The president of the United States, Barack Obama, on Monday March
23, sent a special message to Nigerians regarding the upcoming elections, urging that the voting exercise
be carried out peacefully.
Here are
five quotes from Obama’s message that members of the All Progressives Congress
(APC) are very uncomfortable with:
1. “Nigeria is a great nation and you can be proud of the progress
you’ve made.”
Obama acknowledges that Nigeria has made tremendous progress
that we can be proud of. Listening to the APC’s message you would think that
Nigeria is not working, and Obama rightly points out that we have made progress
under the present Jonathan administration.
Who would want uncertain change over the chance to keep
progressing?
2. “Together, you won your independence, emerged from military
rule, and strengthened democratic institutions.”
Read the quote again. Obama says there is no going back to
military rule. Do we want to go back to being bound by the shackles of
dictatorship? Buhari says he is a “reformed democrat” but as we all know a
leopard doesn’t change its spots.
3. “You’ve worked hard to improve the lives of your families and
to build the largest economy in Africa.”
Contrary to all the lies that the APC has been trying to sell,
our economy is progressing, and it did not become the largest economy in Africa
by chance but by the good policies of the Jonathan administration. Obama states
this fact whilst acknowledging that the lives of Nigerians have improved, and
thereby showing the APC to be liars.
4. “Violence has no place in democratic elections — and that they
will not incite, support or engage in any kind of violence — before, during, or
after the votes are counted.”
When violence is mentioned, Nigerians cannot extricate General
Buhari from his famous statement before the 2011 elections and his famous
silence after his supporters went wild. The Blood of Dog and Baboon statement
recently made concerning the 2015 elections still echoes deeply. The APC is
threatening a parallel government also… Obama’s speech is a clear warning
against that.
5. “Boko Haram wants to destroy Nigeria and all that you have
worked to build. By casting your ballot, you can help secure your nation’s
progress.”
Secure your nation’s progress. Don’t change your fortunes.
Obama’s call on Nigeria to secure our progress is like a call to
retain President Jonathan under whose presidency this progress has been
achieved. As it is ill advised to change a commander-in-chief during war,
Nigerians must fight together and eliminate Boko Haram with the armed
forces who are presently winning the war and sustain this momentum.
Obama also
said: ”in
this task of advancing the security, prosperity, and human rights of all
Nigerians, you will continue to have a friend and partner in the United States
of America.”
Lest we forget, Nigerians are still much aware of the flagrant
violation of human rights under General Buhari, resulting in a rupture in
diplomatic relations with the UK and others.
What other areas of this Obama speech do you think the APC is
uncomfortable with? Watch below:
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