President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday said Nigeria was on the threshold of a new era, adding that it needed a leadership that was uncontaminated by prejudices of the past.
Jonathan, who stated this at the public declaration of his candidacy at the Eagle Square, Abuja said he was the kind of leader the country needed.
The President said he had come to transform the country, adding that he would never let Nigerians down.
In an emotion-laden voice, the President gave an account of his struggle with poverty in the riverine Niger Delta community of Otuoke. The struggle, he said, symbolised the story of young Nigerians.
The president, who arrived at 11:26pm dressed in a Niger Delta attire, said, “Our country is on the threshold of a new era; an era that beckons for a new kind of leadership; a leadership that is uncontaminated by the prejudices of the past; a leadership committed to change; a leadership that reinvents government, to solve the everyday problems that confront the average Nigerian.”
Jonathan stated that he was not born rich, adding that he never imagined he would one day become the President.
He said if he could make it, all Nigerian children too should not be limited by lack of opportunities.
According to the President, his campaign would be based on ideas, not one of calumny. ”I have come to preach love, not hate. I have come to break you away from divisive tendencies of the past which have slowed our drive to true nationhood. I have no enemies to fight. You are all my friends and we share a common destiny.”
He said, “Jonathan as President in 2011 will herald a new era of transformation of our country; an era that will end the agony of power shortage in our country. Let the word go out from here that I will be for the students, teachers and parents of Nigeria, a President who will advance quality and competitive education. Let everyone in this country hear that I shall strive to the best of my ability to attain self sufficiency in food production.
“Let the word go out that my plans for a Sovereign Wealth Fund with an initial capital of $1billion will begin the journey for an economic restoration. This restoration will provide new job opportunities and alleviate poverty. Let the word go out that our health sector will receive maximum priority in a new Jonathan administration, a priority that will ensure maximum health care and stop our brain drain.”
Recalling how he assumed office, he said it was through the support of all Nigerians.
The President called on Nigerians to support him and the Vice-president, adding, ”We will fight for justice! We will fight for all Nigerians to have access to power! We will fight for qualitative and competitive education! We will fight for health care reforms! We will fight to create jobs, for all Nigerians! We will fight corruption! We will fight to protect all Citizens! We will fight for your rights!”
The President, who called for a minute silence for his predecessor, President Umaru Musa Yar‘Adua, said the days leading to his presidency were very trying times for the nation.
He commended the National Assembly, governors, civil society groups, the mass media, and other patriotic Nigerians for their roles on his assumption of office.
He added, “The past four months that I have served as President of Nigeria have opened my eyes to the vast potential of this office as a potent instrument for the transformation of our country. I discovered that by sheer willpower, I could end the long queues and price fluctuations in our petrol stations. Today, all our refineries are working, saving us huge amounts of funds spent on importation of petroleum products.
“He stated that his administration had put in place new gas policies that would end gas flaring in our oil fields.”
The President said his administration had embarked on road projects to end the carnage on federal highways.
Jonathan said since he was sworn in as President, he had been under pressure to make a declaration concerning his political future, but declined to do so because it would have immediately distracted him from all the development initiatives we had accomplished.
The President, who presented Vice-President Namadi Sambo, as his running mate, said his government would strive to make Nigerians realise their potential.
Meanwhile, in a gesture of massive support for Jonathan’s candidacy governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party announced on Saturday at the Presidential Villa that they had paid for the President‘s nomination form for the party’s primaries.
The special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Ima Niboro, said the governors who accompanied Jonathan back to the villa after the declaration, applauded his decision to seek a fresh term of office.
The purchase of the form was announced just after 28 of the 29 PDP governors, on Saturday, stormed the venue of the declaration.
Virtually all the governors who addressed the crowd said they were supporting Jonathan and Sambo because of their maturity and competence in handling the nation’s affairs.
While some of the governors especially from the South sang popular Christian songs to pass across their message, others spoke in various Nigerian languages including Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo and pidgin English to convey their support to the Jonathan/Sambo ticket.
The governors at the rally were Gabriel Suswan of Benue State, Isah Yuguda of Bauchi State and the Ebonyi State governor, Mr. Martin Elechi. Others were governors of Plateau, Ogun, Oyo, and Ekiti states.
Also at the event was the governor of Niger State, Alhaji Babangida Aliyu.
Aliyu was present at the public declaration of intent to run for the same election by a former military dictator, Ibrahim Babangida.
Similarly, the governors of Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers, and Katsina, Timipre Silva, Rotimi Amaechi, Emmanuel Uduaghan, Goodswill Akpabio, Liyel Imoke, and Ibrahim Shema respectively, attended the event.
Interestingly, former President Olusegun Obasanjo did not attend the ceremony. Obasanjo, who is believed to be one of the arrow heads of Jonathan’s candidacy is said to have travelled outside the country.
Punch News
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