Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih has said that the critical issue in the February 14 Presidential election is justice, appealing to the north and the south-south to strengthen their age-long political alliance by voting overwhelmingly for President Goodluck Jonathan.
“While I do not intend to wish away your legitimate right to be President, I urge you to consider the decades of cooperation given by the people of the South-South to candidates of the North.”
Anenih, in a statement today, wanted the north reciprocate the age old South South gesture with a renewed mandate for Jonathan.
The statement reads: “Last week, I made a passionate appeal to Nigerians on the need for us to ensure, during the forthcoming elections, that the nation remains unified and keeps moving forward in unity. With a few days to commencement of the 2015 Presidential election, I find it expedient to send this appeal specifically to our brothers and sisters in the Northern States.
“The election is the most important as it is the precursor to the elections at the state level, which come up on February 28.  For me, however, the critical issue in the February 14 Presidential election is justice.  While I do not intend to wish away your legitimate right to be President, I urge you to consider the decades of cooperation given by the people of the South-South to candidates of the North.
“In all the democratic elections in Nigerian history in which a Northerner had contested, statistics show that the South-South often voted overwhelmingly for such a candidate.
“In the First Republic, political parties in the South-South were in alliance with the Northern Peoples Congress while in 1979, the South-South people voted massively for Alhaji Shehu Shagari of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN). Most recently, the Zone also voted massively for Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua who got over 80% of the votes in all the States of the South-South.
“What I ask of you is to reciprocate this show of solidarity and vote massively for our son, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, on February 14, 2015. This will only be a fair reward for the consistency of our friendship.
“I need to emphasize that this is the first time that the South-South has had the opportunity to produce the President of Nigeria. It is an opportunity for which we have been grateful since 2011.  However, the people of the Zone would feel short-changed, if they were to be denied the opportunity to have a full complement of tenure.  A second term for President Jonathan, who remains the best candidate for the presidency, will be the only just arrangement that the people of the Zone would cherish.
“May I say that the choice of voting for President Jonathan has been made easy for us all by his commendable performance in all the sectors of our national life during his first tenure. In agriculture, the economy, infrastructure, education, women and youth empowerment, the Jonathan administration has touched the lives of all Nigerians.
“I seek your massive support for President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential election on February 14, 2015. We need to continue to strengthen the bridge of unity and understanding among all the peoples of this great nation. It is only by making concessions and compromises that we can transform our diversity into great strength. There is no greater time for concessions and compromises than now.
“May I take this opportunity to call for moderation in our electioneering and politicking.  The threat of violence right from the time the presidential candidate of the APC, General Muhammadu Buhari, changed his mind that he would contest is unfortunate.  We would reasonably refuse to accept a situation where a Nigerian, whether from the North or the South, would start his political journey with a threat that the baboon and the dog would be soaked in their own blood if what happened in 2011 happens in 2015; whereas 2011 election was adjudged by international and domestic observers as the best election that we ever had in the nation’s poll history.
“I know the antecedents of each of the presidential candidates on parade for the 2015 election.  I also know that the threat of violence or rejection of anticipated election victory will not change the will of God.
“And on the part of the Independent National Electoral Commission, I expect the election body to up its ante.  In any human endeavour, there is always room for improvement.  There is no doubt in my mind that in the 2015 presidential election, INEC will improve on its preparations and the conduct of the election.
“I appeal to all of us to come together to help in the effort to move Nigeria forward in unity and harmony.  God bless President Jonathan; God bless the PDP; God bless Nigeria.” [myad]

