President Jonathan Has Been Fair To The North – Wakil

SAN FRANCISCO, January 18, (THEWILL) – Despite the challenges of the Boko Haram insurgency, the people of the North have been told that President Goodluck Jonathan has been fair to them.

The Minister of State for Works and Coordinator of Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation for Borno State, Hon Mohammed Wakil, stated this on Sunday.

Wakil, who spoke during the launch of the Borno state committee for the re- election of President Goodluck Jonathan, appealed to the people of the Northeast in particular not to allow themselves to be brainwashed by the opposition that they were never in the plan of the president.

Maintaining that the Boko Haram crisis should not be a yardstick to measure the contribution of President Jonathan to the Northeast, Wakil argued that the Jonathan Administration has done so much for the region despite all odds..

Affirming that the North has a good share of federal appointments and developmental projects, he said “the north should support the president's re- election.”

According to Wakil, ” Mr President has accorded the North sufficient respect in the governance of this nation. We are not deprived of our rights in whatever ways. As at today, northerners occupy sensitive positions in the administration. The president trusts us and I believe we should trust him by voting massively for his re- election.”

Maintaining that the Northeast region is well favoured in various sectors of the economy, the Minister cited the power sector where he said the zone was lifted from neglect to full presidential attention.

He listed projects executed by the Jonathan administration to include Maiduguri 330/132kV substation ; 33 kva transformer for Maiduguri; new transformer for old Baga station; Gombe – Yola 330kV single circuit Transmission Line;Yola – Jalingo 330kV Single Circuit Transmission Line;Gombe -Damaturu – Maiduguri 330kV Single Circuit Transmission Line; Line Bay Extension at Gombe, Yola and Damaturu ;132/33/11 kV, 60MVA Substation at Jalingo.

He listed other projects to include the reinforcement of old Maiduguri substation with 1x60MVATransformer;Completion of 40MW Kashimbilla Hydropower project;nConstruted and Completed 1x30MVA Substations at Mayo Belwa, Mubi, and Gombi in Adamawa State;Connection of Gombe State University Kashere to 33kv line; Construction of 30MW Dandinkowa Hydropower Plant in Gombe State on Concession; Connection of major towns and villages to the National Grid under the Federal Government National Rural Electrification Programme.

Also speaking on the Boko Haram insurgency,Wakil said the Federal Government is re- equipping the military and mobilising international support, assuring that the insurgency will be defeated at all cost.

He however commended President Jonathan for setting up the Victim Support Fund, the presidential committee on distribution of relief materials as well as the Presidential initiative on North East.