JONATHAN PLEDGES TO MAKE NIGERIA PETRO-CHEMICAL HUB OF AFRICA
President Goodluck Jonathan
President Goodluck Jonathan has promised to add value to Nigeria's crude oil and to ensure that Nigeria becomes the petro-chemical hub of Africa. The president, while campaigning to a mammoth crowd at the Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin, yesterday, called for establishment of off-shore refineries, saying these were the areas that would create jobs for the teeming unemployed youths of Nigeria, just as he promised to reform the maritime and cabotage laws of the country.
Besides, he stressed his administration's commitment to plan for the youths through the provision of education and economy that would create jobs for the youths.
Assuring that Nigeria would have stable power supply in the next four years, the president pledged to support small and medium scale industries as well as agriculture.
President Jonathan, while calling for violence-free election, urged Nigerian youths to shun being used as thugs by politicians, adding that the ambition of any politician was not worth the blood of any Nigerian.
Impressed by the crowd at the stadium, the president said 'this is not a campaign but a revolution.'
He therefore thanked the Edo State delegates for voting for him and his Vice, Namadi Sambo, during the primaries, saying that Edo had clearly demonstrated that their votes were for them.
The president therefore promised not to disappoint Edo people.
President Jonathan, who said Edo State had lost two prominent personalities, Chief Anthony Enahoro and Dr. Abel Guobadia, called for a minute silence in their honour.
Citing the free flow of petroleum products as some of his achievements since his assumption of office, President Goodluck Jonathan promised to join Nigerians to transform the country such that when Nigerians travel abroad, they would be respected.
Earlier, former chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BOT), Chief Tony Anenih described the president's visit not as a rally but a visit of a great victory.
In his welcome address, Edo State Chairman of PDP, Chief Dan Orbih said the people of Edo State had resolved to vote for PDP as, according to him, the people were tired of pretenders in government.
He said 'those who say PDP is not on ground in Edo State, let us tell them that PDP is back again.'
In apparent reference to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN)-led administration in the state, he said 'what will it profit a people to have water fountain when they have no water to drink in their homes? What will it profit a people to have government that does not care for students?'
He praised President Jonathan for ensuring affordable school fees in federal universities.
During the rally, ACN members who defected to PDP included Senator Roland Owie, Matthew Urhoghide, Group Capt. Greg Agboneni and Capt. Ohosa Okunbor.