{"id":33015,"date":"2014-11-11T17:34:11","date_gmt":"2014-11-11T16:34:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/?p=33015"},"modified":"2014-11-11T17:54:29","modified_gmt":"2014-11-11T16:54:29","slug":"2015-jonathan-joins-race-vows-defeat-boko-haram","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/exclusive\/2015-jonathan-joins-race-vows-defeat-boko-haram\/","title":{"rendered":"Give Me Four More Years, Jonathan Urges Nigerians"},"content":{"rendered":"
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President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has urged Nigerians to allow him another
\nfour years to continue the transformation of vital sectors of the Nigerian
\neconomy.Jonathan who officially declared his intention to run for a second term in
\noffice at the 2015 Presidential elections at the Eagles Square Abuja
\nbefore a mammoth crowd of supporters said he is poised to eradicating
\ninsecurity, unemployment while creating an enabling environment for the
\naccelerated development of the nations economy.<\/p>\n

Below is the text of the President’s Speech during the declaration:<\/p>\n

Dear Compatriots:
\n1. Four years ago, precisely September 18, 2010; I stood in this Eagle
\nSquare, to offer myself for election as the President of our beloved
\ncountry on the platform of our great party; the Peoples Democratic Party
\n(PDP).
\n2. Seven months after that declaration, you elected me to lead this
\ncountry with overwhelming support from all parts of our Nation. I remain
\ngrateful for the trust you reposed in me to lead our Nation through
\nuncommon challenges in our march of progress as a united and democratic
\ncountry.
\n3. Over the years, the Almighty God has made it possible for me to develop
\na bond with you and I am grateful for your support and understanding in
\nthe difficult periods we have journeyed through.
\n4. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, our stewardship has not been
\nwithout challenges. We have had to deal with the wave of insurgency that
\nhas swept through some parts of our dear country. Only yesterday,
\nGovernment Science Secondary School in Yobe State was bombed by
\ninsurgents, killing our promising young children who were seeking
\neducation to build the country and support their parents. Many Nigerians
\nhave lost their lives and property to these mindless killings. Let me
\ncrave the indulgence of all present here to stand up to observe a minutes
\nsilence in honour of these young lads who lost their lives. Clearly, this
\nhas cast a dark cloud on our Nation but we will surely win the war against
\nterror. A number of young men and women have been kidnapped by these
\ncriminal elements including our daughters from Chibok. We will free our
\ndaughters and defeat terrorism.
\n5. We are equipping the armed forces and deploying special forces to
\nengage the terrorist and end this senseless war. We must protect our
\ncountry. We must save our people. I will do everything humanly possible to
\nend this criminal violence in our Nation.
\n6. To ensure the long term stability and development of the affected
\nareas, government has launched three programmes: The Presidential
\nInitiative for the North East, the Victim Support Fund and the Safe School
\nInitiative. The Presidential Initiative for the Northeast is focused on
\nimproving infrastructure and economic growth in the region. The Safe
\nSchool Initiative is centred on creating a safe environment to encourage
\nour children in the communities to acquire education. The Victim Support
\nFund, a partnership with the Private Sector, has raised about 60 billion
\nNaira, which will help to empower and rehabilitate victims of terror. I
\npromise the victims of these dastardly acts that we will continue to stand
\nwith you.
\n7. I am grateful to all Nigerians for standing with me.
\n8. Let me also thank the leaders and elders of our great party, the
\nPeoples Democratic Party, for the opportunity you have given to me to
\nserve our country, Nigeria.
\n9. I am overwhelmed by the trust, confidence and support of the various
\norgans of our party, the Board of Trustees, the National Caucus, the
\nNational Executive Committee, the National Working Committee, the PDP
\nGovernors Forum, members of the PDP Caucuses of the National Assembly, and
\nothers.
\n10. This day affords me the opportunity to continue the conversation of
\ndevelopment we started together.
\n11. Infrastructure has been a major focus area of my administration and
\nso, we pursued the power sector reform to this point of irreversible
\nprogress. Nigeria has undertaken a most transparent and corruption free
\nbidding process, attracting global commendation. The on-going 450MW Azura
\nPower Plant in Edo State is a testimony to the success of this
\ntransformation.
