President Goodluck Jonathan seemed lost for words to thank Igbo people for the support they have been giving to him from the day he indicated his interest in the Presidency of Nigeria. He said that he has been overwhelmed by the kind of support he has been getting from Igbos since the inception of his administration.
The President, who hosted a group of Igbo market and town union leaders at the State House, Marina Lagos, under the auspices of Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), today said: “I don’t know how to thank Igbos. I don’t know how to thank my brothers and sisters from the southeast. After serving this country, I will have to go and read literature and study all classical literary works by Chinua Achebe and others to be able to learn how to describe and thank my brothers from Igbo. The kind of support, love and prayers you have showered on me are unbelievable. I have gotten the kind of support I never expected from you all. “It is not about what I can do or what I have done; it is just God’s love.”
The President thanked the Igbo leaders across Lagos state for their promise to deliver all Igbo votes to him in the 2015 Presidential election added: “I can never pay you back for all what you do. I only pray I am able to give you a token of appreciation with my performance, not necessarily pay you back.
On the insecurity in the country caused by insurgents, President Jonathan said that the ‘intimidation’ tactics employed by terrorists will not last.
He said that government would continue to update the necessary security infrastructure and architecture to be able to bring insurgency to an end.
He advised Nigerians to see the present security situation as a passing phase which the country would overcome, just like many other countries which also faced terrorism at one time or the other defeated it.
“Talking about the unfortunate bomb incident in Kano yesterday (Friday), I just want to tell Nigerians that this phase will surely pass. “This intimidation will not last. We will continue to improve on the technology needed to combat terrorism. “This intimidation will soon end, I can assure you. Other countries which faced terrorism later defeated it, we shall overcome also.”
Speaking earlier, Arthur Eze urged Igbos to keep mobilizing votes for Jonathan because he had the fear of God and sincerity to work for the nation.
Ifeanyi Ubah called on them to show their numerical strength in Lagos by mobilizing many votes for Jonathan.
TAN Secretary, Christian Okechukwu said that the organization planned to use mobile phone freebies and door to door mobilization to deliver the votes necessary to ensure a Jonathan victory in 2015.
The organization also displayed 50 vehicles which will be deployed for mobilization in all the local government areas in Lagos.
Several market and town union leaders who spoke one after the other also vowed to mobilize massively for the President to ensure he doesn’t lose any Igbo votes.
Present at the meeting were the national chairman of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Adamu Muazu, chairman of Chukason Group Dr. Chika Okafor, chairman of Chisco Group, Dr. Chidi Sylvester, Obinna Uzor, Dr. Stella Okorie of Emzor Pharmaceuticals, the Anyiam Osigwe brothers among others.
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