The Presidency on Wednesday told the All Progressives Congress that President Goodluck Jonathan could not be stampeded out office.
The Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Prof. Rufai Alkali, said in Abuja while reacting to different claims made by the APC that Jonathan was running the economy aground ahead of the May 29 handover date and that he was embarking on last-minute appointments.
He said Jonathan could not be “stampeded, coerced or undermined” while exercising his constitutional responsibilities.
He argued that the machinery of government could not be put on hold or frozen because the country was in transition.
The presidential aide therefore called on the APC to talk less and plan more as the nation moves towards the inauguration date.
On the allegation that Jonathan was running the economy aground, Alkali said, “The allegation is immature, reckless and out of tune with the President’s desire and patriotic commitment to a peaceful transfer of power.
“Nigerians will recall that shortly after the result of the presidential election was announced, President Goodluck Jonathan inaugurated a high-powered transition committee to plan and organise a hitch-free transition programme for the inauguration of the incoming administration.
“Surprisingly, it took the APC more than three weeks to wake up to its responsibility to constitute its own transition committee. How then can they turn round to accuse the government of frustrating the transition programme?”
Alkali said since the transition committee was set up, the President and the entire machinery of the Federal Government had been put on transition mode.
He said all government officials had been giving maximum cooperation to the transition committee.
He therefore asked the APC to refrain from blackmailing the President over recent Federal Government policies and decisions.
“By the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Jonathan remains in office up to May 29, 2015 when he formally hands over to the incoming President.
“Governance is a serious business. With the sudden and unexpected concession of victory to them, it appears that the APC is beginning to face the full reality of managing the great challenges of a complex nation.”
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