\n12. We have also resumed development of our Hydro-Power potential, with
\nthe construction of the 700MW Zungeru Hydro-Power Plant, while
\nconstruction work on the 3,050MW Mambilla Hydro-Power Plant is about to
\ntake off.
\n13. Our power generation and distribution companies have now been
\nprivatized. We are firmly on the road to guaranteed regular power supply
\nin the months ahead. This our bold move, is paying off!
\n14. We are committed to environmental protection and conservation and
\nreducing vulnerability to climate change. In this regard, we have embarked
\non a number of projects across the country. Of particular note is the
\nAfrican Great Green Wall Programme, where we have released about 16
\nbillion naira for implementation. The project will create a green belt
\nacross 11 states from Kebbi to Borno.
\n15. In the past three and half years, the water sector has witnessed
\nunprecedented improvement. Access to potable water is now 67%, up from 58%
\nin 2010, while sanitation coverage is 41%, from 32% within the same
\nperiod.
\n16. Major developments in water include the completion of 37 Dams and
\nrehabilitation of 10, with several others on-going construction. The
\nflagship Kashimbila Multipurpose Dam which is being built to contain flood
\nfrom Lake Nyos, is now at 90% completion. We have also completed about
\n5,000 rural and semi urban water schemes.
\n17. We are reforming the National Urban Water supply programmes in 12
\nstates, with 385 formal and informal irrigation projects, covering a total
\nland area of 118000 ha, cultivated mostly by small holder farmers. This
\nhas yielded over 3 million metric tons of assorted grains and vegetables,
\nwith a market value of about 45 billion naira.
\n18. Before the advent of this administration, the Railway system was
\npractically dead. Today, we have revived the rail sector. The narrow gauge
\nline from Lagos to Kano has been rehabilitated with improved coaches
\nproviding regular services. The rehabilitation of the Port
\nHarcourt-Maiduguri rail line is progressing with the Port Harcourt-Gombe
\nsegment as well as the branch line from Kafanchan to Kaduna expected to be
\ncompleted and fully operational by December 2014.
\n19. Already, work on the Abuja-Kaduna standard gauge rail line, is
\nprogressing. The tracks of the rail line will be completed by December
\nthis year 2014. Upon completion of the project in the first quarter of
\n2015, it will be possible for Nigerians to live in Kaduna and work in
\nAbuja. The Itape-Ajaokuta-Wari standard gauge line has attained an
\nadvanced stage, with the track completely laid. We hope to commence full
\noperation before the end of 2015.
\n20. Other segments of the new standard gauge speed train network are
\nplanned with contract already awarded for the Lagos \u2013Ibadan Segment. There
\nwill be more of such modern and faster rail connections in the coming
\nyears. Already, discussions are now at advanced stage, for the Coastal
\nrail line that will traverse through 10 states, from Lagos through the
\nSouth-South and South-East, all the way to Calabar.
\n21. My administration has successfully completed the dredging of the lower
\nRiver Niger from Baro in Niger State to Warri in in Delta State. The
\ncheering news is that over 6.7 million passengers and over 1.6 million
\ntonnes of cargo have been moved through this channel in less than three
\nyears.
\n22. I am happy to also report that our ports now operate 24 hour service,
\nwhich has led to the reduction of clearing time and improved efficiency.
\n23. When I assumed office in 2010, out of the 35,000km of federal roads
\nnationwide, only about 5,000km were motorable. Today, that number has
\nincreased to about 25,000km. We expect to complete the remaining 10,000km
\nin three years while initiating new ones.
\n24. I made a commitment to build two new major bridges across the River
\nNiger and River Benue. Today, the new bridge over the River Benue,
\nconnecting Loko in Nassarawa State to Oweto in Benue State has reached an
\nadvance stage of completion, while work has commenced on the Second Niger
\nBridge.
\n25. Beyond these, my administration has concluded plans to re-commence the
\nconstruction of Bodo-Bonny Road with three major bridges on the alignment
\nthat will link the Island of Bonny with Rivers mainland.
