Chuks Okocha and Jaiyeola Andrews in Abuja

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday formally declared his bid for a second term, pledging to do everything humanly possible to defeat Boko Haram. His pledge came a day after a suicide bomber killed scores of school children in Potiskum, Yobe State.


Before delivering his speech, he asked for a minute’s silence in memory of the 47 students who lost their lives on Monday.
Addressing a mammoth crowd at the Eagle Square in Abuja, the president also pledged to eliminate corruption and poverty if given a chance to govern Nigeria for another four years.


Jonathan said the killings in Potiskum had cast a dark cloud on Nigeria, adding that under his watch, Nigeria will overcome and defeat a bloody five-year-old insurgency by Boko Haram.


“Many Nigerians have lost their lives and property to these mindless killings,” Jonathan said. “A number of young men and women have been kidnapped by these criminal elements, including our daughters from Chibok. We will free our daughters and defeat terrorism.”


Jonathan, who acknowledged that his government had come under severe criticism over its handling of the crisis, was currently equipping the armed forces and deploying special forces to fight Boko Haram and end what he described as a “senseless war”.


“We must protect our country. We must save our people. I will do everything humanly possible to end this criminal violence in our nation,” he promised.


He said the presidential initiative tagged Victims Support Fund was initiated for the North-east, as well as the Safe Schools initiative which was set up to provide secure school environment for students in the country.
According to him, the presidential initiative for the North-east was focused on improving infrastructure and economy in the region.


"We must continue to hold the tempo all high in our country. I am proud to say that there are no political prisoners in Nigeria today.
“No Nigerian has been driven to exile, no one and I repeat no one will be driven to exile. It is in furtherance of a peaceful participatory and inclusive democracy that I signed the Freedom of Information Bill into law to expand the frontiers of our fundamental freedom.


"Let me reaffirm that under a Jonathan presidency, your views no matter how freely expressed will not send you to prison or to exile. I am convinced that I have served my part with Nigerians and it is now time to look into the future.
"With your tremendous support, you have collectively done so much in the last three-and-a-half years. But to take our country to the next level, there is still more work to be done.


"History has shown that the part of honour of a true leader is not to walk away from his people in the face of challenges.
"We must stand together in adversity and overcome the threat to our development. We must defend our future,” Jonathan said.
The president also pledged to eliminate poverty, noting that although his administration had since its inception impacted positively on all sectors of the nation’s economy, there was still much to be done to take the country to the next level of development.


Underscoring the achievements of this government in the last three-and-a-half years, the president informed his supporters and the party faithful that he had decided to contest the 2015 presidential election after seeking the face of God, in quiet reflection with his family.


“After seeking the face of God in quiet reflection with my family and having listened to the call of our people nationwide to run, I, Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, have accepted to re-present myself, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, for re-election as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the 2015 general election,” he said.


The president recalled how he declared an emergency when Nigeria was confronted with the Ebola virus in July and how Nigerians were united in the fight to contain and eliminate the virus.


“Just as we stopped Ebola, we are on our way to eradicating Polio in Nigeria, I promise that I will not hand over Polio to anyone,” he said.
In the area of education, the president said he had established 14 new universities, out of which two are specialised. “Under my watch, every Nigerian state has a federal university,” he said.


In addition, he said his government had established 150 Almajiri schools to provide education opportunities to thousands of children in the north.


On power, Jonathan said his government had pursued reforms to “an irreversible progress” and that additional hydro power stations were being built in Zungeru and Mambila.


In the area of agriculture, he spoke of how his administration had eliminated corruption in the distribution of fertiliser to farmers and how this had enhanced productivity and created thousands of jobs in the sector.


The president also pledged his commitment to working with all Nigerians, with a view to taking the country to its desired height, expressing strong optimism of seeing the country's future as bright, where all things works for its development.


He expressed gratitude to the people for the confidence reposed in him, by giving him the opportunity to lead the nation through uncommon challenges in a march to progress and united country.
Jonathan noted that over the years, he had been able to develop a bond with Nigerians, expressing gratitude for the support given his administration.


