The President, in a message at a media presentation of 'Candidate Goodluck Jonathan', in Lagos through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr Doyin Okupe, yesterday promised that his administration would continue to seek the peace, development and progress of the country in the face of serious challenges and opposition by those who deliberately choose to remain blind to the lofty achievements his government has recorded in the last four years.
While encouraging his supporters in Lagos to take it as a duty to move from house to house, speak to their friends, neighbours and colleagues on the need to vote right in 2015 said: "There is the need for continuity and improvement in the country."
Okupe in his comment said the coast is now clear and the battle for who becomes President in the 2015 election is definitely going to be a battle between 'Good luck and bad luck' .
Justifying why his office organised the 'Candidate Goodluck Jonathan' event, Okupe said it was to tell Nigerians what the government has achieved so far as against the lies the opposition has been spreading .
Reading the President's message at the event at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers Ikeja Okupe said, "Distinguished guests, thank you very much for taking your time to attending this meeting, you must all take the advantage of asking any question and be sure that I will receive reports from my team."
Saying he is often accused of being fanatical about President Jonathan Okukpe said: "Yes, it is true. I stand for and work for what I believe in. I have worked for two presidents and I speak because I believe in what I say. I do not wish to denigrate anybody.
"This Jonathan is the very best that we have seen. There is no offence to compare ourselves with Goodluck Jonathan. The man Jonathan bears a lot of burden, he keeps quiet, he is focused and does not talk anyhow or denigrate anyone so that Nigeria will remain one.
"There are members of the opposition that are deaf. It is not by coincidence that every good thing is happening in Nigeria during his administration but the fact is the man is focused and he has the best brains around him."
He pointed to the fact that the opposition are waiting to base their campaign against Jonathan on three areas, which are security, power and corruption .
"But Jonathan's administration has recorded tremendous achievements in these areas such that in the last four years the country is now generating over 4800 megawatts compared to the 2800 megawatts the country has generated since 1960."
Okupe agreed the government has not yet attained the utmost level, but added "there is room for improvement as we are still working within the roadmap to achieving our aims."
In his remarks, Chairman of the Northern Elders Council (NEC), Alhaji Tanko Yakassai reiterated that the North would vote overwhelmingly for the Jonathan/Sambo ticket in the 2015 presidential election and called on the rest of the country to do the same.
According to him, "I am happy to know that President Goodluck Jonathan was endorsed by his party, the PDP, as its presidential candidate. I also want to congratulate his party, the PDP for introducing the method of right of first refusal to Nigeria and I hope other political parties will adopt this measure to prevent any form of rancour in political parties. This is the type of politics that we are looking for in this country; politics of ideas and programme. Let me use this opportunity to fault the insinuations about the Boko Haram insurgency."
"That the Boko Haram was created to frustrate Dr. Goodluck Jonathan's administration and that his administration was sponsoring Boko Haram, both impressions are wrong. Boko Haram came on the Nigerian scene way back in 2002; this was during President Olusegun Obasanjo's first term in office. That was the time Boko Haram started.
"The Federal Government has nothing to do with Boko Haram and no government will encourage insurgency against itself. Anyone who is saying that Boko Haram is created to destabilise Jonathan or is being sponsored by Jonathan is erroneous and wrong," he said.
Commenting on the resolve of the North to vote for Jonathan, he said "we, the North, are so grateful that he decided to retain architect Namadi Sambo as his running mate, in the last five years, we have not heard of any rancour or disagreement between the President and his Vice.
"I hope that President will ensure that he executes the recommendations of the National Conference especially the rotation of power so that each geo-political zone will have the opportunity of producing the president of this country."
Chairman of the occasion and Second Republic Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN) was hopeful Jonathan would emerge victorious in the 2015 presidential election.
He said, "we are assembled here today to launch President Jonathan, who is definitely going to be the president of Nigeria. I have toured the whole country.
After a fair assessment, I can boldly say that our candidate, President Jonathan will be the next president of the country. I am going to make a prediction and that prediction is definitely going to come to pass. That prediction is we will win."
On reason why Jonathan deserves to be overwhelmingly supported, former Deputy National Chairman (South) of the PDP, Chief Olabode George said it was imperative for every Nigerian and the South West in particular, to rally round Jonathan's second term bid.
According to him: " This man has courage. There was need for us to discuss the Nigerian project and he was not afraid to allow us to discuss the Nigerian project and proffer solutions to issues.
Even if for no other reason, he deserves our vote. He has also promised to execute the recommendations of the conference. The conference accepted that we have State Police, devolution of powers and that local government should be given a special status."
He continued: "We then set and recommended that there would no longer be immunity for governors. President Jonathan, in his magnanimity, allowed us to do all that and more at the conference and we concluded that that document would be the new beginning for Nigeria. Why would we shortchange the South-South? Let us make sure that we actualise this on February 14, 2015 and you know that day is a special day, which is Valentine's Day."
Describing the presentation as a day of history, George said, "Anybody who wants to rule Nigeria, must have patience, and we need that kind of man to take us to higher heights. It is also time we won Lagos State. Let me also advise those that lost during the governorship primaries that some will win, some will lose.
There is time for everything."
Also speaking, , Senator Florence Ita-Giwa said the mammoth crowd that graced the occasion was an indication that Nigerians believe in President Jonathan.
"I always say that what President Jonathan has faced has been unfair. "He is the most vilified president the country has ever had, yet despite all the challenges, he remains focussed and humble
"If other presidents have enjoyed two terms, Jonathan must also enjoy his two terms."
Guest speaker at the event, Professor Dupe Olatunbosun said, "I have looked at the presidential candidates of the two political parties the PDP and the APC and I intend to draw a comparative analyses between them because they have both served as presidents of this country.
He however commended Jonathan's administration for his achievements in all sectors of the country, saying: "Despite all the challenges Jonathan encountered, Nigeria's economy has improved to become the number one economy in Africa, but the problem I have is that the wealth of this country is still in the hands of some few. I see a lot to be done. Corruption needs to be combated in all fronts in our society."
Listing some of the achievements under Jonathan, the guest speaker said, "During the Goodluck administration, the Freedom of Information (FoI) Bill was passed. We all know that when Buhari was Head of State, he did not have the challenges President Jonathan has and he also did not believe in democracy."
The event attracted eminent personalities including Lagos State PDP governorship candidate, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, Senator Fola Bajomo, Senator Ayo Arise, Chief Jubril Martin-Kuye, Prince Teru Olateru-Olagbegi, Mr. Bisi Omoyemi among others
