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Tag: President Jonathan

  • Nigerian needs transformation and not change – Jonathan

    Nigerian needs transformation and not change – Jonathan

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday said what Nigeria need was transformation and not change as canvassed by the All Progressive Congress.

    The President, who spoke in Benin City as part of his campaign tours, said the political party preaching change refused to attend last year’s National Conference which he noted was meant to bring constitutional changes to the country.

    Jonathan while addressing a half filled stadium said his administration believed in encouraging talented youths to develop their skills.

    Making a veil reference to APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, President Jonathan told the Peoples Democratic Party supporters to ask him (Buhari) what he did for women and youths during his regime.

    He said, “Don’t allow anybody to deceive you. Ask them what they did for the women and youths during their regime.”

    “We are talking about transformation and not change. We will move this country forward. We are talking about transformation. We built universities to allow children have access to education. We are supporting young people in acquiring skills and developing their talents. We will build schools and not prisons. Ask those talking about change how many schools were built during their time. ”

    Vice President Namadi Sambo said Edo people would soon be plying the railway line from Warri port to Ajaokuta.

    Leaders of PDP in the state including Chief Tom Ikimi, Dan Orbih and Captain Hosa Okunbor promised to ensure victory for President Jonathan on February 14.

    The Immediate past Commissioner for Lands and Survey in the state, Donald Bob Osikhena, and three other aides of Governor Adams Oshiomhole defected to the PDP at the rally.

    There was a mild drama outside the stadium venue of the rally as some supposed PDP supporters grumbled about funds used to mobilize placards carrying youths from neighboring states.

     

  • Dickson 100% in support of Jonathan – PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bayelsa State chapter, on Wednesday declared that the Governor of the state, Mr. Seriake Dickson, remained 100 per cent in support of President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid.

    The party spoke while reacting to an advertorial questioning the loyalty of Dickson to Jonathan by a group under the aegis of the Niger Delta United for Jonathan (NDUJ).

    PDP in a statement signed by its state Chairman, Col. Sam Inokoba (rtd), described the content of the advertorial as fallacies and product of a faceless group.

    He said the party would not have joined issues with non-existing group had the group made its allegations at normal times.

    “However, these are no ordinary times. We cannot pretend to be ignorant of the reality that with the increasing desperation of the opposition at the national and state levels- there is no telling how low certain elements will stoop in order to satisfy their paymasters,” he said.

    He said as a responsible state chapter of the largest political party in Africa, the Bayelsa PDP would not allow a few jesters to deceive party faithful and the general public that political leaders were at war.

    He said: “These opposition elements apparently think they can exploit the liberty of running to the media with tales of an imaginary crisis to drive a wedge between Her Excellency, Dame Patience Jonathan and Governor Seriake Dickson. They are dead wrong.

    “We in Bayelsa PDP are way too informed to be ignorant of the devices of the opposition. As a people-oriented party, we want to assure the general public that the state is peaceful, united and solidly behind our amiable governor.”

    Urging the public to disregard reports of crisis in the state, Inokoba said no amount of blackmail, mudslinging or propaganda against the governor could set him on collision course with Mr. President and the first family.

    He said the first family is wiser than the antics of the opposition and the objectives of such campaign of calumny.

     

  • Jonathan lacks capacity to handle Boko Haram – APC

    Jonathan lacks capacity to handle Boko Haram – APC

    The APC Presidential Campaign Organization (APCPCO) has said that President Goodluck Jonathan lacks the competence, capacity and training to deal with the Boko Haram menace ravaging the Northeast part of the country.

    In a statement signed by its Director of Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the organization said President Jonathan should not be taken seriously when he claimed that he will deal with the terrorists if he is re-elected.

    He said the claim by President Jonathan during his campaign visit to Maiduguri, Borno State, the hotbed of the insurgency, that he would deal with the terrorists’ attacks looks more like a joke or mere talk designed for the occasion of the campaign event.

    While reminding Nigerians that President Jonathan has been at the helm of affairs in Nigeria for more than five years, Shehu said that during Jonathan’s regime, Boko Haram has transformed from a group of armed delinquents to an active fighting group or movement with the government unable able to contain it.

    According to him, in the light of ongoing events in the region, “it is childish for the same person to say that he would deal with a group that became a monster under his watch.”

    He advised the President to stop the careless talk about dealing with Boko Haram because he has clearly shown little or no leadership in the area of national security.

