REMARKS BY PRESIDENT GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN, GCFR AT
THE INAUGURATION OF PDP PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN ORGANIZATION, TUESDAY,
JANUARY 6, 2015.
PROTOCOLS
1. Let me start by thanking all the members
of our great party once again for the very inspiring confidence they have
placed in me by speaking with one voice, at all levels, to return me as the
PDP’s flag bearer in next month’s presidential elections.
2. Let me also at this occasion convey to
each and every one of you, who has agreed to serve in the Presidential Campaign
Organization, my deep appreciation of your support.
3. You have all been invited to serve our
great party in this capacity, in recognition of your loyalty, dedication,
commitment to the democratic cause, and your outstanding individual talents.
4. I am fully convinced that not only are
you up to the task individually or as a team, but that you also have all that
it takes- the passion, intellect, drive, commitment, and the know-how to run a
focused, robust and purposeful campaign that will further endear our ticket to
the electorate and bring us victory once again.
5. Many of you are tested veterans of
political campaigns. As we embark formally on the campaigns for our
re-election, our party, the People’s Democratic Party will depend on you.
6. I am also personally counting on
you. I ask you to take on this assignment for your great party, for
Goodluck Jonathan and Namadi Sambo, and also, more importantly, for the country
as a whole.
7. Without doubt,
the forthcoming elections
mark a critical point in our nation’s history. The eyes of the international
community are focused on the transition that lies ahead of us; the fifth
post-military rule general elections that will be conducted under a civilian
dispensation in Nigeria.
8. The world is asking: will Nigeria get it
right? My categorical response to that is: Yes, we must. And surely, we will.
It is your duty to ensure that through your campaigns, and activities, this
primary objective is not lost.
9. Our commitment to free, fair, credible,
and violence-free elections remains unshaken. That should also be your own
commitment as we go to the field to seek the people’s mandate once again.
10. You
must always remember that we are a party of democrats, not a party of hooligans.
We are a party of patriots, not a party of renegades. We are a party of
statesmen and women. We are a party of builders, not destroyers. We are a party
of committed servants of the people. You must let our people see
once again, that we are in this to serve and to move Nigeria forward, not to
move Nigeria backwards.
11. In
the coming campaigns and elections, we must see to it that Nigeria triumphs,
and that democracy wins. No other cause can be greater than the Nigerian cause.
Without Nigeria, there will be no President.
12. We
have an obligation to consolidate our democracy, strengthen our institutions
and project Nigeria positively by running a disciplined, issues-based and
civilized campaign. That is my charge to you all.
13. I
am especially inspired by the positive energy, the optimism, and the enthusiasm
among our party leaders and members. There may be issues arising from the
party primaries, which have led to some of our members expressing grievances.
But this is the time for all of us to come together and work as one
family. At the end of the day, every one of us will be useful in one way
or the other.
14. I
call on all party members to stand as one in the face of the assignment ahead
of us. Losing a party primary should not result in a loss of faith in the
party. No election should be a do or die contest. Whatever grievances we
have can be resolved within the family and will be resolved. There is a job to
be done, and all loyal members of our great party must play their expected
roles.
15. I
urge members of the Presidential Campaign Organization to go round the country,
propagating our message of transformation and continuity.
16. I
urge you to fully mobilise all the party faithful in every ward and every
district to work for the victory we require to take our agenda for national
transformation forward to a successful conclusion for the benefit of present
and future generations of Nigerians.
17. We
have everything that it takes to run an excellent and victorious campaign. Our
great party has demonstrated to Nigerians that it is the party with the
broadest appeal. We are the strongest and the biggest. We have engaged the
people of Nigeria positively with people-friendly policies, which have moved
Nigeria forward.
18. We
have sustained the democratic tradition. We have strengthened democratic
institutions. We inherited a rather complex security challenge but
we are waging a determined war against it. We are succeeding in preventing
terrorists and insurgents from turning more of our communities into enclaves
for their dastardly activities.
19. We
remain fully committed to further empowering the security agencies to enable
them win the war against terror. We have proven to the people that we are a
party and a team that they can rely upon.
20. In
the last four years, despite the security challenges we have had to contend
with, Nigeria, under our watch, has made significant strides in every aspect.
Our economy today is the largest and the strongest in the African continent,
and a preferred destination for foreign direct investment.
21. We
have focused on job creation and the expansion of opportunities for our teeming
youth as well as interventions to promote Micro, Small and Medium Scale
Enterprises.
22. Through
an internationally acclaimed transformational agricultural programme, we have
re-established agriculture as a business, and a major driver of economic
growth.
23. Today,
not only is the agricultural sector thriving, the value chains in the sector
have been activated and have become productive. The country’s food import bill
has been reduced, and the non-oil sector has witnessed significant
growth.
24. We
have expanded access to education by providing schools and facilities at the
primary, secondary and tertiary levels. Today, there is a Federal University in
every state of the Federation, and every Nigerian child has been given the
opportunity to go to school.
25. We
have successfully privatized the power sector: a process that was adjudged by
the international community of investors as transparent and credible. Our
trains are moving again, from Lagos to Kano, from Lagos to Ibadan, from Port
Harcourt to Enugu.
26. I
am not campaigning to you who are already convinced. I have no doubts that you
are all familiar with the achievements of this administration. But I have
outlined a few of them to show that we are in a solid position to run a
campaign based on our commendable record.
27. Our
creditable performance in the past four years should be our strongest selling
point as we go to the campaign fields.
28. Flaunt
our achievements in all parts of the country, tell the story of what we have
achieved and let the facts and the figures be heard in every nook and cranny of
Nigeria.
29. In
doing this, you must be civil, decorous and law-abiding. I have repeatedly
promised Nigerians and the international community that as much as it lies
within our powers, the coming general elections will be free, fair, credible
and violence-free. I made that pledge with all seriousness and I fully intend
to fulfill it.
30. As
agents of the ruling party, all eyes will be on you during the campaign and
elections. I therefore expect nothing but the highest standards of exemplary
conduct from you as your worthy contribution to the fulfillment of our pledge
of peaceful and successful elections.
31. Some
other politicians and campaigners are threatening fire and brimstone. Do not
join them. Some other parties are pulling down other people’s posters. That is
primitive. Please, do not join them. Every Nigerian must be free to
campaign anywhere.
32. Thugs,
violence and malpractice or rigging must have no place in our campaign and
electoral activities.
33. Do
not join those who threaten to start fires and turn them into infernos in our
country.
34. I
assure you and all Nigerians that whoever foments trouble before, during and
after the elections will be promptly and decisively dealt with according to the
law.
35. With
all our party leaders and members, we are going into this election season to
legitimately seek our peoples’ mandate for further service, consolidation and
continuity of progress for our country.
36. We
must place our hope for victory in nothing else but the support and confidence
of the great majority of our people, and the blessing of Almighty God.
37. We
will ensure that the people’s vote counts and that their will prevails, as it
should, in every true democracy. Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,
loyal party members,
38. It
is now my pleasure to formally inaugurate this Presidential Campaign
Organization headed by our able former Chairman, Dr. Ahmadu Ali.
39. Go
forward and work to the best of your great abilities to win electoral victory
once again for us and our great party.
40. May
God Almighty grant us a successful campaign and victory in the elections.
41. P-D-P!
42. I
thank you all.
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