President Goodluck Jonathan, today, empowered the Nigeria police for the February elections in the country with a total of 363 operational vehicles. The 363 vehicles is the first batch out of  the 2, 564 to be procured for election duty for the Police Force.
Commissioning the vehicles today at the Eagle Square, Abuja, President Jonathan, through Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo said that the
vehicles would boost the capacity of the Nigeria Police Force to deliver effectively and efficiently in that direction.
“It is my hope that the Nigeria Police Force will reciprocate this gesture of government by supporting the INEC and other actors in ensuring the conduct of free and fair elections this month. “Beyond this, it is also expected that the deployment of these operational vehicles will translate to enhanced surveillance of our communities in order to improve citizen safety and security.”
President Jonathan said that the Federal Government is the only tier of Government that is directly funding the Reform Programme of the Nigeria Police, estimated to cost N1.5 trillion over a period of  six years.
According to him, government has appropriated about N125 billion on the implementation of the Reform Programme from 2010 to 2013.
He commend the officers and men of the Police force for their selfless service and determination to rid the country of crime and criminality, while also condoling the families of personnel that died in the course of service to their fatherland, reiterating his determination to bequeath to the country a world class police force, that was well equipped, highly professional and people-oriented.
“I am fully aware of what you are going through, and I commiserate with you and offer my profound condolences to the entire family members of the deceased Officers. I appreciate, commend and salute your courage, patriotism and selfless service to our dear Country.”
The President stressed the need for peaceful conduct of the forthcoming elections, adding: “let us prove the pundits wrong, let us refrain from doing or saying whatever is likely to divide us. We should abhor and condemn all forms of violence. The year 2015 is already here; it shall pass away, but Nigeria and Nigerians shall remain indivisible as one Nation and one People.”
The Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Jelili Adesiyan said that the procurement of the vehicles is the single largest by any government in Nigeria.
He said that part of the other positive impact of the Transformation Agenda is the upgrading of the Police Academy in Wudil, Kano State to a degree awarding institution. Others are the capacity building of over 65,000 personnel, procurement of the state of the art equipment to tackle crime and criminality, as well as the construction of a hanger and the delivery of helicopters and an aircraft, among several others.
Speaking, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Suleiman Abba, expressed gratitude to President Jonathan and Vice President Sambo, on their commitment to the Nigeria Police Reform Programme. He pledge the dedication of the police to deliver on its constitutional mandate of effective policing.
He said the occasion was to commission 170 hard body patrol pick up,vans, 129, double cabin patrol vehicles, 50 four wheel drives, as well as 10 double cabin armoured patrol vans, including four 4X4 state of the art armoured personnel carriers. He emphasized that the procurement was being undertaken by an indigenous company in line with government policy.
IGP Abba stressed that the delivery of the vehicles would further boost the preparedness of the police in providing adequate security during the forthcoming elections, while also calling on other tiers of government and stakeholders to join hands with the Federal Government to raise adequate fund for the police.  [myad]

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organization has said that a presidential debate would afford its candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan, a platform to showcase his record of achievements in office but that
his major opponent, General Muhammadu Buhari, if he changes his mind to attend the debate, will only be making empty promises.
Director of Media and Publicity of the Organization, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, told newsmen in Abuja today that majority of Nigerians have already taken their decision to vote for President Jonathan because “they have seen the efforts of this government and what has been going on for the last four years.”
Fani-Kayode said that but for those that are yet to decide and perhaps for those who are leaning towards Buhari, “if we have a live debate and everybody is allowed to speak his or her mind freely and fairly, I assure you that by the end of that exercise, General Buhari will be exposed for what he is and President Jonathan will be able to give the Nigerian people a glimpse of what he has to offer and also a good account of his records for the last four years.
“That is why the other side is running away.  So, I think at the end of the exercise, after such a debate, whether APC-organized or whether organized by anybody else, President Jonathan will come out in flying colours while General Buhari will come out a very unhappy man.”
He reiterated that the APC, whose candidate does not want to participate in the debate, should “organize the debate, fill the panel with friends, set the questions, give copies of the questions to their candidate before the debate and even prepare answers for him.
“They can do all that; and not only will we still attend but we will also floor them.  We will make any concession in order to have the opportunity to debate with Buhari and show the Nigerian people how empty and shallow he (Buhari) really is.
“We have stated our position loud and clear that our candidate is prepared to participate in any debate organized by anybody at anytime and anywhere in this country provided it is live and provided we have the opportunity to speak our mind in a free and fair manner.
“It is the other side that is running away from this challenge.  One wonders why.  We have absolute confidence in Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria (BON) and, indeed, in anybody else to organize the debate.
“As a matter of fact, let me take this opportunity to throw the challenge to the APC and General Buhari: if it will make him feel more comfortable, let them organize the debate; let it be an APC-organized debate; let them have an APC panel; let them have questions that they will show their candidate even before we get there; we do not need to see the questions; let them give their candidate a preview of the questions; they can even have a prepared answer for their candidate to read if he finds it difficult to articulate his views and positions. We are prepared for all that.
“Let them have all those advantages and tell us about what they are going to do.  As long as it is a live debate, we will be prepared to go even to that debate; and, even at that point, under those circumstances, we would floor General Buhari and the President will do an admirable job by letting the Nigerian people know precisely what he stands for and he will also expose General Buhari for what he is.
“So, whatever the circumstances, we are ready to go.  The challenge has been put to them; we are waiting for them to respond.  Anywhere, anytime in this country, we are prepared to participate.  It is the other side that is running away.”
Fani-Kayode said that PDP had complete faith in the Broadcast Organisation of Nigeria (BON) that is organising the debate, adding: it has been doing similar thing for years.
“That is precisely why we are saying that if they are not comfortable with BON or anybody else; then we are telling you loud and clear that the APC themselves with their party members organize a debate.
“Let them be the ones to organise it; let them set up the panel; let them bring out the questions; let them show their candidate the questions before hand and let them prepare answers to those questions for their candidate.  Let them write it down for him; let them come and we will still debate with them as long as it is live and as long as our candidate is allowed to give his answers and as long as he is not cut short.
“As long as they would do that, we are ready to debate with them.  Even in those circumstances, General Muhammadu Buhari would not be able to stand against President Goodluck Jonathan.  They know that; we know that and the entire country knows that and that is why they are running away.” [myad]

