In Furtherance of Promising Less and Delivering More-The Kano Experience

Recently I visited Kano where I commissioned the 330/132/33 VA Kumbotso transmission substation which will have a major and positive impact in improving power supply to that ancient city as well as parts of Jigawa, Katsina and Yobe states. This is the first time in 30 years that a power project of this magnitude has been commissioned in Kano and I want to assure the people of Kano and the rest of Nigeria that this is what I meant when I made a commitment to promise Less and deliver More. I would rather demonstrate what we are doing by working quietly and let you see the results than talk about it.

On this same trip I also commissioned a Federal Government funded upgrade of facilitities at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital. I am told that with this new development the hospital can now cater for more patients and will not have to refer some cases to hospitals outside the country as they now have the expertize and the equipment with which to treat such cases. I believe this, for Nigerian doctors whether outside or inside our country are some of the brightest, knowledgeable and most dedicated professionals you can find on planet earth. 

  

Let me also use this medium to express the Federal Government's gratitude to Alhaji Aminu Dantata and Malam Isiaka Rabiu who also donated two facilities to this hospital which I commissioned namely the Khalifa Isyaka Rabiu Pediatric Wing and the Alhassan Dantata Haemodyalysis Center. This gesture by these two outstanding citizens deserves commendation and should be emulated by our people. I have committed myself to be a father that does not show favouritism and I am very committed to make sure that there is development of every part of Nigeria. There is development coming and I am committed to making it happen. GEJ

We Must Bid Farewell To Do Or Die Elections

Dear friends and fellow compatriots, as we approach the 2011 elections I want to as a responsible leader prepare your minds for the coming months and what to expect. The leadership of any nation is a highly coveted position and more so when that nation is Nigeria, the largest black nation on earth and so richly endowed with human and natural resources. As such, as the competition as to who becomes President in 2011 gathers momentum, it is to be expected that some persons will naturally begin to be dangerously anxious to the extent of hitting some of us below the belt. For me, I care not about my personal safety, it is the safety and security of our citizens with regards to our age long aspirations to development and advancement that must be of concern. This election, I have said again and again is not about me, it is about Nigeria and the future of her great citizens.

I first notified you my friends on facebook of my intent to run in the forthcoming Presidential elections. Thereafter I proceeded to formally declare my interest to all Nigerians of my intention at the Eagle Square on the 18th of September, 2010. Since that declaration millions of  Nigerians around the world have formed citizens movements to canvass support for me. I want to say thank you to all Nigerians cutting across corporate, community, governmental, traditional, civic, youth and labour levels and various peoples movement, for your show of love and support. Expectedly the large following has also made me the target of lies, smear campaigns and innuendos. It is true that I do not own or have an interest in a newspaper, radio or television station and therefore my capacity to respond may not be as robust and swift as those who control these mass media however, I thank God that we have men and women of conscience who also work in these media institutions who love Nigeria and can do what is right. I thank them for towing a different path away from the hurricane of negativism in the polity.  

I was told that election time like these are moments when desperate individuals do desperate and sometimes despicable things to make you-the voters-afraid. In other climes they tried to make Americans afraid of Obama because they want to stop a change whose time has come. By my nature and upbringing, desperation is not one of my credentials. The Presidency of Nigeria is a national and treasured asset and only God and the people must decide who leads the project of protecting and advancing her interest. 

So when you hear or read falsehoods  that I am using untoward means to curry the favour of PDP delegates WHO HAVE NOT EVEN BEEN ELECTED OR IDENTIFIED or that I am funding my campaign from the Federal Government Purse  and such other stories that enter the fertile minds of the mischievous you must know that their desperation is getting to fever pitch levels and their project of self-agenda is ready to anchor on the harbour of the-more- of- the same. We must not allow them to confuse the issues  that are of concern to Nigerians: Proactive peace and security; Major reform in Agriculture that will empower farmers and make food available so that no child of Nigeria can go to bed hungry; Available, accessible, affordable electric power to power our idle industries and create jobs; Niger Delta Development so that the many decades of strife in the region can be brought to a peaceful and happy end; Improved quality education that will be anchored on science, technology, innovation and a revitalisation of our cultural and literary resources. We must be concerned about fighting corruption with additional emphasis on enhancing transparency and accountability and focusing attention on addressing the housing needs of our people and growing the solid mineral sector and investment in road and transport infrastructure to wean us of our over dependence on oil and gas. I am not and will not be interested in the gutter fight of blackmail,sectionalism and promoting regional interest over national interest.

