2015: Why I support Jonathan's 2nd term – by Tafawa Balewa

By The Rainbow

Son of the first Nigerian Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Dr. Abdul-Jelil Tafawa Balewa, has thrown his weight behind the second term bid by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Balewa said he would support the second term of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015, saying 'the national structure he is building will benefit the country now and in the future.'

'President Jonathan started well and has done wonderfully by building the already dilapidated structure he inherited,' the 56 years old Nuclear Energy expert told journalists in Lagos on Wednesday.

The president 'has started a lot of things that will benefit the citizenry in the nearest future,' he said.

He likenedĀ  President Jonathan to a planter of a tree whose son asked why he was planting a tree that could not mature to benefit him until after 40 years.

Tafawa Balewa said: 'The father replied by saying the tree, which fruits we are enjoying today was planted by my father to benefit me and I am planting this too to benefit you while I am no more like my father.'

Besides, the Bauchi State-born chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gave kudos to the President 'for keeping the country one and united in spite of the unprecedented level of insecurity that the nation has been witnessing in recent times.'

According to him, the president was taking positive measure, through provision of jobs for the youths to keep them gainfully employed, observing that, 'the effort has started yielding positive result as the blood shedding has drastically reduced.'

When asked to enumerate other achievements of President Jonathan that could convince Nigerians to give him their mandate for a second term in office, Tafawa Balewa mentioned noticeable improvement in power supply, massive road construction and rehabilitation that he said has improved transportation system in the country, as well as major improvement in infrastructure building.'

On the perceived northern opposition to Jonathan's second term, he maintained that 'only the electorate can decide who leads them,' admitting however, that in democracy, every citizen has the right to voice out his choice within the purview of the law.

Based on Jonathan's achievements however, the vocal Jonathan's enthusiast asserted that, 'I will vote for Jonathan in 2015 if he signifies intention to run,' saying some northern leaders who had been making contrary claims were also entitled to their own opinion and belief.