by Oluwatosin Fatoyinbo
It was a praise singing galore for the President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday at a national rally of more than 7,000 groups under the aegis of Goodluck Support Groups (GSG), organised by the National Coordinator, Prof. Rufai Ahmed.
Former National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Ahmadu Ali started by enumerating benefits the populace had enjoyed under the leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan.
“In spite of evil machinations, Nigeria has remained undivided; we shall remain one and `we dey kampe’ and the Jonathan administration has provided meaningful, feasible ideas to sustain democracy.
“He has invested in the youth and developed national consciousness among them. The nation’s GDP has risen from 169 billion dollars in 2013 to 283 billion dollars today.
“Food importation has reduced from trillions to the region of hundreds of thousands of dollars; Nigeria is the number one destination for foreign direct investment in Africa; our oil is witnessing a projection.
“Come rain, as it has fallen now or come sunshine, we stand behind Goodluck.’’
On his part, Gov. Godswill Akpabio said “everyone keeps saying I’ve performed well and that there is uncommon transformation in my state. I didn’t do it in a tenure; I am in my second tenure.
“For Nigeria’s total transformation, one tenure is not enough. He has put measures in place to stop gas flaring, decided to address the problem of the north-east by building schools for almajiri.
“He has been the most distracted but the most focused president; has faced Ebola squarely and made Nigeria the biggest economy in Africa,’’ Akpabio said.
Convener of the Rally, Prof Ahmed Rufai who also doubles as Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters said “He should step forward and contest in 2015. The PDP should nominate him for the presidential elections and as leaders, we endorse him for the presidential elections.
“This is signed by the leaders of the more than 7,000 groups.’’
Prof. Jerry Gana, also a PDP chieftain, commended the groups for assembling for “a good course; a good man of a good nation’’.
He called Jonathan “an energiser to the private sector; a mobiliser of goodwill; defender of justice and driver of transformation agenda’’.
When it became the turn of former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu, he said that the people have spoken and Jonathan must respond.
“Mr President, the voice of the people is the voice of God; the people have spoken. They want you to speak soon; don’t delay, they need a response to their demands”.
Hajiya Baraka Sani, the Special Assistant to the President on Agriculture then delivered her version by saying “Our elders have always said we are the leaders of tomorrow but tomorrow never comes; Mr President is the link to the tomorrow we want,’’ Sani said.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, concluded the afternoon of eulogies by affirming that even the opposition supports Jonathan.
