ABUJA- FOLLOWING pressure from many support groups across the country rooting for his formal declaration to contest the 2015 Presidential election, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim promised the over 7,000 Support groups calling on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to as well nominate President Goodluck Jonathan for the election as its candidate that the President will not disappoint them.
According to Anyim, President Goodluck Jonathan would weigh their demands for the overall interest of the country, against the backdrop that Nigerians were genuinely asking him to re- contest, he will not let them them, just as he asked for more patience from the people.
Speaking yesterday at the National Summit of Goodluck Jonathan Support Groups organised by the Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Professor Rufai Ahmed, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, who promised to tell Jonathan that Nigerians were genuinely calling on him to continue, stressed that participants paid their ways into Abuja and defiled the rains to plead with the President to continue.
The SGF who was the Special Guest of Honour and stood in for President Jonathan at the event which took place at the Eagle Square said, “I will tell Mr. President that Nigerians are genuinely determined to go with him in 2015.
“The desire of Jonathan to continue is no longer a matter of PDP but for all Nigerians”
Anyim who was led to the podium by some members with umbrellas following the heavy rain fall at 2.45pm assured that the President would not disappoint the crowd, adding, ” he will not disappoint you, he will not disappoint you, he will not disappoint you.”
The SGF who noted that he was seeing such a massive crowd for the first time where Nigerians defile the rains since in the morning without asking for food, drink, water, but only asking for Jonathan, however expressed excitement over the gathering and congratulated the political adviser to the president Rufai Alkali for registering 7000 support groups.
He said, “Even the rain cannot stop us; men cannot stop us; women cannot stoop. I’m particularly excited today because I’ve never seen a gathering like this. Nigerians have defiled the rain. From the morning, nobody has left, nobody has asked for food nor water. What they are asking for has been Goodluck Jonathan.”
Members of the National Working Committee, NWC of the PDP in line with their position that the Support groups should count them out, were however absent at the Summit.
Meanwhile, over 7000 groups yesterday defiled the heavy rains in Abuja which started at 12.35 when the Special Adviser to the President, Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali was reading his welcome address and asked that the President must declare for 2015 election, even as the groups endorsed his candidature.
The group, at the end of its first summit said they have reviewed the performance of President Jonathan and resolved that he has performed well, and on that note, there must be continuity of governance.
The resolution, which was signed by leaders, patrons and Directors of Goodluck Support Group (GSG) was read by Alkali and presented to Anyim at 2.59 pm for onward presentation to the president.
It read in full, “We, the Leaders, Patrons and Sponsors of over 7, 000 (Seven thousand) Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Support Groups that made up of the Goodluck Support Group (GSG), after a careful review of the performance of President Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR and the current development condition of our country hereby resolve as follows: That President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has performed very well; That it is in the interest of Nigeria and all Nigerians that his Transformation Agenda should continue beyond 2015; That President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan should step forward and contest for 2015 Presidential Election; That the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should nominate Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as its Presidential candidate for 2015 Presidential Election; That as Leaders and Representatives of the over 7,000 organizations with over 80 million membership, do hereby affairm our loyalty and unqualified support for President Goodluck Jonathan and undertake to deliver him Resolution to the President giving full effect to this communiqué.”
Also at the event yesterday, former national chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Senator Rufai Hanga defected to the PDP.
Speaker after speaker showered encomiums on President Jonathan and urged him to contest.
In his remarks, Chairman of the Summit and former National Chairman of PDP, Dr. Ahmadu Ali who noted that the president has achieved a lot in all the sectors, urged the President to re- contest, adding that the security challenge would soon be a thing of the past.
Also in his remarks, former Minster of information, Professor Jerry Gana who described President Jonathan as the hero of democracy, defender of social justice, activator of the Railway; driver of the transformation agenda, mobilizer of goodwill, advocate of human Governance, the energiser of the private sector, stressed that it has become imperative for Nigerians to support him for 2015 because of his achievements.
Also speaking, former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ibrahim Mantu who noted that the voice of men is the voice of God, urged President Jonathan to declare now without further delay since the people have spoken.
Governor of Akwa Ibom State and Chairman, PDP Governors’ Forum, Godswill Akpabio who spoke for the PDP governors who urged Nigerians to shun tribalism as well as forget sectionalism with the sole aim of bringing unity back into the country, said that Nigerians must re- elect Jonathan in 2015, adding that he believe in the vision of the support groups for Nigeria.
According to him, they have brought solution to the nation’s challenges which will bring succour to the people of the country, stressing that for transformation of the president to complete, Jonathan must be allowed to continue and that he had three solutions , and they are hinged only on Jonathan, adding, “When you look at the insurgency, Jonathan flies above them.”
He commended the men in uniform for their steadfastness and courage to bring peace back to Nigeria as well as the President for all infrastructural projects in the country. He also commended him for making petroleum products available and that he as brought agricultural revolution and made Nigeria the biggest economy in Nigeria.
Minister of Youth Development, Boni Haruna who spoke for the Ministers said that with the crowd, it as showed that there was no vacancy in Aso Rock.
Patrick Azadu who spoke on behalf of members of theHouse of Representatives, the PDP Caucus and other supporting parties including the Accord, APGA and LP, Said some other members were dumping the APC because of Jonathan, adding that the President has sold himself to Nigerians. and that God has sanctioned Jonathan to continue in2015 and no power, group can stop it, adding, “since God has sanctioned his continuation, anyone dissenting is doing so on its own.”
Vanguard.
