Re-arraignment of Leadership journalists: Jonathan’s administration is unserious and confused

The Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, has condemned the Federal Government for the re-arraignment of two Leadership newspaper journalists, almost two months after the forgery allegation was dropped against them.

The party says the development was a sign that the Goodluck Jonathan administration is not a serious one.

Two journalists of Leadership Newspapers, Tony Amokeode and Chibuzor Ukaibe, alongside the Newspaper, were charged with forging President Goodluck Jonathan’s seal on a document that accused the presidency of witch-hunting opposition leaders, frustrating the registration of the All Progressives Congress, APC and the increment of the price of Petroleum products.

In a statement by CPC’s spokesperson, Rotimi Fashakin, the party asked; “Is the volte-face by the Presidency after fifty days of apparent withdrawal of the matter not a symptom of the inimitable knee-jerk response of the Jonathan administration to serious governance issues?”

“The usual extemporaneous approach to governance by the Jonathan regime, aptly shown by this shameless volte-face, can no longer help the Nation navigate out of its multi-faceted travails. Rather than expending scarce national resources on a worthless litigation, the president should brace himself up to the task of showing enviable leadership.”

Fashakin advised the president to cut the chase and order unconditional withdrawal of the lawsuit forthwith to save the nation from further embarrassment.

The CPC said that the discordant tunes from the Presidency as a result of the saga was confusing, as it has variously accused the Journalists of fictitious writing, forgery and peddling in false document.

“The ordinary usage of ‘forgery’ suggests making an illegal copy of a document for the purpose of deception. In other words, forgery presupposes that there is an original” it said.

The party further admonished the presidency to produce the original copy of the forged document.

“Can he (President Goodluck Jonathan), being the custodian of the seal or document allegedly forged, depose to an affidavit to authenticate the original document?” the party asked.

The opposition party maintained that in line with Section 308 conferring immunity on President Goodluck Jonathan, he cannot sue on matters concerning his office and person when he cannot be sued.

“Can he (President Goodluck Jonathan) appear in Court and submit himself to cross-examination by the defence counsel?” he asked.

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