    He said, “If President Jonathan and his party want to be true to Nigerians, it is for them to acknowledge that the capacity to deal with Boko Haram, and the wider national security issues it has thrown up over the years is within the scope of his opponent, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, because the latter has travelled similar road in the past with distinction when the nation’s security and well-being had been endangered as it had been in the last four years since Boko Haram became a national security and regional security menace while Jonathan fiddled.”

     

  • Jonathan has failed Nigerians – APC

    The All Progressive Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCPCO) has said the claim by President Goodluck Jonathan that four years are not enough to transform the country is a “double-mouthing” by a President who has failed to deliver on his own timeline.

    A statement signed by the Director of Media and Publicity of the APCPCO, Mallam Garba Shehu, on Tuesday, said: “It is very imprudent of Mr. President to shift the goal post mounted by him in the middle of the game.

    “It was this same President Jonathan who said in 2010 that if he could not improve on the country’s power generation capacity within four years, then it means he could not do anything.

    “What was the president thinking about when he said: ‘Four years are enough for anyone to make significant improvement, and if I can’t improve on power within this period, then it means I cannot do anything.’

    “Nigerians expect that a President must own up to his own words and be responsible for his own beliefs.

    “There can only be one reason why President Jonathan is changing his own beliefs about what it takes to transform the country and that is because he is incompetent for the job.

    “Today, Nigerians are clamouring for change because, for six years the country has been led by a President who cannot give the people direction on how to stop corruption, how to provide security, create employment and provide infrastructure that will impact positively on the economy.

    “We have said it in the past and we will be repeating it that the 2015 election, more than anything is a referendum on the performance of President Jonathan. The President has not measured up to the least expectations of Nigerians and that is why they are earnestly waiting for February 14 to pass their verdict.

    “Whereas the Goodluck Jonathan administration has not been able to deliver on any of the promises the President made to Nigerians in 2010, the government under the President’s watch has surpassed every known boundaries on issues of corruption and impunity.

    “Let us remind the President that if truly Rome was not built in a day, Rome is also not built forever. The President has failed to deliver by his own timelines and he should patiently wait for Nigerians to pass their verdict over the incompetence of his administration.”

     

  • Jonathan faults critics of his economic policies

    Jonathan faults critics of his economic policies

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday came down hard on Nigerian economists for criticizing his economic policies.

    He tasked them to come out with incontrovertible facts and figures to dispute that the country’s economy is not the largest in Africa.

    The government had claimed last year that Nigerian economy is the largest in Africa after its rebasing.

    President Jonathan spoke at a presidential campaign rally held in Ilorin, Kwara State.

    He said: “The economy you all know has become the largest in Africa after the rebasing, it was not by chance, we work with the private sector. Few days ago, the Cable News Network (CNN) announced that Nigeria has joined other nations where the economy will blossom.

    “If the CNN can say that, so who is the economist in Nigeria that faulted what the world has seen about Nigeria? Who is the economist that can tell me that he is superior to the World Bank or the economists in the World Bank?

    “Who is the economist in Nigeria that can tell me he is superior to the economist in the IMF? Who is the economist in Nigeria that can tell me that is sharper or better focus than the CNN? People should stop deceiving Nigerians. We are working hard to move this country forward and we will work with the people of Kwara State to move the state forward.”

    He added that his government is such that adheres to the rule of law.

    The President said: “We don’t want to run a government by intimidation. I signed the FoI Bill, and promised that every Nigerian will be free. I want every Nigerian to be free, we don’t want to intimidate anybody, we want you to have the ability to express yourself without any fear of intimidation.

    “We don’t encourage our leaders to intimidate the followers, where people will be living as if they are in the zoo and the lions and leopard are moving freely and all the other animals have to go into hiding, no. That is not a government, Nigeria is not a zoological garden, Nigeria is not a forest.

    “Nigeria is a country governed by laws and conventions, a country where citizens must be free and where every citizen must be able to grow to the level that he so desires.”

     

  • Jonathan okays N26bn for 2015 dry season farming

    Jonathan okays N26bn for 2015 dry season farming

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday announced the release of N26 billion for the 2015 dry season farming.

    Jonathan, who spoke at the 2015 Agrifest held at the Eagle Square, Abuja, pledged the support of his administration to farmers.

    The President used the event to highlight his administration’s successes in Agriculture.

    Nigeria, he said, will not be held hostage by rice importers, adding that the country is working to attain self – sufficiency in rice production.