\n26. Preliminary works have started on my administration\u2019s planned
\nre-construction and expansion of the Murtala Muhammed International
\nAirport Road in Lagos to a world class entry point into our country. Only
\na few months ago, work started on the dualization of Kano-Katsina Road.
\nWhile many Nigerians are celebrating the marked improvements on our roads,
\nI want to assure that it will get even better as we move forward.
\n27. In the pursuit of an integrated transportation system, we embarked on
\nthe construction of five new Airport Terminal Buildings and Air-field
\nfacilities. We are also re-constructing existing ones. The re-construction
\nupon completion, will lead to improved passenger processing, increased
\ncargo handling capacity and enhanced Air-field facilities that meet
\ninternational standard and improves safety. These efforts have been met
\nwith global acknowledgement including the attainment and retention of the
\nFAA Category One status.
\n28. In housing, we signed the National Housing Policy to kick-start the
\nframework for providing more affordable homes for our people. We have also
\nexpanded the National Housing Fund to accommodate more Nigerians. We have
\nstarted a revolution in the housing sector with the start of the Nigerian
\nMortgage and Refinanced Company (NMRC) a new initiative of my
\nadministration, that will enable more citizens in the lower income bracket
\nto become first time home owners.
\n29. Our partners such as the World Bank group are supporting this with
\nUS300million dollars interest free credit, while my administration will
\nback it with over 100billion naira in bonds. We are already processing
\n66,000 mortgage applications for our young people. We have amended the
\nPENCOM Act to enable the pension funds invest in housing sector bonds.
\nThis will create a boom in the housing sector.
\n30. In the Federal Capital Territory, we are rapidly building a befitting
\nNational Capital by expanding and providing new infrastructure, developing
\nten new districts and Satellite Towns to cater for the ever increasing
\npopulation. In no distant future, you will be able to arrive at the Nnamdi
\nAzikiwe International Airport and proceed to the city using the Abuja
\nLight Rail. In addition to providing durable health, educational and
\ntransportation services, we are also collaborating with Organized Labour
\nto build functional, affordable and social housing in Abuja.
\n31. Other critical capital developments that are being packaged by this
\nAdministration include the development of the Ultra-Modern World Trade
\nCentre, the Abuja Town Centre, the Jabi Lake Comprehensive Centre, the
\nCentenary City and the Land Swap Districts. This private sector driven
\ninfrastructural development will positively change the skyline of the city
\nand provide the required office and residential accommodation, shopping
\nand recreation as well as tourism and entertainment facilities of the FCT.
\n32. In our determination to encourage much greater participation of
\nNigerians in the oil and gas industry, one of the first actions I took,
\nwas the enactment of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development
\nAct. As a result of this law, indigenous Nigerian participation levels, in
\nupstream and downstream activities of the oil and gas industry have
\nincreased by over 45%, thereby increasing employment opportunities for our
\nyouth.
\n33. We have also succeeded in eliminating the long queues that previously
\ncharacterised our filling stations, through regular and sustained product
\nsupply.
\n34. Gas infrastructure to ensure adequate Gas to Power and Gas to
\nIndustry, is being aggressively put in place. Over 450km of gas pipelines
\nhave been installed over the last 3years. Another 2,000km is planned over
\nthe next 4years. Critical petrochemical and fertilizer facilities have
\ncommenced including the gas industrial park in Delta State, for which I am
\nscheduled to perform the ground-breaking this Friday. This will create
\nmillions of jobs and make Nigeria a regional hub.
\n35. In addition, as a result of government favourable policies the private
\nsector is investing over 12 billion dollars in the petrochemical sector,
\nover the next 4years. This will surely create millions of jobs for our
\npeople.
\n37. We have changed the face of agriculture. We moved agriculture away
\nfrom a development Programme to agriculture as a business. My vision is to
\ncreate wealth for our people through agriculture.
\n38. We have focused on encouraging the private sector to boost investments
\nin the agricultural sector. As a result, the number of seed companies rose
\nfrom five to eighty in the past three years. Private sector investment in
\nthe agricultural sector expanded by $ US 5.6 billion across the
\nAgricultural value chain.