President Goodluck Jonathan has said that Kaduna state has benefited tremendously in terms of education, transportation and many more from his government in his first term in office and promise to do more if he is re-elected for second-term in office.

President Jonathan, who spoke today at People Democratic Party (PDP) presidential rally which held at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium (ABS), Kaduna, said that when he return, he would concentrate in reviving the moribund textile industries the state.

According to him, important role of textile industry in the economy is enormous, that his next administration would shift attention to revamping it for the purpose of geerating more employments.
“The greater thing we need to do within the next one year is to revive Kaduna textile industries. We understand that it will generate employment opportunities for our people.

“With power in place now, reviving these companies and ensuring continuity will now be easy. We must do everything to revive it,” he said.

Speaking at the rally which was attended by thousands of party members and supporters, the Senate President, Senator David Mark, urged the people of Kaduna state to vote for Jonathan in the February presidential election so that he could continue with his transformation agenda of which Kaduna state had been a major beneficiary.

“Kaduna should not make the mistake of voting the wrong people because we are all looking up to the state. We must not allow those who will rig to succeed. We must stay and defend our votes.

“Mr. President has the love of the country at heart than any other presidential candidate today. Here is a man who has done a lot for the country. The least you can do is to vote for him to continue his transformation agenda” Mark said. [myad]

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organization has asked All Progressives Congress (APC) to organize a Presidential television debate at its own terms and conditions, promising that President Goodluck Jonathan, the party’s Presidential candidate would be there to participate in the debate.
In a statement today, the Director of media and publicity for the PDP presidential campaign organization, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode said PDP is insisting on the participation of the APC Presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari in a live television debate with President Goodluck Jonathan.
Fani-Kayode emphasised that PDP is ready to attend any debate, anywhere in the country with the APC candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, even if that debate is organized by the APC’s spokesman Lai Mohammed and the APC itself, as long as it would be televised live.
“The decision of the APC not to participate in the debate organized by the Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria (BON) on grounds of alleged bias is baseless and absurd. The decision of the APC to boycott the debate provides ample evidence of their cowardice and their unrelenting contempt for the Nigerian people.
“The truth is that the electorate would like to see the presidential candidates of all the political parties square up in a television debate to answer questions on their blueprint for governance and national development.
“The PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation are interested in our candidate, President Jonathan engaging General Buhari in a robust and lively debate so that both men can speak about issues like corruption, insurgency, the fight against terrorism and the
economy all of which are areas in which Buhari has grounded his unjustifiable and mischievous attacks on our candidate.
“Since the APC are not comfortable with anyone else handling and organising the debate and since they keep alleging bias on the part of any sensible and impartial organizer, we challenge them to organise the debate themselves. As long as the debate is live and they will allow our candidate to speak his mind on all issues, without any interruption and without cutting him short, we assure them that we will attend.  Our candidates-President Jonathan and his Vice President, Architect Namadi Sambo will take up the gauntlet and join issues with them anywhere in this country and at anytime as long as the Nigerian people can witness the event live and as long as it is done openly for the world to see.
“We know that they may have a few challenges with the English language; so, if they like they can even conduct the debate in vernacular: we would be prepared to pay for a translator or an interpreter just so that they could understand the proceedings. Whenever they want to organise such a debate and wherever they choose as the venue, we will be there, as long it will be televised live. This is because we believe that under any circumstances and in every situation President Goodluck Jonathan will give Buhari the thrashing of his life in any frank and open discussion about his record in public office.” [myad]