    Jonathan said: “To further boost your efforts to produce more food for our nation, I am pleased to announce here today the release of N26billion naira towards the 2015 Dry Season Farming Programme.

    “Nigeria our dear country will not be held hostage by rice importers. There will be no sacred cows under my watch. All those owing Nigeria on rice import duties must pay.”

    The President said the private sector have put over N45 billion private investment in new oil palm plantation.

    The investment, he said will allow farmers to cultivate 70,000 hectares of new plantations to allow Nigeria to become self-sufficient in palm oil production by 2016.

    He said: “I am excited that today, Okomu, Presco, PZ – Wilmar and medium size oil palm estate operators such as Wilbahi are taking the lead in revamping our vast oil palm plantations.

    ”We will continue to support the revamping of our oil palm industry and support the private sector to build new refineries to process crude palm oil produced in Nigeria.”

    Earlier, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, said that government was supporting 27 Nagropreneur with N122 million take off grant to do their business.

    The youths were given N5 million each under the Youth Empowerment in Agriculture Programme.

    The minister added that the ministry will work closely with all states government to in other to ensure capacity building for youths.

    Also, Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Okonjo – Iweala, said that many of the 1.2 million jobs created in 2014 were in the agriculture sector.

    Dr. Iweala explained that without agriculture Nigeria cannot make much progress.

    “Because of agriculture, inflation has reduced. We are showing that we can feed ourselves,” she said.

     

  • Why Itsekiri chose Buhari over Jonathan – Group

    An Itsekiri pressure group in Warri, Delta State, on Wednesday gave reasons why their kinsmen would rather vote for the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, in next month’s election despite intense lobby of support for President Goodluck Jonathan by Chief Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo).

    The Itsekiri Consolidated Movement (ICM), at a press conference in Ubeji-Warri on Wednesday evening, addressed by Ortisegbegbemi Besidone and Franklin Metsese, Chairman and Public Relations Officers respectively, noted that the overbearing influence of Tompolo and other Ijaws in the state showed that their interests would be better served in the APC.

    They noted that the peace shuttle by Tompolo and other emissaries of President Jonathan would no longer sway the Itsekiri people because of perceived tribal politics of the President and his kinsmen.

    “In as much as we believe Tompolo has the constitutional right to campaign for President Goodluck Jonathan and Senator Ifeanyi Okowa/Kingsley Otuaro, his cousin, we want to assure Tompolo that his voyage is set to hit the rock, particularly on Jonathan’s re-election bid, unless he puts the following politically damaging records straight:

    “Why did Tompolo lead the killing of hundreds of Itsekiris during the Warri crisis and forcefully took over Itsekiri God-given communities without any remorse or apology till date?

    “Without prejudice to party or personality of Itsekiri candidate (s) for Warri South-West Chairmanship in the October 25, 2014 local government poll, why did Tompolo with the backing of the Presidency threaten and hoodwink Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan into handing the Chairmanship of Warri South-West to his sibling, Hon. George Ekpemupolo 48 hours to the election against the gentleman agreement of single tenure rotation between Ijaw and Itsekiri in the local government?”

    “Tompolo has to explain why he and his Gbaramatu brothers are laying claim to lands belonging to Itsekiri (Omadino and Ugborodo Communities) particularly the area where the EPZ is situated and till date, despite claiming not to be waging war against Itsekiri.

    “Tompolo is yet to tender apology to the 14 abducted journalists, including a Channels TV camera man, Itsekiri born Senior Correspondent of Daily Independent Newspaper, Mr. Emma Arubi and six Ugborodo indigenes, who were humiliated as well as tortured almost to the point of death by his militants on his order on their way from Escravos, where they went to perform their legitimate duty of letting the world know the Itsekiri’s angle of the true owner of the land hosting the EPZ.”

  • PDP condemns mob attack on Jonathan

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned Tuesday’s attack on President Goodluck Jonathan’s convoy by suspected thugs in Katsina.

    The ruling party has blamed the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) and its presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, for the attack, which took place during the President’s campaign rally in Katsina.

    A statement on Wednesday by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Olisa Metuh, said the attack was a clear indication that the APC was not ready to dial back on its rabid desire to attain power through violence despite signing a peace pact a week ago in Abuja.

    The party added that the PDP would no longer tolerate such acts of violence on any of its members.

    The statement said: “This brazen attack on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and our presidential candidate clearly shows that the APC was never committed to the spirit and letters of the Abuja peace accord which they signed in the presence of prominent Nigerians and international personalities.