\n39. We ended decades of corruption in the fertilizer and seed sectors. We
\ndeveloped a transparent and efficient system of reaching farmers directly
\nwith subsidized farm inputs. Before our reforms, fertilizer procurement
\nand distribution took from the needy and gave to the greedy. We restored
\ndignity back to farmers. Today, 14 million farmers, of which 2 million are
\nwomen, access fertilizers with their mobile phones, through an e-wallet
\nsystem. Nigeria is the first country in the world to develop an e-wallet
\nsystem to reach farmers with subsidized farm inputs on their mobile
\nphones. Several African countries are now borrowing this transparent and
\nefficient e-wallet system for their own countries.
\n40. Our national food production expanded by an additional 21 million
\nmetric tons between 2011 and 2014, a record, exceeding our set target of
\n20 million metric tons set for 2015. The Dangote Group, has committed to
\ninvest $US 1 billion in commercial rice production and processing. With
\nall these developments, we are expected to be an exporter of rice in the
\nnext five years. This will be a new dawn!
\n41. The benefits are showing on our food imports. Our food import bill has
\ndeclined from 1.1 trillion Naira in 2009 to 684 billion Naira by December
\n2013, even with our increasing population, a reduction of 40%.
\n42. Nigeria met its Millennium Development Goal One on reducing hunger and
\nextreme poverty, two years ahead of 2015 target set by the United Nations,
\nand was given an award by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the
\nUnited Nations.
\n43. To sustain this trend, we are encouraging young graduates through the
\nNagropreneurs Programme to go into commercial Agriculture. We are also
\nencouraging our students in Post Primary Schools to embrace commercial
\nAgriculture through the National School Agriculture Programme.
\n44. My dear people, corruption remains a big challenge in our national
\nlife. It corrodes our efforts at development and at motivating competence
\nin critical sectors of our national growth. We have eradicated it in the
\nagricultural sector and we will surely eradicate it in other sectors of
\nour economy.
\n45. Going forward, my focus is to continue to reinforce institutions,
\nsystems, and processes to tackle corruption, and also to bring to justice
\nthose that perpetrate corruption. Through the Integrated Payroll and
\nPersonnel Information System (IPPIS), we have weeded out 56,000 ghost
\nworkers from the Federal Civil Service, saving 162 billion naira.
\n46. I have directed ICPC to bring the perpetrators of this criminal act to
\nbook. Let this be very clear, public officers must live by example, fully
\naccounting for the national trust and resources in their care.
\n47. In our journey to progress, knowledge is indispensable. Knowledge is
\npower! This is why my administration established 14 new Universities out
\nof which 12 are conventional and two are specialized Police and Maritime
\nUniversities. Under my watch, every state in Nigeria, now has a Federal
\nUniversity.
\n48. In addition, over 500billion naira have been spent, through the
\nTertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and the special NEEDS assessment
\nfund on various projects to increase access and improve the quality of
\ninfrastructure at the tertiary level of our education system.
\n49. To provide equal access and opportunities in education and ensure that
\nno Nigerian child is left behind, we have established and equipped 150
\nAlmajiri Schools across the Northern states and the Out-of-School-Children
\nProgramme including Specialized Boys and Girls Schools across the country.
\n50. Fellow Nigerians, our country was faced with a major National
\nsecurity, humanitarian, and economic threat in the form of the Ebola Virus
\nDisease, which arrived in the country on July 20, 2014, by way of a
\nforeign national, Mr Patrick Sawyer.
\n51. Realizing the imminent threat, I declared a national emergency,
\npulling states, local and federal government into action as well as
\nindividual Nigerians to combat this disease. Without the quick action of
\npatriotic Nigerians in the First Consultant Hospital, as well as the
\nco-operation of Lagos and Rivers State, where the disease occurred,
\nworking with the Federal Ministry of Health and the co-operation of all
\nNigerians we could not have succeeded in overcoming this deadly disease.
\nFellow Nigerians we stopped Ebola together.
\n52. Just as we stopped Ebola, we are on our way to eradicating the Polio
\nVirus in our country. We have reduced the incident of new Polio Virus from
\n300 in 2010, to 6 today.
