NGO Condemns Patience Jonathan’S Hate Speech

An NGO known as Voting Right Movement has condemned the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan on her speech at a campaign rally at Ikom Cross River State where she called on PDP supporters to stone anybody that shouted “Change”.
A statement signed by leaders of VRM, Florence C. Ozor, Barr. Okoi Obono-Obla, Sesugh Akume and Daniel Olatunde said the group was totally and passionately committed to the protection of the integrity of electoral process in the country.
The group described Mrs. Jonathan’s speech as outrageous, mindboggling and unbecoming of a woman of such exalted position.
“It is worthy to note that “Change” is the slogan of the opposition, All Progressives Congress. We make bold to say that the speech by Mrs. Patience Jonathan amounts to an instigation and inciting supporters of the PDP to attack those of the APC.
It is completely unbecoming of Mrs. Jonathan to make such a hate speech that is calculated to arouse passion and cause violence.
“There is absolutely no need to resort to use of such intemperate language that is capable of causing a breakdown of law and order by Mrs. Jonathan; who as a woman and the first lady of the country should be in the vanguard of the crusade for a peaceful election”, VRM stressed.
The NGO called for restraint among politicians in the country on the use of language that is capable of being misinterpreted by their supporters and used as a plank to unleash violence on those who belong to the other side of the political divide.
“It must be underscored that the use of such hate speech is prohibited by the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) and is therefore a criminal offence” it said adding: “It is disheartening and a huge disappointment that neither the Presidency nor the PDP have deemed it prudent to disassociate themselves from the inflammatory speech of Mrs. Jonathan”.
The group said such studied silence obviously sends wrong signals of acquiescence or support of the radical approach of Mrs. Jonathan that those on the other side of the political divide deserves nothing but death by stoning.