    “It is unfortunate that while the PDP and other parties are busy ensuring that their members and supporters remain committed to a peaceful electioneering, the APC has been hatching plots to unleash violence on our candidates and members.

    “We invite Nigerians, friends of Nigeria and all lovers of democracy to rise in condemnation of this dangerous phenomenon. These early developments clearly demonstrate that the comments and declarations by the leaders of the APC that Nigeria would be thrown into chaos and bloodshed should it lose the February general elections were real.

    “We commend the maturity and the ever peaceful disposition of President Jonathan and the leaders of the PDP even in the face of this unwarranted attack.

    “The irony which we wish to place on record is that the APC which has successfully completed its campaigns in the South South, including Bayelsa, the home state of President Jonathan without any incident and has even signed a pact to maintain peace, is turning round to unleash thugs to disrupt the presidential campaign of our great party.

    “In spite, we wish to assure Nigerians of the iron cast resolve of the PDP to ensure peaceful and credible general election where the votes of the people shall exclusively determine who emerge as leaders in the elections.”

     

  • Jonathan has been fair to North – PDP

    Jonathan has been fair to North – PDP

    As the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) starts its presidential campaign in the north, the party has said that President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration has been fair to the region.

    The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, said the administration has been very fair to the north in terms of projects, political appointments and establishment of Almajiri schools.

    He said: “The present administration has done a lot more for the three zones in the north than any of the administration before it in the areas of agriculture, education, roads, railways and many more.”

    Speaking on the activities of Boko Haram in the northeast, Metuh said the sect would have overrun half of the country if not for the person and character of President Jonathan.

    “The problem that we have in the northeast to deal with is insurgency. It is not the making of this government, but this government has tried as much as possible to contain it.

    “If not for the character, candour, the personality of the President, these insurgents would have overrun more than half of Nigeria. We would have been under occupation of terrorists if not for the determination, the style and the character and personality of the President,” Metuh stated.

    Sounding optimistic about the February 14 presidential poll, the party boasted that the PDP would win convincingly in the six geo-political zones in the country.

    He said: “PDP will win in the North-West, North-Central, North East, South-South, South-East and South-West. APC will not win in any of the zones and our victory will be very convincing.”

    On the reduction in the pump price of petroleum products by the Federal Government, the PDP dismissed insinuations that the action was politically motivated.

    “It has nothing to do with politics. This is not the first time that we have had fuel price decrease in this country. You will recall that when the late President Umaru Yar A’dua came into office, he reduced the pump price from N75 to N65. And it was on N65 for a very long time. That was not politics.

    “In this particular instance, oil price crashed in the world and the government and the Minister of Petroleum Resources have said that based on the international price of oil, that there should be a reduction in Nigeria. It has nothing to do with election.

    “If the of oil price remains as it is, Nigerians will be yearning for more decrease and there cannot be any justification for any increase. And this government cannot increase this fuel price as long as the price remains as it is in the world market. What Nigerians should be asking for now is a complete deregulation of the industry so that it would be reflective of the world price,” he said.

  • Sultan to Jonathan: End insurgency, don’t disenfranchise Nigerians

    Sultan to Jonathan: End insurgency, don’t disenfranchise Nigerians

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, on Monday urged President Goodluck Jonathan to immediately bring an end to the current insurgency in the country.

    He also expressed concern over the use of religion and ethnicity by politicians at campaign rallies rather than issue based approach.

    Abubakar spoke when President Jonathan visited him in his place.

    He said, “Politicians should not encourage sentiments against patriotism and national unity among Nigerians.”

    Citing example of the 2011 general election, the monarch added that “we are amazed at what is happening today. Even in 2011, we did not face such challenges.

    “You must ensure peace and stability and the problem of insurgency must be brought to an end.

    “There are problems in almost all sectors including education and the trend of insecurity among others. So we should address issues that could bring succour to an average Nigerian.”

    Abubakar, who wondered why politicking had turned to war in the country, added, “we should know that both parties have significant number of Christians and Muslims as members and God knows why he created us to live together as Nigerians.

    “We should respect our individual’s religious tenet otherwise one will be turning against his or her own religious tenet.”

    He also warned against disenfranchising eligible voters in the country.

    “Millions of Nigerians are likely to be disenfranchised for not obtaining their PVCs. I am one of those who up till now had not received the PVC.

    President Jonathan told the Sultan that the visit was to seek his blessings as a mark of respect for the Sultanate, which he described as key for the peace and stability of the country.