matter of fact, the greatest problem we will have post 2015, will be the acceptance of defect by whoever loses. Aside, President Jonathan is not desperate for power. I still took breakfast with him this morning," Okupe said.
He advised politicians to work for interest of the masses, rather than selfish interests.
He emphasised that the political class should showcase a new perspective to politics, adding that President Goodluck Jonathan was not desperate to win the 2015 presidential election.
"If you are a politician, canvass for votes and let the people decide," he said.
Reacting to statements credited to the major opposition party that it will run a parallel government, Okupe said it was wrong for the party to make such statement especially when the 2015 election was yet to be conducted.
"We have not undergone election, people are saying they will form parallel government. parallel to what? supposing you win, when you have not started an election and you have assumed you are going to lose and that when you lose, you will form parallel government," he said.
Okupe kicked against allegations that President Jonathan was floating insecurity to postpone the 2015 election, without an clear evidence from the opposition parties.
He restated that the people would rather vote for re-election of Jonathan than voting for the former Head of State, Gen. Muhammad Buhari
Earlier, the Publisher, Pilot Newspaper, Prince Dennis Sami described publishing as a difficult business venture and attributed his success to commitment and dedication.
He attributed continuity of the publication to proper staff welfare and selfless service to the profession.
In his lecture titled, Nigeria After 2015: Issues and Challenges, the Chairman, Nigerian Law Reform Commission, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor disclosed that insurgency will not disrupt the 2015 election.
He called for collective efforts to end the insurgency.
The former Edo State Governor listed corruption, intra-party crises, dwindling foreign exchange reserve, declining oil revenue earnings, failing educational standard as some of the issues government promptly visit.
Personalities awarded at the event were; Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, Managing Director, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Gimba Ya'u Kumo, Former Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi among others.
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