WHY GOODLUCK JONATHAN SHOULD BE VOTED FOR

IKA WEEKLY

As long as any person is able to emerge as the presidential flag bearer of his party, it means that the candidate is a worthy person to a great extent under normal circumstances. Therefore, all the presidential flag bearers are qualified and good citizens to a great extent. Notwithstanding, “All animals are equal, but some are more equal than the others”.

President Goodluck Jonathan stands as a better candidate than any other presidential aspirants in the following ways, in particular if compared with his main opposition candidate. He encourages the Fundamental Human Rights to strive in Nigeria in particular freedom of speech. Before now, no president of this country had ever permitted people to criticize them how much more to insult them publicly, nationally or internationally and go scot free. Behold, if he is to act as his predecessors acted, the prison that is already filled up could have been over congested by now.

His regime is devoid of politically motivated killings at the Federal Level. Those busy shouting of daily killings in their respective states are the real architect of the local killings which has no link with the Federal arrangements. Please, take your mind back to late Bola Ige, Dele Giwa, Ken Saro-Wiwa, Fred Rewane all of blessed memories.

In the Educational sector, most of us suffered incessant strikes when we were undergraduates, a course of 4 years could linger to six years and that of six years to nine years or more. Facilities in the primary, secondary and higher institutions were grounded, most especially the tertiary institutions. Today the story has changed during his regime. He has established more functioning schools in the country especially in educationally deficient areas which favour the Northerners. He has built enough schools for the almajiris, surprisingly, his opposers and critics have sponsored the destruction of those schools claiming that their people do not need the schools, as they don't need education nor knowledge rather they prefer ignorance and backwardness.

In transportation sector, I want you to flash your mind back to about 7 years to 20 years ago and the many hours it use take to travel from Lagos to Calabar, Agbor to Enugu, Benin to Sokoto and other parts of the country by road. Also, check the rate of accidents on the road, the deplorable state of roads and other negligence as at that time including police and other security harassments during the past regimes before President Goodluck Jonathan took over the mantle of leadership. They are never comparable to the joy of plying Federal roads today. Also, we have more airports, better rail and water transportation today. All these are gradually decongesting our busy roads. Moreover, the second Niger Bridge is under construction which other presidents have been avoiding due to the huge sum of money it requires and other reasons.

In the Agriculture sector, right now there is a drastic drop in the importation of food into Nigeria due to the proper
understanding of the problem and solution to food supply. Fertilizer distribution system, construction of dams, processing of our produce, provision of machines and other necessary assistance have paved way for this innovation. It is a well known fact that very soon, importation of food such as rice and beans especially will become a thing of the past and we will start exporting same to other countries.

It is only during Goodluck Jonathan regime we have seen the National Honour to be devoid of politically motivated issues. This time around, a faithful driver, professional actors/actresses, our heroes, cook, messengers and who soever that deserves national honour were considered. No president before him has ever remembered those salient areas such as the designer of our National flag nor the composer of our National Anthem.

Our president is the one that has involved the female gender in his governance with high percentage and were given good portfolios. He refused to bench them in the kitchen alone. Many have been shouting the slogan that they will end corruption in one day. All attempts to explain how they will end it proved abortive. The president has done his best to block all the channels through which financial corrupt practices are being erupted. He has recovered more than N400 billion within a short period of time. Kudos to him.

In security areas, a large number of Nigerians were surprised to hear from the military personnels that there is no weapon in the Nigerian armory to fight Boko Haram. The question is, where are the weapons claimed to have been purchased by the military Generals (“former head of states”) whether as a military or civilian head of state? Goodluck Jonathan then ran to our big brother for help (America) they denied us, so he applied other methods to get the weapon, but the enemies of his government began to condemn him for seeking other means of getting weapon. Today, Boko Haram is already a thing of the past. Remember how much time and efforts he gave them to change before rooting them out. History has it that the Boko Haram group presented one big public figure even among the presidential flag bearers to negotiate on their behalf with the Federal Government. This implies that the person in question knows much about them, being part of them and must have been protecting their interest before projecting him as their negotiator.

Nigeria does not need a religious fanatic to lead them. Any attempt, more problems will be created. Goodluck Jonathan qualifies in this aspect.

Moreover, our dear country does not need an ethnically bias person to pilot the affairs of this nation. We don't need a president that will wake up one day and start instructing the Yorubas in other ethnic states to go back home or the Hausas to start returning back to base, or the Ibos to return to Enugu. Neither do we need a dictator and a tyrant as our president.

In the power sector, it is clear that electricity supply is a problem in this country which has been there for a long time, the best approach is what has been done that is by deregulating the sector. The president re-arranging this into; power generation, distribution and transmission. If concerted effort is been made by all and sundry, power will be stable before the next 5 years, “all things being equal”. You cannot get a good harvest without clearing the farm or bush, planting the seed and nurturing the crops. All these require patience.

In the oil sector, he has summoned courage to dislodge the cabal that has held grip of the oil wells of this nation, those who sat on the fortune of this country. May God give him the courage and wisdom required to complete it in Jesus name, amen.
President Goodluck Jonathan believes in the philosophy that says “Let me do my best while you do your own best”. He also acknowledges the distribution of power. Why on earth does a reasonable fellow keep on blaming the president on the issue that concerns other arms of government such as The Legislative and Judiciary? Moreover, why should he always be blamed for the ineffectiveness of other tiers of government such as the state and the local government? When majority are calling for the head of Prof. Atahiru Jega, the INEC Chairman for what they think he has planned against the president and PDP's victory which is the president's party, the president refused to join them. If he had, Jega could have been removed by now. Only few Nigerian leaders can accommodate all these.

Presidential debate has taken place twice independently by international standard. President Goodluck Jonathan was in attendance of the two with other aspirants. We appreciate them and honour them as they have equally honoured us. Those who did not attend it could be unhealthy, unable to speak good English, not having the solution to the national problem and not having respect of any kind for the citizens of this country and the international community, yet they need our votes and wish to rule us. I believe that Nigerians have out-grown this level.

I wish all peaceful, free and fair elections that will usher in a viable president and other good leaders that will lead us.

Long live Federal Republic of Nigeria!
Evang. Obiazi Steve-Young
From Agbor, Delta State