He admitted that his stewardship had not been without challenges, especially the insurgency that has swept through some parts of the country.
Representatives of the six geopolitical zones in the country took turns to mount the podium to throw their weight behind Jonathan's re-election bid.


Speaking on behalf of his colleagues at the event, Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors' Forum and Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, said the road to 2015 may not be a smooth sail for Jonathan and PDP.
However, he expressed confidence that PDP would coast home to victory in the presidential race, as well as majority of the states.
“We were robbed of three states, but the entry of Ekiti and Ondo States have increased our numbers. We may end up with no less than 29 states.


“But Mr. President, we know that the route to 2015 is not going to be very smooth but we are assuring you that at the end of the tunnel, victory is yours as victory belongs to all of us and victory remains that of PDP.
“We will never be intimidated. You are like David in the Bible; you are fighting all the wars today so that future presidents in Nigeria will have peace.


“We recognise that. You have taken the right step by building the Almajiri schools particularly in Northern Nigeria, you are building other schools in the south.


“You have decided to take education as a major step to educate Nigerian children so that they will not be misled in the future again.
“Never again will people mislead our children into terrorism; never again will our children succumb to insurgency. We are witnessing something that is totally un-Nigerian and we are saying do not be intimidated, we are behind you.


“Those who are behind you are more than those who are against you. In 2015, all Nigerians are going to tell you that we are behind you,” Akpabio said.


The representative of the North-west, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, said the PDP would poll 80 per cent of the votes for the president in 2015, while former Governor Peter Odili of Rivers State, on behalf of the South-south zone, said the region had absolute trust and confidence in the capability of Jonathan to ensure better living standards for all Nigerians.


Prof. Jerry Gana, on behalf of the North-central zone, said Jonathan was a catalyst of development who had rejuvenated railway infrastructure, transformed the power sector, and ensured good governance in the country, while Senator Ken Nnamani pointed out that the successes recorded by Jonathan called for continuity.


Speaking for the North-east, Hassan Adamu said this was the time to pay back Jonathan for his good works to the beleaguered geopolitical zone.


He said the Jonathan administration had delivered by providing two federal universities in Potiskum and Wukari and making fuel available in the North-east as well as extending railway services in some states in the zone.


Bode George, who spoke for the South-west, said the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo once said that an Ijaw man would be president of Nigeria and this was the time for the fulfillment of that prophecy. He declared the support of the South-west for the president.


In his remarks, former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, said he supported Jonathan’s re-election bid like every other Nigerian, adding that the president’s commitment to fairness, the rule of law and the good of Nigeria, are some of the qualities that stand him out among others.


Calling on Nigerians to support him, Obi said the president’s Transformation Agenda was working in concrete and real terms and another four years would see Nigeria making a quantum leap in terms of development.
The Chairman of the National Assembly and Senate President, David Mark, accompanied by all PDP members of the National Assembly, also pledged their support for Jonathan.


He said Nigerians wanted a leader that could be trusted, adding: “Mr. President you have demonstrated that you are reliable. We support you because you started an agenda that has endeared you to all Nigerians.


“You have laid a solid foundation on all fronts and we believe that if you do not come back these projects will not see the light of the day.
“This clarion call is because there would be continuity and this brings progress. We followed all the old democracies of the world in giving you the right of first refusal, please accept our clarion call.


“PDP is the first to accept that we have security challenges. This epidemic called Boko Haram must be brought to an end.”
The declaration turned out to be a huge carnival and a kaleidoscope of colours, punctuated with the PDP umbrella, the symbol of the party.


All ministers were present at the event. They sat with their delegations in their various state pavilions.
Several dance groups and supporters came in colourful dresses and banners eulogising the administration.
As a result of the presence of the heavy security cordon within the vicinity of the Eagle Square, traffic in Abuja was chaotic.


Also, the federal secretariat housing most of the federal ministries was shut down and workers asked to stay at home. Even private organisations like banks and insurances companies with offices close to the venue were forced to close shop.


Source: ThisDay