‘Victory for PDP, victory for all’

FRIENDS and supporters of President Goodluck Jonathan, under the aegis of Goodluck Good Governance Group (G4), have urged Nigerians to have faith in the promises and good works of Jonathan and vote en-masse for him.  

  They said that by voting to ensure that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) records victory in the elections, Nigerians are ensuring their victory also.

  Convener of the group and its National Chairman, Otunba Femi Ajayi, while speaking on “2015 elections and the way forward,” in Lagos at the weekend, noted that it would amount to doing the president great injustice if the electorate are urged to re-elect him based on sentiments. 

  Ajayi, who is the executive secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), stressed that while it is tempting to ask that he (Jonathan) be re-elected because he is an easy-going, likeable and humble gentleman or on the basis of his coming from a region that produces oil revenue, the elections should not be run on sentiments.

  He said that Jonathan should be judged strictly on his track record of achievements “since he became the great political leader of Nigeria.”

  Ajayi noted that some Nigerians tend to overlook the “great successes and achievements” of President Jonathan, adding: “Jonathan has proved to be a role model for democracy and good governance since he became Nigeria’s president. 

  “His respect for and upholding of human rights and fundamental freedom has been unprecedented among Nigerian heads of state. He has also shown deference for the rule of law, respect for court judgments and facilitated free and fair elections.”

  “Besides these tangible but crucial benefits of democracy, giant strides are made in sustainable development as can be seen in regular and stable fuel supply, power sector reform, transport sector transformation (road construction and railway rehabilitation), agricultural revolution and the Benin-Ore road rehabilitation.”

  The convener drew attention to President Jonathan’s feat on youth empowerment and his efforts at creating employment for teeming jobless populace, adding that the president had made and is making efforts to empower the private sector and ensure that the Federal Government employs more Nigerians. 

  He said that through making the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) (which he is the executive secretary) more functional, efficient and cost-effective, the president has been able to accelerate youth empowerment in the community.

   On Jonathan’s achievement in the education sector, Ajayi said has established nine federal universities across the country, and provided enough funding for other universities, to ensure that they increase their level of infrastructure to accommodate more students.

  As part of the president’s efforts to make governance available to all Nigerians, Ajayi noted that Jonathan has released billions of naira to all the teaching hospitals for better and quality healthcare provision, even mother-and-child care service has been resuscitated to reduce maternal and child mortalities.

  On women empowerment, he said Jonathan’s administration “is the only one in Africa that has appointed more than 30 per cent of women into his cabinet.” 

  “Women have been given vantage positions to contribute to national economy, as the president has a lot of confidence in women and women’s rights,” he said.