Last Tuesday, November 11, to be precise, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria succumbed to the pressure of people of goodwill to declare his interest in another term in office.
The pressure
The pressure on him could better be imagined as thousands of lovers of democracy and pressure groups that later coalesce into a bigger one christened, Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), piled crushing pressure on him to run for another term in office.
Some splinter groups even went a step further to intimidate by threatening court actions against him should he refuse to show interest. Recently, TAN took it upon itself to organize various rallies that were impressively attended across the country to sensitize the populace on the need for Jonathan to continue beyond 2015. In the process, the campaign group collected millions of signatures of those who saw reason with TAN that Jonathan should go ahead to re-contest in 2015.
And to compound the ‘problem’ for the President, all the party caucuses, either in the National Assembly, withing the PDP as wll as members of the Board of Trustee (BoT), under the able leadership of Chief Tony Anenih unanimously endorsed Jonathan as their sole candidates for the race. Senate President, David Mark has explained to whoever cared to listen, the reason behind the endorsement, citing outstanding performance even in the face of challenges.
More interesting was donation of money by supporters of Jonathan beyond 2015 idea for the purchase of nomination forms. And to seek divine intervention on the project, the President took the case to God in Jerusalem, in the State of Israel.
Solidarity and goodwill
Not a few supporters of democracy, political stakeholders, legal gurus, captains of industries and handlers of the economy as well as diplomats, technocrats and private sector drivers besieged the Eagles Square last Tuesday to listen to President Jonathan.
The gaily dressed distinguished audience was however not disappointed as the President literally did their biddings by succumbing to their pressure to serve them more for four more years on the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), reputed to be the largest party on the continent of Africa.
And when their man of the moment, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GEJ), mounted the rostrum, he went down the memory lane thus:
Down the memory lane
“Four years ago, precisely September 18, 2010; I stood in this Eagle Square, to offer myself for election as the President of our beloved country on the platform of our great party; the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Seven months after that declaration, you elected me to lead this country with overwhelming support from all parts of our Nation. I remain grateful for the trust you reposed in me to lead our Nation through uncommon challenges in our march of progress as a united and democratic country.”
Having showed gratitude to God, Jonathan also expressed appreciation to the various organs of the party, the Board of Trustees (Bot), the National Caucus, the National Executive Committee, the National Working Committee, the PDP Governors Forum, members of the PDP Caucuses of the National Assembly, and others over the journey so far.
Challenges
He thereafter admitted that, “our stewardship has not been without challenges,” stating that, “we have had to deal with the wave of insurgency that has swept through some parts of our dear country.”
Touched by the spate of senseless termination of life of innocent Nigerians by heatless elements in the society, (the killing involves old young, women and even students) who he described as, “seeking education to build the country and support their parents.” Jonathan, in his usual fatherly disposition, craved the indulgence of all present for a minute silence of the young lads that lost their lives.”
Then talking tough, the President assured the gathering that, “We will free our daughters (Chibok girls) and defeat terrorism,” disclosing that, “We are equipping the armed forces and deploying special forces to engage the terrorists and end this senseless war and protect our country.”
He also promised to ensure the long term stability and development of the affected areas through three programmes: The Presidential Initiative for the North East, the Victim Support Fund and the Safe School Initiative.
Stewardship
The PDP presidential aspirants therefore seized the opportunity of the occasion to “continue the conversation of development we started together,” starting from infrastructure, which he said, “has been a major focus area of my administration.”
Having realized the importance of power to development, the President disclosed that, the sector’s reform was pursued to the point of irreversible progress,” expressing delight that, “Nigeria has undertaken a most transparent and corruption free bidding process, attracting global commendation.”
The on-going 450MW Azura Power Plant in Edo State, according to him, was a testimony to the success of his transformation, just as he informed about the resumption of “our Hydro- Power potential, with the construction of the 700MW Zungeru Hydro-Power Plant, while construction work on the 3,050MW Mambilla Hydro-Power Plant is about to take off.”
