Unlike other aspirants, Jonathan is not desperate for power - Doyin Okupe

President Goodluck Jonathan is not desperate to be re-elected come 2015 despite the fact that all indication points to the fact that he will win the presidential election next year, his Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, has said. Okupe, while reacting to statements made by opposition politicians against the present government, said his boss was in good standing to win the election.He spoke at an annual public lecture and award ceremony organised by the Pilot Newspapers in Abuja on Tuesday.He said, "On the coming elections itself, people are saying that we will form parallel government for an election you have not lost. We will form parallel government, parallel to what? In civilised societies, people like that whichever political tendency they represent should totally be wiped off from peoples memories as politicians because they don't mean well for the country.

"Yesterday on twitter, another politician said that President Goodluck Jonathan is planning a war so that the election can be postponed; it is quite idiotic. This is a president that has been in office for four years and has made some substantial performance unarguably. So every indication points to the likelihood of his winning. Why will he now want to stop the election that his opponent has no record of winning anything?"

Okupe said the greatest problem Nigeria will face post 2015 "will be the acceptance of defeat by whoever loses. I want to tell you for free, President Jonathan is not desperate even till this morning. I had breakfast with him and he is not desperate for power."

The SSA also added, "People will now ask why is he running? He is running on the basis of principle. He is a good Christian and a responsible man. The Bible says no man having put his hand on the plough and turneth back is fit for the kingdom of God and that is why we are running."

He said Nigerian politicians' struggle for power was based on selfish interests, adding that "every time we need to fight for power it is do or die; me or nobody. And that is why we are not making enough progress.

"Ideally, a good political party should offer alternative platforms for people to consider. I have contested many elections and have won very few but I have never ever rigged an election for myself or for anybody."