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A frontline pro-President Goodluck Jonathan campaign organisation, Goodluck Initiative for Transformation (GIFT) 2015, has commended the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) for a successful solidarity rally held for the President in Awka, Anambra State.
Speaking to journalists in Kano yesterday after the launch of their ‘GIFT Northern Youths Empowerment Scheme’ (GIFT-NYES) initiative, a special programme designed to empower one million youths from the rural areas in northern Nigeria towards self-sustenance, the National Coordinator of the organisation, Chinedu Okpalanma, said his organisation was extending its congratulatory message to TAN for successfully organising the rally.
According to GIFT 2015, the huge convergence of Nigerians from the South-east region in Awka to show support for President Jonathan was a true reflection of the wishes of the people of the region for him to continue in office come 2015.
“We wish to congratulate TAN for the success of their South-east solidarity rally for the president held in Awka on Saturday which was a huge success and a positive statement to show the world the support the president has from Nigerians.
“If you remember well, we have had two successful rallies in Abuja in March and April, and our South-east zonal rally in Enugu in May and thousands turned out for these events. So their action is worthy of commendation because it shows that Nigerians truly support this government, contrary to what the opposition would want the world to believe,” Okpalanma stated.
Meanwhile, reacting to comments by the National Publicity Secretary of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Muhammad Ibrahim, where he condemned solidarity rallies by pro-Jonathan groups in the face of insecurity and other problems facing the country, Okpalanma said such statements seemed more of self-serving than nationalistic.
He added that: “It is rather strange how solidarity rallies by organisations like TAN and GIFT which represent the wishes of millions of Nigerians towards
President Jonathan have become irresponsible in the eyes of a few, simply because the successes of these events works against their agenda for 2015.
“I think the issue is to remind everyone that these organisations are simply platforms through which Nigerians are encouraged to express themselves freely, and that we are not sponsored by government. It is a new consciousness that is catching on and must be encouraged.”
“When a government continues to receive massive support from its people, it is encouraged to do more. We will not stop no matter thepropaganda. Nigeria must be liberated from the claws of those who have strangled our future, so we can usher in a bet ter tomorrow starting with the immense benefits recorded so far from the transformation agenda of this administration.”
Speaking on the GIFT-NYES initiative as a tool to help curb restiveness in the region, Okpalanma said his organisation was out to make a change by mobilising young Nigerians at the grassroots to actively participate in issues concerning their country by constructively engaging them in programmes; thereby making it impossible for politicians to manipulate them through selfish propaganda.
Thousands of participants at the launch received educational materials, gifts and empowerment kits, while different speakers spoke to them in Hausa language on the need to support the government. Other states in the North are expected to be visited in the coming weeks.
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