Jonathan, amid ovation from ecstatic crowd enthused that, “our power generation and distribution companies have now been privatized and we are firmly on the road to guaranteed regular power supply in the months ahead,” asserting that, “this our bold move, is paying off.”
He also spoke on his administration’s efforts on other sectors such as, “environmental protection and conservation and reducing vulnerability to climate change, major developments in water that include the completion of 37 Dams and rehabilitation of 10, with several others on-going construction, as well as on Railway system.
His words: “Before the advent of this administration, the Railway system was practically dead. Today, we have revived the rail sector. The narrow gauge line from Lagos to Kano has been rehabilitated with improved coaches providing regular services. The rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri rail line is progressing with the Port Harcourt- Gombe segment as well as the branch line from Kafanchan to Kaduna expected to be completed and fully operational by December 2014.
“Already, work on the Abuja-Kaduna standard gauge rail line, is progressing. The tracks of the rail line will be completed by December this year 2014. Upon completion of the project in the first quarter of 2015, it will be possible for Nigerians to live in Kaduna and work in Abuja. The Itape-Ajaokuta-Wari standard gauge line has attained an advanced stage, with the track completely laid. We hope to commence full operation before the end of 2015.”
Jonathan also announced with delight that his administration has successfully completed the dredging of the lower River Niger from Baro in Niger State to Warri in Delta State, saying, “the cheering news is that over 6.7 million passengers and over 1.6 million tons of cargo have been moved through this channel in less than three years.”
On road network, the President disclosed that, “when I assumed office in 2010, out of the 35,000km of federal roads nationwide, only about 5,000km were motorable, informing that, “today, that number has increased to about 25,000km just as we expect to complete the remaining 10,000km in three years while initiating new ones.”
He spoke further: “I made a commitment to build two new major bridges across the River Niger and River Benue. Today, the new bridge over the River Benue, connecting Loko in Nassarawa State to Oweto in Benue State has reached an advance stage of completion, while work has commenced on the Second Niger Bridge.
“In the pursuit of an integrated transportation system, we embarked on the construction of five new Airport Terminal Buildings and Air-field facilities. We are also re-constructing existing ones. The re-construction upon completion, will lead to improved passenger processing, increased cargo handling capacity and enhanced Air-field facilities that meet international standard and improves safety. These efforts have been met with global acknowledgement including the attainment and retention of the FAA Category One status.
“In housing, we signed the National Housing Policy to kick-start the framework for providing more affordable homes for our people. We have also expanded the National Housing Fund to accommodate more Nigerians. We have started a revolution in the housing sector with the start of the Nigerian Mortgage and Refinanced Company (NMRC) a new initiative of my administration, that will enable more citizens in the lower income bracket to become first time home owners.
“Our partners such as the World Bank group are supporting this with US300million dollars interest free credit, while my administration will back it with over 100billion naira in bonds. We are already processing 66,000 mortgage applications for our young people. We have amended the PENCOM Act to enable the pension funds invest in housing sector bonds. This will create a boom in the housing sector.”
Jonathan however regretted that, “corruption (still) remains a big challenge in our national life,” which he lamented “corrodes our efforts at development and at motivating competence in critical sectors of our national growth.”
While disclosing that it has been eradicated it in the agricultural sector, he expressed optimism that, “we will surely eradicate it in other sectors of our economy.”
Against this background, he said his focuss “is to continue to reinforce institutions, systems, and processes to tackle corruption, and also to bring to justice those that perpetrate corruption.”
Declaration
After enumerated major achievement of his administration which included food security, agriculture, foreign policy, freedom of speech and association, education, healthcare, empowerment, oil and gas among others, President Jonathan then declare thus:
“Therefore, after seeking the face of God, in quiet reflection with my family and having listened to the call of our people nationwide to run, I, Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, have accepted to re-present myself, on the platform of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, for re-election as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in the 2015 general elections.
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