Why I Am Seeking Re-election – Jonathan

President Jonathan's declaration for 2015 re-election at Eagle Square, Abuja today (Photo: AbationTwitter)

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday formally declared his intention to seek re-election in 2015, using freedom of expression and inclusive democracy under his watch as selling points.

Specifically, President Jonathan said under his government in the past three and a half years, there has neither been any record of political prisoners nor a case where any Nigerian was sent into exile for abusing and criticizing him, The Nation reports.

But as the president made his declaration, the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) and governors elected on the platform of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were engaged in a war of words. While the APC carpeted President Jonathan for being insensitive to the security situation in the northeast, the PDP governors have accused the opposition party of acts of destabilization.

Nonetheless, President Jonathan, who made his declaration at the Eagle Square, Abuja, lamented the gory killings by the Boko Haram sect, saying the development had clearly ‘cast a dark cloud’ on the country.

Noting that his presidency had operated a participatory and inclusive democracy, Jonathan said: “We must all continue to hold the tempo high in our country. I am proud to say that there are no political prisoners in Nigeria today. No Nigerian has been driven into exile; no one – and, I repeat, no one – will be driven to exile.

“It is in furtherance of a peaceful participatory and inclusive democracy that I signed the Freedom of Information (FoI) bill into law to expand the frontiers of our fundamental freedom. Let me reaffirm that under a Jonathan presidency, your views, no matter how freely expressed, will not send you to prison or to exile.

“I am convinced that I have served my part with Nigerians and it is now time to look into the future, with your tremendous support; you have collectively done so much in the last three and a half years, but to take our country to the next level, there is still more work to be done.”

Soliciting the support of Nigerians for another shot at the presidency, the president promised that under his government, Nigeria will defeat Boko Haram, adding that true leaders do not to walk away from his people in the face of challenges.

“We must stand together in adversary and overcome the threat to our development. We must defend our future.

“Many Nigerians have lost their lives and property to these mindless killings. A number of young men and women have been kidnapped by these criminal elements, including our daughters from Chibok. We will free our daughters and defeat terrorism,” he said.

The president asserted that the federal government is currently equipping the armed forces and deploying Special Forces to combat the Insurgents and put an end to what he described as a ‘senseless war’.

“We must protect our country. We must save our people. I will do everything humanly possible to end this criminal violence in our nation,” he stressed.

Urging Nigerians to support his second term bid, President Jonathan, who highlighted some achievements of his administration in the past four years, said his decision to contest the 2015 presidential poll was made after seeking divine approval and hearing the nationwide call on him to serve.

He said, “Therefore, after seeking the face of God, in quiet reflection with my family and having listened to the call of our people nationwide to run, I, Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, have accepted to re-present myself, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, for re-election as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the 2015 general elections”.

GEJ Seeking Second Term - President Jonathan declared his intentions at the Eagle Square, Abuja yesterday.

Recounting how his government, with the cooperation of Nigerians, united to fight the Ebola Virus, he assured that just as the deadly disease wash stopped, the country was on its way to eradicating polio in Nigeria, adding that he had promised that he would not handover polio to anybody.

On education, the president noted that he had established 14 new universities out of which two are specialized.

“Under my watch, every Nigerian state has a federal university,” he said, adding that he had established150 almajiri schools in the north.

He stated that his government was able eradicate corruption in the agricultural sector through a successful anti-graft war which, he said, would be extended to other sectors. Jonathan vowed to double his effort in the fight against corruption by ensuring that corrupt government officials begin to face the full weight of the law.

On power, Jonathan said his government had pursued reforms to “an irreversible progress” and that additional hydro power stations are being built in Zungeru and Mambilla.

The president thanked Nigerians for the trust they reposed in him and for their understanding on the insurgency in the northeast.

However, the APC has faulted President Jonathan for going ahead with the programme barely 24 hours after 48 schoolboys were bombed to death by suicide bomber in Yobe.

In a statement issued by the APC national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said it was ‘utterly insensitive and absolutely callous’ for the president to declare his second term ambition a day after almost 50 students were killed and about 80 injured in a suicide bombing in Potiskum, accusing him of dancing on the graves of the students and those of other victims of the Boko Haram insurgency.

The statement said in part: ‘’Since this President has chosen to celebrate a national tragedy, Nigerians should also be ready to celebrate his electoral failure next year.

“Today, the three north east states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe are in danger of being overrun by Boko Haram and over 650,000 Nigerians are internally displaced in those states by the insurgency. Yet, President Jonathan says he puts Nigerians first. The truth is that for President Jonathan, it is Jonathan first, Jonathan second, Jonathan third, Jonathan always.

"This President has therefore established a pattern of putting his political interest above the security and welfare of Nigerians who voted him into office.

"Instead of asking Nigerians to vote for him again, President Jonathan should be apologizing to Nigerians for wasting their mandate and explaining why, since his administration has increased security spending.”