GROUP PLANS PROTESTS AGAINST GOODLUCK JONATHAN

A leading member of United Nigeria Group says the organization plans to ask the Senate and
the House of Representatives on Tuesday to begin impeachment proceedings against President
Goodluck Jonathan.
"We are going to see both the senate president and the speaker of the House of
Representatives and call on both of them to commence the process of impeaching the
president," said Isa Tijjani, secretary general of the United Nigeria Group. "We have catalogued
all the impeachable offenses and we are going to hand it over to them."
The United Nigeria group, an umbrella organization, is made up of civil society organizations,
religious and student groups.
Tijjani says leaders at Tuesday's meeting will decide on a date for a nationwide protest to
demand President Jonathan's resignation.
"This president has not lived up to expectation. He has not been able to uphold the oath of
allegiance he swore to protect and defend the constitution of Nigeria," said Tijjani. "Even the
very democratic system that brought him to power is being threatened by the very action of
the presidency. So we cannot just fold our arms and see the hard earned democracy of Nigeria
[become a] disaster."
Supporters of the president reject the criticism and resignation demands, saying Jonathan is
not to blame for the violence often carried out by the Islamist militant group, Boko Haram, and
other armed groups. They argue that impeaching the country's leader has no legal basis
because the president has not violated the constitution. They also say the planned
demonstrations could create confusion and chaos.
Tijjani says Nigerians do not feel safe despite of the state of emergency declared in parts of
the country as well as the deployment of troops to combat Boko Haram.
"The issue of security has been politicized and Nigerians are living in palpable fear all over the
country, [and] we don't think that is acceptable, not to mention the issue of corruption," said
Tijjani.
Tijjani also said the government's fight against corruption was undermined after President
Jonathan pardoned the former governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreiye Alamieyeisegha, as well as
former head of the Bank of the North, Shettima Bulama.
Alamieyeisegha was convicted for embezzling state funds while he was Bayelsa governor.
Bulama was prosecuted on corruption charges by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC.