By Daniel Idonor

ABUJA — The Director General of Jonathan/Sambo campaign Council, Senator Dalhati Tafida, yesterday, warned those who think they can wrest power from President Goodluck Jonathan outside the ballot box to have a rethink.

Tafida noted that the situation in the country now calls for total sobriety from all especially as the 1st October incident was a national tragedy; adding that what the country needed now is for everyone to rally round the president like the Americans did over the September 11, 2001, rather than blaming him.

The Nigerian envoy to United Kingdom also bemused the idea by some people he referred to as yesterday’s men trying to use the incident to score political gains.

Tafida, who briefed newsmen in Abuja, said the only way to wrest power is through the ballot as the nation needs to also grow like every other fast developing countries.

He further noted that all those knocking the president over the bombing incident are doing so out of desperation to get back to power and not because he was found wanting in anyway.

Jonathan/Sambo campaign coordinator also reminded those calling for the head of the president that they could only take over power through the ballot box rather than engage in provocative statements or introducing sectional and religious dimensions.

The nation, he further added, had passed the stage where a few people would sit in one place and decide who should rule the country.

The campaign DG observed that those who planted the Independence Day bombs had no reason to cut short the joy of the golden jubilee and instead of commiserating with the families of the deceased, the northern elders were trying to use the incident for political gains.

According to him, “instead of some of the elders who are vicariously responsible for the frustration of many of our youths to be sober, they are desperately trying to milk this national tragedy for political gains.

“While the security agencies are busy trying to unearth the details of the natural tragedy, the provocative comments of some of our yester-years men, laced with demeaning ethnic chauvinism, suggest that they do not mind if Nigeria explodes if they don’t acquire at all cost in the 2011 primaries and general elections,” he said.

Dr. Tafida declared that no matter what they say, President Jonathan would not lose focus but would remain on track.