Therefore, I want to appeal to you my friends that when you hear or read of attacks on me or any other candidate, please be patriotic enough to resist the temptation of joining them to trivialise the presidential race. I urge you to very gently ask the purveyors of such fanciful tales of degradation to rather tell you about their plans for Nigeria as I have done. If they have plans then they ought to run on them. If they do not it means that they have none and it is trite knowledge that those who have no plan, plan only to fail and Nigeria and Nigerians in whatever conditions are no failures!

So dear friends and fellow Nigerians, as the race heats up I promise you I will remain steadfast and continue to work for our country and fulfil my promise of "promising less and delivering more". All uncompleted projects in the power sector will be completed and commissioned; all projects that have a direct bearing on your lives and those that of fundamental importance to steering the ship of state aright towards the destination of unity and greatness will be sustained. I want to earn your vote not through mudslinging or blackmail. I want to earn your vote through performance and the realisation of a promise that through me every Nigeria regardless of circumstances of birth, state of origin, parental background, access to power and money can contribute his or her little quota to the unity and progress of our beloved Nation. GEJ.

2011-Not About Me-All About Nigeria

An Address by Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the occasion of a fund raising dinner in support of the Presidents’ 2011 Presidential campaign, today 29th October, 2011.

PROTOCOL

About two months ago, after deep reflection and wide ranging consultations, Architect Namadi Sambo and I decided to offer ourselves for further service of our dear country.

We were swayed to contest the presidency of our great country because we saw a clear window of a lifetime opportunity to comprehensively address the challenges that face us as a nation. We saw an open invitation to lead the transformation of this country and we accepted.

During our formal declaration at the Eagle Square we were overwhelmed by the unprecedented turnout and sincere show of support that echoed from the eagle square to re- enforce the support we have thankfully enjoyed all over the country.

Following our public declaration, various citizens and groups have intensified efforts towards the building of a strong movement to transform our country with Sambo and I as your vehicle of change.

Our movement is a mass movement in which all Nigerians have a stake and an equal presence. In this movement I see the triumph of nationalism, patriotism and the will to transform our economy and strengthen our collective security and wellbeing. I see in this movement a clear sign that as a people, we have broken free from sectional and diversionary sentiments and set our sights firmly on a common future.

We have a program of action for the Government that will work with Nigerians to transform our country.

Our movement will deliver a government that will bring proactive peace and security, private sector led Electric Power development and coordinated Niger Delta Development. We will transform this country by improving the quality of Education to meet the requirements of the 21st century as shall be anchored on science, technology, innovation and a revitalization of our culture and values.

The anti-corruption campaign will continue with additional emphasis on enhancing transparency and accountability in private and public sectors; complete ongoing investments in transport infrastructure and plan additional major investments.

We will increase quality and number of housing by addressing housing financing and implement major reform in agriculture financing and land ownership. We will increase percentage of GDP from Solid Minerals Development by at least 20% within a reasonable time frame, and reform health care financing to improve infrastructure and services.  

Our vision is rooted in the realization that 50years after independence, our will as a people to share a common destiny is stronger than ever and our heart burns with yearning for a nation that will mobilize its human capital and resources to build a life of comfort for all her citizens.

Our vision to build a nation that will be the pride of its people is the corner stone that drives our present mission.

Ladies and gentlemen, on assumption of office I promised three things: electoral reforms, power and peace in the Niger Delta. Let me seize this opportunity to inform you: we are delivering on our promises. We are seeking a mandate to consolidate on our achievements and expand on additional commitments based on our vision for a greater Nigeria.

With this fund raising dinner, we are flagging off a series of fund raising events in which all Nigerians will have opportunity to contribute financially to the success of our campaign.

Beyond financial support I believe that we all have more to give to this movement. We welcome your ideas and your work in the field to strengthen and spread our message of transformation.

On behalf of Our Campaign Organization I will like to thank you for accepting our invitation to attend this fund raising dinner.

This election is not about me, it is about Nigeria and the future of her great citizens. It is in this regard that I am confident that Nigerians from all works of life, living in cities and communities and regardless of faith, State and ideological persuasion will not only donate their widow’s mite but will give us their full support.

I thank you for coming. May God bless you!