The final edition of the zonal rallies held in Kano yesterday by the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) to drum up support for President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of next year’s election almost ended in a fiasco.
Only Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State was at the Northwest leg of the rally held at the Kano Polo Ground.
Apart from Katsina, the president’s party –PDP – controls Kaduna, Kebbi, and Jigawa in the geopolitical zone.
Governor Muktar Yero of Kaduna was represented by his deputy.
Speaking at the rally, Governor Shema of Katsina pledged the support of the people of the state for President Goodluck Jonathan in next year’s elections.
“We, the Katsina people, are here because Katsina State is always in the forefront of Nigeria’s unity,” he said.
“We believe in Nigeria and I have no doubt in my mind that this nation will stand tall among the comity of nations if equity and justice is upheld.”
Shema charged Northern politicians to come together and stand as one for the love of Nigeria, pointing out that without peace and unity, nothing meaningful can be achieved in the country.
Dr. Khaliru Alhassan, Minister of State for Health spoke on behalf of Sokoto people, noting that, “President Jonathan is the latest gift for the North-West and he should be supported due to his tremendous achievements so far in the North-West and in the country in general.”
Alhasan said President Jonathan’s success at the 2015 polls “will solidify the unity of Nigeria.”
Ambassador Bashir Yuguda, Minister of State for Finance speaking for Zamfara State said the Jonathan administration “has created an economy that is all inclusive enough to benefit all Nigerians irrespective of religious and ethnic background.”
Alhaji Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Government Affairs said that for Kebbi State, President Jonathan remains the man to beat in the 2015 presidential election.
According to him, President Jonathan deserves another chance to occupy Aso Rock, adding : “In the North-West zone, particularly, in Kebbi, we are pleading with President Jonathan, we are calling upon President Jonathan to answer this clarion call upon him to continue beyond 2015.”
Mohammed Garba Danladi Auyo, a PDP governorship aspirant from Jigawa State and a loyalist of Senator Saminu Turaki, said the Jigawa people are solidly behind President Jonathan, pointing out that age and performance have given him an edge over whoever will come out to challenge him in 2015.
Speaking on behalf of PDP stakeholders from Kano, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali who was flanked by Mohammed Abacha and Alhaji Akilu Sani Ndabawa, both PDP governorship aspirants in Kano, described President Jonathan as a detribalized leader.
According to him, President Jonathan, though a Christian was the only Nigerian president who has attended the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) in Cairo, Egypt, pointing out that Jonathan’s relationship with Muslims is a clear indication that he is a pro-Muslim president.
He said:”Those fanning the embers of religion should also remember that it was as a result of President Jonathan’s intervention that the Saudi-Arabia authorities decided to welcome Nigerian pilgrims despite the Ebola hype.
“In 2015, PDP will wrest power from APC in Kano. We are confident of this fact because President Jonathan has done a lot not only in Kano but in Nigeria as a country. He has exhibited patriotism and nationalism.”
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim who conveyed President Jonathan’s condolence message to victims of the recent Boko Haram attack at Federal College of Education (FCE), Kano, said 2, 393, 331 Nigerians from the North-West Zone have endorsed Jonathan for a second term in office.
Anyim, who also handed over TAN’s relief materials for bomb blast victims in the North-West Zone to Governor Shema, said in no distant time, President Jonathan will personally be in Kano to commiserate with victims of the FCE bomb-blast.
No comments:
Post a Comment