2015: I’ll decide in 2014 – Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan said yesterday that he would decide in 2014 whether or not to run for presidential election in 2015.
Speaking during a Presidential Media Chat at the State House in Abuja, Jonathan said this is not the time to talk about the 2015 election because doing so would overheat the polity.
The President also dismissed calls for referendum or Sovereign National Conference by some sections of the country, saying that the ongoing review of the constitution by members of the National Assembly would address the nation’s constitutional challenges.
He, however, declined comments on agitations for the creation of new states and the establishment of state police, saying that “the best thing is for me to keep quiet.”
He said the disagreement between the executive and the legislative arms of government over certain issues was normal in a democracy even though the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has majority of lawmakers in the National Assembly.
On deregulation of the oil industry, Jonathan said the federal government is not contemplating total removal of fuel subsidy at this material time.
He said Nigerians would continue to enjoy fuel subsidy in 2013 and that the queues at filling stations would soon disappear.
“I was misunderstood. I didn’t say we are deregulating. If we are going to deregulate, we wouldn’t have made provisions for fuel subsidy in the 2013 budget,” he said.
The President also assured that the federal government is doing everything possible to ensure that the country has stable electricity before the middle of next year.
On the First Lady’s health, the President said she received treatment and came back to recuperate in the country, adding, “She is fine, she was in church this morning.”
He also spoke on Boko Haram, saying that government cannot dialogue with a faceless group because nobody has come up to engage government on behalf of the group.
“Boko Haram is operating under cover. Government is not in dialogue with the sect. You cannot discuss with people that you don’t know,” he said.
Jonathan said there is misconception about the food budget for the presidency, saying, “The food I eat is not even an expensive food. I only eat two times a day.”