We will not tolerate crime in the polity – Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has warned politicians against committing crime in the guise of politics.

He said the government would not tolerate a situation where politicians commit crime and cover it up with politics. According to him, people who commit crime must be fished out by law enforcement agents to face the wrath of the law.

He spoke during the rally of the Peoples Democratic Party in Gombe State.

Jonathan said, “One thing I can assure you and I can tell Nigerians is that we will not allow anybody to use politics to cover crime. If you commit crime, whether it will take the law enforcement agency, a day, one week, one month, two months or six months, we must track you until you are arrested. Nobody can commit crime and cover it under the umbrella of politics. Politics is not criminality. It is a serious business where people sell ideas and people who reason with you will vote for you.

“If you use force and you become president, it means the opposition, civil society and even journalists will go on exile. Let us learn to flow together. Let us sell our ideas to the electorate. Let the Nigerian electorate decide their leaders. Nobody should force himself or herself on Nigerians.”

He warned against politics of intolerance, adding that the government would always promote the harmonious existence of people regardless of their religious inclination. He also urged Nigerians to continue to live together peacefully.

Jonathan promised Gombe residents that if voted into power, his government would create more jobs, empower the youths, boost agricultural activities, improve on power and irrigation as well as ensure security of lives and property.

He said priority would be accorded to education as according to him, it is crucial for industrialisation and the realisation of Vision 20:2020.

The President said more investment would be made in the petrochemical industry as well as the power sector.

Jonathan said, “We stand for the unity of this country. We stand for love. We will not discriminate against anybody because of religion and place of origin, God put all Nigerians together. We are going to use our diversity for the development of our country. We are not going to use it for destructive purposes.”