\n53. My brothers and sisters, to encourage entrepreneurship and
\nself-reliance among our teeming graduates, we have developed creative
\nopportunities for enterprise for our young people.
\n54. Programmes such as YouWIN, the Graduate Internship Scheme, the
\nNagropreneurs Initiative, the 220 Billion Naira Micro, Small and Medium
\nEnterprises Development Fund and the 3 Billion Naira Grant to Nollywood
\nare empowering our graduates, the creative industry and other young people
\nto start up their own businesses and employ others.
\n55. We have supported the growth of industry through policy and action. We
\nlaunched The National industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP), and the National
\nEnterprise Development Programme as key drivers to bring about our desires
\nin the industrial sectors and to diversify our economy. Our new National
\nAutomobile Policy is transforming Nigeria into a vibrant hub for the
\nautomobile industry. Our own Innoson Motors is producing world standard
\nvehicles, and Nissan, Hyundai, and Kia, have set up factories in Nigeria
\nand are employing thousands of our people.
\n56. Our support for cement production is unprecedented. We have increased
\nour installed capacity from 16.5 million metric tons per annum in 2011 to
\n39.5 million metric tons per annum in 2014. Nigeria is now exporting
\ncement. We are moving forward! We must produce what we consume and consume
\nwhat we produce.
\n57. Our efforts to create an enabling environment for job creation in
\ndifferent sectors of the economy including the MSME sector, agriculture,
\nhousing and manufacturing have yielded results. Between the third quarter
\nof 2012, when we started tracking jobs created and the end of 2013, 1.9
\nmillion jobs were created. To deepen our success in this area, I have
\ncreated a Presidential Jobs Creation Board headed by the Vice President
\nwith the mandate to create at least two million jobs a year.
\n58. My brothers and sisters, our economy is heading in the right direction
\nand our efforts are yielding positive results. Our economy continues to
\ngrow at the rate of 6 to 7 percent annually, one of the highest in the
\nworld. Our country is now the top investment destination and the largest
\neconomy in Africa, with a GDP of 80trillion naira (510billion dollars) as
\nwell as the 26th largest economy in the world.
\n59. As part of its efforts to support inclusive growth and economic
\ndevelopment in Nigeria through the CBN, my administration has created and
\ndisbursed the sum of 200billion naira via the Commercial Agric and Credit
\nscheme, 300billion naira Power and Aviation fund, 220billion naira Micro,
\nSmall and Medium Enterprise Fund, as well as 300 billion naira rail sector
\nrefinancing facilities at single digit interest rate. We will continue to
\ndeepen the reforms in the financial sector, in order to sustain the growth
\nof our economy and uplift our people from poverty to prosperity.
\n60. Dear Compatriots, I promised as President, that we would sanitize and
\nrestore integrity in our electoral process, by ensuring that our votes are
\nnot only counted, but truly count. We have gone to great length to ensure
\ntransparent, free, fair, and credible elections. Elections have been
\nconducted across the country with local and international election
\nobservers testifying to their transparency.
\n61. On the international scene, we have advanced our regional, continental
\nand global objectives. We have strengthened our relationships with our
\nneighbours and in many instances supported them to protect their
\ndemocracy, security and stability. We are serving for a second time within
\na period of 4 years at the United Nations Security Council. This is
\nunprecedented in our Nation\u2019s history. My brothers and sister, this is a
\ngrowing attestation of our country\u2019s growing influence.
\n62. In the first quarter of this year, our country celebrated its
\ncentenary. To prepare the nation for the challenges of the next one
\nhundred years, I convened a National Conference where recommendations and
\nresolutions were reached towards a more perfect union. We shall implement
\nthe report.
\n63. Four years ago, I made a commitment to advance the rise and rise of
\nwomanhood. Today, I am glad that we have made remarkable progress in this
\nregard, trusting in the potential of our women and reaping from their
\ndedication and ingenuity. I believe that any nation that ignores womanhood
\ncannot achieve its full potential. It is in this regard that I ensured
\nthat women were given more opportunities in government, and I have not
\nbeen disappointed.
\n64. Specifically, I doubled the percentage of women in the cabinet and
\ngave them more challenging assignments.
