Nigeria's president, Goodluck Jonathan declared his willingness and intention to contest the February 2015 presidential elections at a well attended declaration ceremony hosted in the Eagles square with a great overfow outside the square.
The President started by thanking Nigerians and party members for the support just before calling for a one minute of silence for the students who were killed in a suicide bomb attack on students of Government Science Secondary School, in Potiskum. But just before the crowd stood for the silence, the president declared, "may their souls rest in peace," and the crowd sat back. The president admits terrorism is a challenge and promises to bring back the Chibok Schoolgirls who were taken hostage in April.
President Jonathan said he remains grateful for the trust reposed on him by Nigerians. He also said he is grateful to Nigerians for their understanding over the handling of the difficult insecurity challenges. He pledge to defeat terror and also said the kidnapped Chibok girls will be released. He said through the safe school initiative and victim support fund, his government has set aside N60bn to aide the victims of terror.
President Jonathan also thanked all the organs of the party for adopting him as the sole candidate of the party. He said his government has pursued a power sector reform to "an irreversible progress". He also said additional Hydro power stations are being built in Zungeru and Manbila. He said he said released N60bn for the Africa green project and that tremendous progress has been made with 37 new dams built. He said various intervention in the irrigation sub sector has led to about N45bn revenue. Jonathan also enumerated the various progress made on the railway sector. "Very soon, people can stay in Kaduna and work in Abuja with the completion of the Abuja-Kaduna standard gauge," he said.
He said his government has completed the dredging of the River Niger from Baro in Niger state to Warri in Delta state. He said he made a commitment to build two new major bridges across the Rivers Niger and Benue and that Work is in advance stage on the two bridges.
Jonathan said he has started a revolution in the Housing sector that will enable millions of Nigerians to become first time House owners. He said 66,000 mortgage request from Young Nigerians is already being processed. He said ten new districts are being developed in the FCT and that very soon Nigerians will start using the light rail from the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport to the City center.
He said his government has succeeded in eliminating long que in filling stations through consistent provision of petroleum products to Nigerians. He said the private sector is investing bn in the petro chemical sector as a result of his government's favourable policy. He said his government has revolutionised the Agric sector by transforming it into a business. "We ended the case of corruption in the fertiliser and seed supply chain," he said. He said 14 million farmers, out of which two million are women have accessed fertiliser through the e-wallet system introduced by the government.
He said the Dangote group has invested one billion dollars on rice production and that in five years. In time, he said, "Nigeria will become a net exporter of Rice." He said the government is encouraging high school students to begin to see agric as a commercial venture. He said he has eradicated corruption in the agric sector and the success will be extended to other sectors. He said going forward, he will double his effort in the fight against corruption and that corrupt government officials will begin to face justice.
He said he has established 14 new Universities out of which two are specialised. "Under my watch, every Nigerian state has a Federal University," he said. He said he has established 150 almajiri schools in the north.
The president recounted how he, the Governors of Lagos and Rivers, and Nigerians United to fight Ebola. He said he declared and called for national action when Ebola came to Nigeria and the cooperation of all Nigerians led to the successful stoppage of the disease. "Just as we stopped Ebola, we are on our way to eradicating Polio in Nigeria" " I promise that I will not handover Polio to anyone".
"After seeking the face of God and quite reflection with my Family..., I Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, has accepted to present myself" for the contest for the 2015 general elections, Jonathan announces to a cheering crowd.
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