Just a day after suicide bomber killed dozens of school
children in a packed assembly hall in Yobe State, President Goodluck Jonathan has
officially declared his bid for a second term with a pledge to do all “humanly
possible” to defeat the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents.
Addressing party supporters at the Eagles Square in Abuja
Tuesday, where he declared to contest the 2015 elections under the platform of
the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Jonathan said the killings, one of many, has
clearly “cast a dark cloud” on Nigeria.
The former governor and deputy governor of Bayelsa State
urged Nigerians to remain united as PDP would continue to provide the country
with qualitative administration, if he is re-elected.
He disclosed that Nigeria, under his watch, will defeat a
bloody five-year-old insurgency by Boko Haram which is suspected of being
behind the school bombing.
“Many Nigerians have
lost their lives and property to these mindless killings,” Jonathan said.
“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.”
Jonathan said his government, which has come under intense
criticisms over its handling of the crisis, was currently equipping the armed
forces and deploying Special Forces to fight Boko Haram and end the “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 said.
He added that N60 million has been set aside for the
rehabilitation of victims of terror in the north eastern part of the country.
Declaring for another term, Jonathan listed what he said his
government achieved in the past four years, and told the crowd he decided to
contest the 2015 presidential election after seeking the face of God, in a
quiet reflection with his family.
“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,” he said.
Jonathan said he has eradicated corruption in the
agricultural sector and that the success will be extended to other sectors. He
said he will double his effort in the fight against corruption and that corrupt
government officials will begin to face justice.
He said his government has succeeded in eliminating long
queues at fuel stations through consistent provision of petroleum products to
Nigerians.
According to him, he has started a “revolution” in the
housing sector that will enable millions of Nigerians to become first time
house owners. Currently, 66,000 mortgage request from young Nigerians is
already being processed, he told his supporters.
He said his government has completed the dredging of the
River Niger from Baro in Niger state to Warri in Delta state.
On power, Jonathan said his government has pursued reforms
to “an irreversible progress” and that additional hydro power stations are
being built in Zungeru and Manbila.
Jonathan said he was
grateful for the trust reposed on him by many Nigerians, and thanked Nigerians
for their understanding over the Boko Haram insurgency in the north east.
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