Again, Jonathan Pledges To Implement Confab Report

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has again promised to fully implement the recommendations of the National Conference if given a fresh four-year mandate.

      He has also reiterated that with his administration’s power reforms and full privatisation of the sector, Nigerians would take power supply for granted within the next few years. 

      The president Saturday, spoke at the palace of the Alafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, when he paid a courtesy call on the royal father in his palace, as part of his consultative meetings with critical stakeholders in the South West.

     The President, who denied influencing the outcomes of the conference, however believed that, if fully implemented, it would take Nigeria to a greater level.

     The implementation of the outcome of the confab had been a major pre-condition given by a section of the Southwest, notably Afenifere, the Yoruba socio-cultural group for supporting the President’s re-election bid.

      Jonathan, however, urged the people of the state to vote for all Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Assembly candidates so as to have a Legislature well disposed to approving the report. 

     He said: “We set up the National Conference and the report is ready. As a government and as a party, we believe that those who did that report meant well for the country. We gathered almost 500 Nigerians from all walks of life including the traditional institution; young people, teachers, journalists, lawyers, everybody.

     “I never influenced it because I believe that what is good for Nigeria is good for me, and I believe that if really we want to change this country in a better way, we should implement that report.

   “The government and the party are totally committed to implementing 100 percent of that report but we need a National Assembly that will work with us. So, we are using this platform to plead with our people of this great state to support the PDP to send their strong daughters and sons to the federal level to work with us so that we will implement that report because I know how passionate some of you are in terms of that report. “

      President Jonathan restated his passion to reform the power sector in view of its role in the development of small and medium scale enterprises.

     He said, while the privatisation processes were almost completed and the change over phase from public to private sector was ongoing, “we believe in the next two years, this will be consummated and Nigerians will take power for granted.

“We believe that if you give us your mandate, at least, in the next two years, this epileptic power supply will be a thing of the past and it will be the basis for the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises in this country. “

     Jonathan spoke of his government achievements in the agricultural sector, which he said prevented food crisis in 2012 after a devastating flood; robust policies in health, roads, transport infrastructure, saying that he wanted to see Nigerians spend less money on transportation through the utilisation of revamped rail services.

     He said he was in Oyo to inform the Alafin that he was re-contesting presidential election with Namadi Sambo as his running mate and to ask for his blessing and prayers.

      Responding, the royal father commended the president for what he said was “the dynamism you are noted for in the country “ and promised to ensure that the people of Oyo were mobilised to give the president another mandate.