Dr. NGOZI JULIET OLEJEME EXTOLS AS PRESIDENT JONATHAN FLAGS OFF RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN
When Dr. Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan was sworn in as the President and Commander in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, upon President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua's death, not so many people would have expected the seemingly unprepared and quiet-looking new Nigerian Executive to make tough decision. But few years afterwards President Jonathan has not only earned the image of the protagonist of the most topical political and developmental issues of the time, but as well distinguished himself as a courageous and insightful leader who understands the urgent need to move the nation away from the retrogressive old ways of doing things.
As an expression of the will to continue serving the country, President Jonathan, on Thursday, 8th January, 2015, at the Tafawa Belawa Square in Lagos, flagged off his re-election campaign bid on the platform of the PDP. While he seized the opportunity to apprise the people of the zone of the successes recorded by his government, he also took the chance to woo the people of the region, reputed to be the most politically sophisticated in Nigeria.
In his remarks, President Jonathan reminded the people of the region of how his government remodeled the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) in Ikeja, the Murtala Muhammed International Airport wing, and the on-going reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, which for the last decade or more has been left in a sorry state. The President also, pointed out the steady and fast intervention in the rail sector with the return of railways with new train engines and luxury coaches, as well as the
reconstruction of the Apapa/Oshodi Expressway, leading to the nation's ports.
State governors present at the venue are; Segun Mimiko of Ondo, Martin Elechi of Ebonyi, Jonah Jang of Plateau, Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta, Aliyu Babangida of Niger, Ibrahim Shema of Katsina, Mukhtar Yero of Kaduna, Idris Wada of Kogi among others.
Other PDP dignitaries at the event are the Versatile Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Juliet Olejeme, Olatunji Shelle, Chief Dapo Sarumi, Chief Dosu Ladipo, Teslim Folarin, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Mrs. Biodun Olujimi, Kema Chikwe, Modu Sheriff, Tom Ikimi, Jelili Adeshiyan, Femi Carena, Iyiola Omisore and Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. Popular Nollywood act present includes Ibinabo Fibresima, Segun Arinze, Joseph Benjamin, Monalisa Chinda, Omoni Omboli, and Sammy Okposo among others.
In a chat with news men shortly after the event, Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Juliet Olejeme described President Goodluck Jonathan as an experienced and wise leader who has been carrying out the task of moving the nation away from the traditionalist political ideas towards 21st century democratic ideals, without provoking disunity. “The few years of the Jonathan presidency have shown Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as a typical human being who is made up of both weakness and strengths; but more than that, he has been revealed as the ideal 21stcentury leader who, irrespective of extenuating factors, has shown noticeable commitment to democratic ideals and issues of development”. She therefore called on all eligible voters to vote for PDP in the February 14, presidential elections.