The complete text of President Jonathan’s broadcast message on the general elections...

Dear Compatriots,
1. As we prepare to go to the polls tomorrow, I have come before you
this morning to express my immense appreciation for the opportunity
you gave me to lead this great nation of ours in the past four years.
1. I also wish to place on record, once again, my sincere gratitude
for the support you have given my administration without which the
significant progress we have made in recent years would not have been
possible.
1. In spite of the many challenges we have had to contend with since
1999, our present democratic dispensation continues to endure and grow
stronger in keeping with the yearnings and aspirations of our people.
1. We have all worked very hard to nurture and strengthen our
democratic institutions and promote the good governance practices
which they were designed to deliver for the better well-being of our
people.
1. I believe I can say without fear of contradiction that we all
clearly cherish the democracy we now have and will never willingly
give it up for any other form of governance.
1. This much-cherished democracy of ours is about to be put to the
test once again.
1. I urge you all to troop out en-masse to peacefully perform your
civic duty of voting for leaders of your choice tomorrow.
1. As we do so, let us all – political party leaders, contestants,
party members, party agents, supporters and ordinary voters alike, be
very conscious of the fact that the eyes of the entire world are on
us.
1. We must therefore comport ourselves in a manner that will further
strengthen our democracy and consolidate our place in the comity of
truly democratic nations.
1. I made a commitment on assumption of office to progressively
deliver freer, fairer and more credible elections in our country. In
keeping with that commitment, the Federal Government has given the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) all necessary support
to ensure that it conducts very successful elections tomorrow and on
April 11.
1. We have all been assured that INEC is fully ready for the
elections. I believe that we can all trust that they are certainly
more ready now than they may have been before security issues and
other concerns necessitated a re-scheduling of the dates for the 2015
general elections.
1. As an administration, we welcome the fact that millions of
Nigerians who were yet to receive their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs)
as at February 14, and would therefore have been unfairly
disenfranchised if the polls had gone ahead on that date, have seized
the opportunity of the re-scheduling to collect their cards and can
now exercise their right to vote tomorrow.
1. We are also glad that our gallant Armed Forces have successfully
stemmed the seizure of Nigerian territories in the North-East by the
terrorist group, Boko Haram.
1. They have recaptured most of the communities and territories
formerly occupied by the insurgents, making it possible for thousands
of internally-displaced Nigerians to begin returning to their homes
and communities.
1. I heartily commend the very courageous men and women of our Armed
Forces for the immense sacrifices which they continue to make in
defending the nation and protecting its citizens.
1. I also thank all Nigerians for keeping faith with us over the past six weeks.
1. I call on all political parties and politicians in the country to
allow the free, unfettered will of our people to be expressed without
any hindrance in the coming elections in keeping with the hallowed
principles and tenets of democratic governance which we all profess.
1. The will of the people freely expressed through the ballot is the
bedrock of all democracies and ours cannot be an exception.
1. Let us all therefore be prepared, as true democrats, to graciously
accept the outcome of the elections as the rightful choice of our
people from whom all political powers in our democracy must emanate.
1. My administration has done its utmost best in the past four years
to deliver on our promise to positively transform our country.
1. Tomorrow's election is another very important milestone as we
continue our march towards the fulfillment of our God-given potential
for greatness.
1. The election offers us another opportunity to empower leaders of
our choice once again, and to show the world that genuine democracy is
alive and well in our beloved nation.
1. I will like to restate my belief that no political ambition can
justify violence or the shedding of the blood of our people.
1. I reaffirm once again, my personal preparedness to ensure fair play
during the elections and to deploy the resources and institutions of
state only in the manner prescribed by our laws.
1. Let me warn, however, that as President, Commander-In-Chief of the
Armed Forces, I am under oath to protect the lives of all Nigerians
and the security of our country at all times. I will never abdicate my
responsibilities in that regard.
1. Democracy allows dissent. It encourages differences and even
fervent disagreements. But elections must never be mistaken for war or
an opportunity to set fellow citizens against each other and tear our
beloved nation apart.
1. Those who may harbor any intentions of testing our will by
unleashing violence during the elections in order to advance their
political ambitions should think again as all necessary measures have
been put in place to ensure that any persons who breach the peace or
cause public disorder during or after the elections are speedily
apprehended and summarily dealt with according to our laws.
1. The nation's security agencies are also fully prepared and ready to
deal decisively with any group or persons who attempt to disrupt the
peaceful conduct of the elections or cause any form of public
disorder.
1. Our dear country, Nigeria is the largest democracy amongst black
nations of the world. We are a nation of great accomplishments, with a
proud history of evolving affinities.
1. Let us go out tomorrow to vote peacefully and set a fitting example
of political maturity for other emerging democracies to follow.
1. I wish you all and our dear nation, very peaceful and successful elections.
1. May God Almighty continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
1. I thank you all.

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