\n65. The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), is now admitting female cadets as
\nregular combatants and it is now possible for a woman to rise through the
\nranks to the peak in military service, and become a full general.
\n66. We must continue to sustain the banner of freedom and justice that we
\nhave held high in our country. I am proud to say that there are no
\npolitical prisoners in Nigeria today. No Nigerian has been driven to exile
\nand no one will be, under my watch.
\n67. It is in furtherance of a peaceful, participatory and inclusive
\ndemocracy that I signed the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill into law, to
\nexpand the frontiers of our fundamental freedom.
\n68. Let me re-affirm that under a Jonathan Presidency, your views, no
\nmatter how freely expressed, will not send you to prison or into exile.
\n69. I am convinced that I have kept my pact with Nigerians, and it is now
\ntime to look to the future. With your tremendous support, we have
\ncollectively done so much in the last three and half years, but to take
\nour country to the next level, there is still more to be done.
\n70. History has shown that the path of honour for any true leader is not
\nto walk away from his people in moments of challenges. We must stand
\ntogether in adversity and overcome all threats to our development. We must
\ndefend our future, for the sake of our children.
\n71. So many things have inspired me in the journey to this moment. I want
\nto appreciate ordinary Nigerians, especially young people, for the
\nsolidarity shown to me by contributing their meagre resources to enable me
\narrive at this point.
\n72. I appreciate the kind gesture of the Cattle Breeders Union, Miyetti
\nAllah, and the Market Women Association, who encouraged me by coming
\ntogether to contribute to the purchase of my Nomination form.
\n73. In the same vein, I am touched by the National Association of Widows
\nwho also encouraged me with their widow\u2019s mite.
\n74. This labour of love, from ordinary Nigerians, has increased my
\nappreciation of your solidarity, my trust in our joint destiny, and all we
\nhave achieved together these past three and half years.
\n75. Therefore, after seeking the face of God, in quiet reflection with my
\nfamily and having listened to the call of our people nationwide to run, I,
\nGoodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, have accepted to re-present myself, on
\nthe platform of The Peoples\u2019 Democratic Party, for re-election as the
\nPresident of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in the 2015 general
\nelections.
\n76. Democracy is a collective action, energized by individual
\nresponsibility. Your mandate at this time will inspire in me the strength
\nto complete the good work we have started together.
\n77. My dear people of Nigeria, we must complete the task of ensuring that
\nwe lift the poor out of the depth of want, and place their feet firmly on
\nthe ladder of prosperity.
\n78. In this election season, I appeal to all of you, not to harm, maim or
\nkill; and not to incite violence of any kind. We must never forget our
\ncommon bond, one people from the womb of one Nigeria. Again I say: My
\nambition to serve you is not worth the blood of any Nigerian. I remain
\ncommitted to this principle of non-violence.
\n79. If you believe that we must build a country that works for all, where
\nthe strong lift up the weak, and not trample upon them, where the vote of
\nevery citizen determines who governs or represents you, where the
\ndemocratic space is open to all citizens to fulfil their aspirations,
\nirrespective of the circumstance of birth, your brother, Goodluck Ebele
\nAzikiwe Jonathan stands ready to continue in service to you.
\n80. My brothers and sisters, we cannot go back to the old ways! Our
\nrailways were allowed to rot in neglect, we have revived and are
\nmodernising them.
\n81. We cannot go back to the old ways! Our road infrastructure collapsed.
\nWe are reconstructing, and expanding federal roads across the country.
\n82. We cannot go back to the old ways! Our airport terminal buildings were
\ndilapidated and our airspace unsafe. We are fixing this.
\n83. We cannot go back to the old ways! Our agricultural practices did not
\nbenefit our farmers and our people. Fertilizer distribution was a major
\nsource of fraud and we were importing food more than our budget can carry.
\nNow we are on our way to self-sufficiency in food production.
\n84. Do you want to go back to the old ways?
\n85. We cannot go back to the old ways, where there were long queues at our
\nfilling stations due to irregular supply of products and our people were
\nexploited.
\n86. We cannot go back to the old ways, when women and youths were denied
\nopportunities in government and in responsible positions.
