would continue to work with them to move the country forward.
He gave the assurance at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National
Headquarters after picking the party`s nomination and expression of
interest forms to recontest the presidency in 2015.
The president said that no matter how strong a president was across the
world, he was only an individual that on his own, could do nothing.
“You alone cannot change the society. For you to succeed, you work with
people; so if you are succeeding that means we have a team that is working
to transform this country.
“So I will work with all Nigerians to make sure that we move our country
to the next level,’’ the president said.
He stressed that the days of saying that Nigeria was a potential great
country was over, adding that, “Nigeria is a great country’’.
This, he said, was demonstrated in the way the country collectively
handled the Ebola case with the whole world being happy with Nigeria.
President Jonathan, however, added that it was time for all hands to be on
deck to move the country to the desired level in the years to come.
He thanked Nigerians generally and reassured that his administration would
not let the people down.
The president also expressed gratitude to the PDP leadership for giving
him the right of first refusal.
“First let me thank God for today and Nigerians that are here today for
this brief ceremony.
“Let me thank the leadership and all members of our party for believing in
me and for giving me the right of first refusal.
“I could have still picked the forms if they did not give me, but giving
me the right of first refusal has attracted more people that ordinarily it
would have had,’’ the president said.
He specifically thanked the PDP national chairman and members of the
party`s National Executive Committee (NEC) for unanimously endorsing the
decision of its other organs that adopted him as the party`s sole
candidate for the 2015 presidential election.
The president also thanked the PDP Governors Forum for providing the N22
million for purchasing the nomination and expression of interest forms for
the election.
He further thanked members of the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria
(TAN) and other Nigerians for their contributions towards the purchase of
the forms.
“I remain most grateful for their gesture and I thank them for believing
first in this country, secondly for believing in the PDP because they know
that this form is for the PDP ticket and lastly, for believing in me,’’ he
said.
Alhaji Adamu Mu`azu, the PDP National Chairman, however, expressed
happiness at the occasion, adding that President Jonathan had made history
by coming to pick the forms himself.
He, however, announced that the party leadership had decided to give
automatic tickets to state governors running for second term, who had
performed creditably well, to re-contest their position in 2015.
According to him, the governors will be given the right of first refusal.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Jonathan was
accompanied by members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and PDP
governors, led by Gov. Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom and Chairman of the
PDP Governors Forum.
Mr Richard Lamai, a senatorial aspirant from Edo North Senatorial
District, had however, called on Nigerians to support the second term bid
of President Jonathan to enable him to continue his transformation agenda
(NAN)