National Publicity Secretary of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh has said that people in the Northern part of Nigeria are just eager to vote en-mass for President Goodluck Jonathan over and above the Presidential candidate of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari in the February 14 election.

“Indeed, Nigerians in the north are eager to re-elect President Goodluck Jonathan come February 14, 2015. Voters in the region appreciate the direct positive impact of the numerous development projects executed by the Jonathan administration in all sectors of life.

In a statement today, Metuh predicted that President Jonathan will defeat General Buhari in the election, saying that Jonathan is enjoying soaring popularity among the voting population across the country.

According to him, the President would win more than two-third of the total votes cast as well as the required 25 percent in all the states of the federation, adding that President Jonathan will beat Buhari in the north, not only because the PDP controls 12 out of the 19 states of the region, but because the citizens are pleased with the numerous development projects he executed in the region.

Metuh explained that the various projects and appointments in the north have placed President Jonathan ahead of Buhari especially following the fact that the APC presidential candidate never executed any in the region when he was head of state and has so far failed to articulate an acceptable blue-print for development.

“They appreciate the fact that recognizing that agriculture is the mainstay of the northern economy, President Jonathan ensured that out of the 2.7 million direct farm jobs achieved by his administration, over 2 million are in the north.

“They appreciate the fact that President Jonathan established the e-wallet system, which eliminated the corruption in the distribution of fertilizer and other farmputs, making the products directly accessible to millions of farmers in the region thereby boosting their productivity. They appreciate the fact that silos are brimming and food pyramids are returning in the north.

“In education, President Jonathan’s imprint in the north remains indelible. Today, the once relegated Almajiri boys can now go to school following the establishment of the Almajiri System of Education, the first of its kind, with over 150 special schools already built, while others are nearing completion, a noble idea, General Buhari never thought of when he was head of state.

“Also, out of the 14 new universities established by President Jonathan, 9 are located in the northern states thereby ensuring that all states of the region have a federal university. This is in addition to the establishment of new secondary schools and training of teachers for quality education in the region.

“Furthermore our citizens in the north are happy with President Jonathan for his efforts in tackling desertification in the region especially with the establish of more than 80 km of 15–row Green Belt in addition to the Presidential Initiative on Afforestation in Kano and 10 other Northern States.”

Metuh recalled the increased attention to the health need of the area especially the interventions towards polio eradication and treatment of VVF among others.

He said that President Jonathan has repositioned the region for prosperity and that the north now stands to benefit immensely from the revitalization of the railways, especially the rehabilitation of the Minna-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano narrow gauge, the Markurdi-Lafia-Kuru-Bauchi-Gombe-Ashaka-Maiduguri line and the branch line from Kafanchan to Kaduna, which are expected to increase productivity in the region.

The PDP National publicity secretary said that roads in the region have received serious attention under Jonathan citing the decades-long intractable Kano-Maiduguri highway, the longest stretch in the country, which is now being successfully tackled in addition to the Abuja-Lokoja road, which is now a delight for road travellers. [myad]