Ex-militant leaders from nine states of the South-South geo-political zone have dumped elements of threat and force, and have now opted for persuasion in their quest to see their kinsman, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, re-elected as Nigeria's President on March 28.

Widespread condemnation had trailed the ex-militants when they met last month in the Government House, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, and threatened war, should Jonathan lose his re-election bid.

The ex-militants are now calling on eligible voters in the country to vote and support the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan based on the noticeable achievements of the present administration.

Under the aegis of the Leadership, Peace and Cultural Development Initiatives (LPCDI), they are urging the electorate to support and vote for the president based on the achievement of his administration in the areas of education, power, infrastructural development and security.

After a meeting, presided over by the group’s National Coordinator, Pastor Reuben Wilson a.k.a General Pastor Reuben, in Yenagoa, they called on eligible voters to shun the use of hate words and violent utterances among political actors. They also deliberated on issues of performance and qualification for the office of the President.

“We resolved to call on Nigerians, particularly eligible voters, to rate the candidates for the presidential election based on performance and eligibility.

“President Goodluck Jonathan has done well and he should be voted in by Nigerians for second term. They should assess him based on performance and not the region he comes from.

“Jonathan has done well. Why are people opposing him? Is it because he comes from the Niger- Delta? Would they have shown so much hatred and insincerity if he had come from the Northern part of the country?

“The people of the South-South and the Niger-Delta are feeling bad over the rising insults and poor rating in spite of the huge achievements of the present administration. We advise the opposition party and General Buhari to come out open and declare that President Goodluck Jonathan has done well,” General Pastor Reuben said.

The ex-militants noted that the Amnesty programme under him has ensured that over 3,000 youths are trained, while scholarships and skills acquisition schemes had absorbed the hitherto restive youths.

They applauded Jonathan in the battle against insurgency with the proper procurement of arms and ammunition for the military.

According to them, President Jonathan has ensured the recovery of over N300billion of stolen funds and blocked loop holes in the system, that engendered corruption.

The ex-militants maintained that Jonathan has also done well in the area of roads and infrastructure with the judicious use of Sure-P funds.

On the state governors that defected to the APC, the former agitators argued that the bulk of the achievements showcased by the governors should rightly be credited to their stewardship under PDP.

Ex-militant leaders accused the former PDP governors of playing to the gallery without differentiating their achievements in office under the PDP and the APC.

“These governors are deceitful. They should tell Nigerians what they have been able to achieve under the APC.

“They should call their people together and tell them why they should vote for their stooges in the next governorship elections under the APC. All they have achieved in the states under their control was achieved under the PDP,” General Pastor Reuben said.

•Photo shows Pastor Reuben Wilson.

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