I have No Intention Of Staying Beyond May 29 If I Lose March 28 Elections, President Jonathan Says

President Goodluck Jonathan has debunked rumours being peddled on the social media insinuating that he intends to hold onto the presidency at all cost, by saying that he will handover to his opponent should he lose the forthcoming presidential election next month.

The president made his intention public on Wednesday in a live media chat which commenced at 7pm and was broadcast on the Broadcast Organization of Nigeria (BON) stations.

President Jonathan said, "Let me assure Nigerians that a new government will be formed on May 29.

"The rumour that I will not hand over or that I am scheming to prolong my tenure are insinuations; they are not true. Those are insinuations; it is quite unfortunate that so much wrong information is floating in the system."

President Jonathan recalled the commitments he made during the build-up to the general elections in 2011 when he insisted then that he would vacate Aso Rock should he lose. He equally mentioned then that he was determined to conduct a free and fair election.

President Jonathan said, "In 2011, I said I will conduct a free and fair election and that if I lose, I will happily move on and that it should be recorded.

"Then I just concluded the late President Umaru Yar'Adua's tenure. I said I will be happy to go if I lose. I said this nation is more important than anybody. Anyone who wants to hold the office of President and feels he is more important than the nation is not right.

"So if as of 2011, I made a commitment that if I lose I will go, it should tell you more about my stand on free and fair elections.

"But now, Nigerians have given me the opportunity to be here for four good years and so if the elections are conducted and I lose, of course, we will inaugurate a new government.

Anyway, the president has spoken; critics and speculators are eagerly waiting to see if Mr President fulfills and keeps to his promises this time around.

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