Former
President, Goodluck Jonathan, on Monday tasked Nigerians to embrace peace and
shun violence ahead of the rescheduled general elections.
Mr Jonathan, who was in Bayelsa, his home state
at the weekend for the polls earlier scheduled for February 16 and March 2 but
postponed by one week to February 23 and March 9, called on Nigerians to remain
peaceful.
Mr Jonathan spoke at a meeting with Niger Delta
Youth Leaders on Monday in Yenagoa, where he urged the electorate to shun vote
buying, instead vote according to their conscience.
“Use of money to induce voters has become very
prevalent in Nigeria.
“It is more pronounced here than many African countries
I have been to monitor elections and it is unhealthy for our development.
“My NGO is however, working on advocacy against
it.
“Politics
should be about the people but anyone who wants to make quick money should go
into business and quit politics, which is all about service to the people.
“People should vote according to the dictates
of their conscience and not be induced by money.
“I have said it several times that no ambition
should be worth spilling of the blood of any Nigerian.
“Peace is fundamental to economic development
and the reports of insecurity and violence scares away investors.
“Anytime someone is killed either by security
agencies or by any other exra judicial means, it affects the reputation of the
country adversely and that is why peace building is very essential, especially
with the youth.
“Our youths are critical in our democracy
because the future belongs to them, so, my advice is that we should be patient
and shun violence in the coming elections,” Mr Jonathan said.
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