\n87. Do you want to go back to the old ways?
\n88. We cannot go back to the old ways! We had skewed distribution of
\ntertiary institutions. Whereas some states had more than one degree
\nawarding institution, some had none. We have now made sure all states have
\nat least one Federal University.
\n89. We cannot go back to the old ways! Our economy is now the largest in
\nAfrica. Once, we were virtually importing everything, now we are exporting
\nseveral products, including cement.
\n90. We cannot go back to the old ways! In 2009, average life expectancy
\nwas 47 years, by the end of 2013, it was 52 years. Some of our hospitals
\nnow perform open heart surgeries, kidney transplants and other challenging
\noperations as we reposition our health service to end decades of medical
\ntourism that drains our scarce resources.
\n91. We cannot go back to the old ways! Together, in unity, we overcame
\nEbola, and in the process demonstrated the strength of the Nigerian
\nspirit. And together, united, we must maintain our vigilance.
\n92. Do you want to go back to the old ways?
\n93. We cannot go back to the old ways where individual freedoms were
\ntrampled upon and citizens were locked up for expressing their views or
\ncriticising government.
\n94. Do you want to go back to the old ways?
\n95. We cannot go back to the old ways! We must continue to have free and
\nfair elections. We cannot go back to the era where ballot box snatching
\nand stuffing became the norm. Where your votes never counted.
\n96. Certainly, we cannot!
\n97. We have to move forward! Only forward!!, my dear people, Forward!!!
\n98. In moving forward, I see a Nigeria that thirsts for progress with
\nchildren across the nation, eager for knowledge and safely in schools!
\n99. I see a Nigeria where all who have taken up arms, would again embrace
\npeace!
\n100. I see a Nigeria where our women can aspire to any heights, without
\nhindrance!
\n101. I see a Nigeria where the flames in the Eagles will rekindle, and the
\nFalcons soaring higher in victory!
\n102. I see a Nigeria where the children of Mustapha, and Christopher, Ade
\nand Ada, Timi and Bunmi, Nnamdi and Namadi, do not go hungry!
\n103. I see a Nigeria where all, no matter their beliefs, live in peace and
\nharmony!
\n104. I see a Nigeria where the green passport is accorded a royal
\nreception the world over!
\n105. I see a Nigeria where one day the next generation will take us to
\nouter space.
\n106. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, leadership is about staying
\nfocused to achieve goals despite challenges. I have been faced with many
\nchallenges since coming to office as President. With your support and
\nencouragement, we have stayed the course.
\n107. We are succeeding, against all odds. For the young Nigerian child,
\nwho grew up in the rural area, just like me, we are expanding
\nopportunities and giving them hope. For the market woman, we are expanding
\nopportunities. For our young entrepreneurs, we are expanding
\nopportunities. For the right of our people to vote and for their voices to
\nbe heard, we are expanding opportunities. For Nigerians to have the right
\nto free speech, we are expanding opportunities. For the job seekers,
\nagainst all odds, we are expanding opportunities.
\n108. While serving our people, I will always ensure the rule of law. I do
\nnot intimidate, I expand the democratic space. I give voice to the
\nvoiceless and uphold the weak, for the nation belongs to us all. Fellow
\nNigerians, as we build our democracy, leaders must show temperance at all
\ntimes. That is a virtue, one which I treasure, and will always uphold.
\n109. My people, Nigeria is destined for greatness. Today, here at Eagle
\nSquare, I say to Nigeria, that working together in love, in strength and
\nin faith, we will build a nation of one people, united in purpose and in
\naction.
\n110. Fellow Nigerians, it is forward ever! We must put our hopes to work!
\nTogether, we will realize our collective destiny.
\n111. Thank you!!
\n112. God bless Nigeria!!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has urged Nigerians to allow him another four years to continue the transformation of vital sectors of the Nigerian economy.Jonathan who officially declared his intention to…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":33017,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-33015","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclusive"],"yoast_head":"\nGive Me Four More Years, Jonathan Urges Nigerians - Pointblank News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/exclusive\/2015-jonathan-joins-race-vows-defeat-boko-haram\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Give Me Four More Years, Jonathan Urges Nigerians - 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