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MeetThePresident… What Jonathan Told Nigerian Youths

By Chuks Nwanne
06 March 2015   |   11:00 pm
AHEAD of the presidential election billed for March 28, over 200 young Nigerian professionals, businessmen and entrepreneurs recently engaged president Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in the first of its kind youth interactive forum tagged Meet The President.      Held at Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, the session, which was put together by a group known…

AHEAD of the presidential election billed for March 28, over 200 young Nigerian professionals, businessmen and entrepreneurs recently engaged president Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in the first of its kind youth interactive forum tagged Meet The President. 

    Held at Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, the session, which was put together by a group known as PVC (Participate, Vote, Country), was aimed at creating a platform for young Nigerians to interact and engage with Mr. President by asking him pertinent questions around matters on elections, economy as well as security.  

    Anchored by Gbemi Olateru Olagbegi of The Beat FM, Lagos alongside Gbemileke Oscar Oyinsan of City FM Lagos, questions participants touched on everything from personal matters such as the Mr. President’s favourite colours to more serious issues like Boko Haram, falling oil revenue and the economy.

    Speaking at the event, President Jonathan noted that the recent gains being recorded in the war against insurgency had nothing to do with the politics of electioneering, but rather the fact that the long awaited arrival of military equipment had increased the capacity of the Armed Forces to deal more effectively with the insurgents.

    Jonathan assured Nigerian youths that, once the indigenous auto industry develops and start producing cars, his government is fully committed to returning to the use of Nigerian built cars, just as they did in the times of Peugeot. He President promised amongst others to engage more youths in his next administration if elected.           

   President Jonathan also explained that his recent visits to Baga, Mubi and other North Eastern states were not as a result of the imminent elections but rather based on the need to visit and assess the level of performance of the Armed Forces following their receipt of new weapons as well as ascertain the progress made in reclaiming territories formerly occupied by Boko Haram. 

     The second phase of the event was a youth rally where a bigger audience of about 5,000 youths turned up at the event to show their support for President Jonathan. The event featured speeches from supporters of the President, such as YouWin, GIS/SUREP beneficiaries as well as 20 pilots, who were trained under the GEJ administration. The event -a lively mix of comedy, music and goodwill messages – was hosted by Bovi and Toyin Animakhu, while performing artistes included Sean Tizzle, Timi Dakolo, Oritsefemi ,Orezi, Nosa,  Seyi Shay, Obesere among others.

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