Address by President Goodluck
Ebele Jonathan, GCFR On the Occasion of His Declaration of Intent to Run
for the 2015 Presidential Elections under the Platform of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) Eagle Square, Abuja
Tuesday 11th November, 2014
Dear Compatriots:
1. Four years ago, precisely September 18, 2010; I stood in this Eagle Square, to offer myself for election as the President of our beloved country on the platform of our great party; the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
2. Seven months after that
declaration, you elected me to lead this country with overwhelming
support from all parts of our Nation. I remain grateful for the trust
you reposed in me to lead our Nation through uncommon challenges in our
march of progress as a united and democratic country.
3. Over the years, the Almighty God
has made it possible for me to develop a bond with you and I am grateful
for your support and understanding in the difficult periods we have
journeyed through.
4. Distinguished ladies and
gentlemen, our stewardship has not been without challenges. We have had
to deal with the wave of insurgency that has swept through some parts of
our dear country. Only yesterday, Government Science Secondary School
in Yobe State was bombed by insurgents, killing our promising young
children who were seeking education to build the country and support
their parents. Many Nigerians have lost their lives and property to
these mindless killings. Let me crave the indulgence of all present here
to stand up to observe a minutes silence in honour of these young lads
who lost their lives. Clearly, this has cast a dark cloud on our Nation
but we will surely win the war against terror. A number of young men and
women have been kidnapped by these criminal elements including our
daughters from Chibok. We will free our daughters and defeat terrorism.
5. We are equipping the armed forces
and deploying special forces to engage the terrorist and end this
senseless war. We must protect our country. We must save our people. I
will do everything humanly possible to end this criminal violence in our
Nation.
6. To ensure the long term stability
and development of the affected areas, government has launched three
programmes: The Presidential Initiative for the North East, the Victim
Support Fund and the Safe School Initiative. The Presidential Initiative
for the Northeast is focused on improving infrastructure and economic
growth in the region. The Safe School Initiative is centred on creating a
safe environment to encourage our children in the communities to
acquire education. The Victim Support Fund, a partnership with the
Private Sector, has raised about 60 billion Naira, which will help to
empower and rehabilitate victims of terror. I promise the victims of
these dastardly acts that we will continue to stand with you.
7. I am grateful to all Nigerians for standing with me.
8. Let me also thank the leaders and
elders of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party, for the
opportunity you have given to me to serve our country, Nigeria.
9. I am overwhelmed by the trust,
confidence and support of the various organs of our party, the Board of
Trustees, the National Caucus, the National Executive Committee, the
National Working Committee, the PDP Governors Forum, members of the PDP
Caucuses of the National Assembly, and others.
10. This day affords me the opportunity to continue the conversation of development we started together.
11. Infrastructure has been a major
focus area of my administration and so, we pursued the power sector
reform to this point of irreversible progress. Nigeria has undertaken a
most transparent and corruption free bidding process, attracting global
commendation. The on-going 450MW Azura Power Plant in Edo State is a
testimony to the success of this transformation.
12. We have also resumed development of our Hydro-Power potential, with the construction of the 700MW Zungeru Hydro-Power Plant, while construction work on the 3,050MW Mambilla Hydro-Power Plant is about to take off.
12. We have also resumed development of our Hydro-Power potential, with the construction of the 700MW Zungeru Hydro-Power Plant, while construction work on the 3,050MW Mambilla Hydro-Power Plant is about to take off.
13. Our power generation and
distribution companies have now been privatized. We are firmly on the
road to guaranteed regular power supply in the months ahead. This our
bold move, is paying off!
14. We are committed to
environmental protection and conservation and reducing vulnerability to
climate change. In this regard, we have embarked on a number of projects
across the country. Of particular note is the African Great Green Wall
Programme, where we have released about 16 billion naira for
implementation. The project will create a green belt across 11 states
from Kebbi to Borno.
15. In the past three and half
years, the water sector has witnessed unprecedented improvement. Access
to potable water is now 67%, up from 58% in 2010, while sanitation
coverage is 41%, from 32% within the same period.
16. Major developments in water
include the completion of 37 Dams and rehabilitation of 10, with several
others on-going construction. The flagship Kashimbila Multipurpose Dam
which is being built to contain flood from Lake Nyos, is now at 90%
completion. We have also completed about 5,000 rural and semi urban
water schemes.
17. We are reforming the National
Urban Water supply programmes in 12 states, with 385 formal and informal
irrigation projects, covering a total land area of 118000 ha,
cultivated mostly by small holder farmers. This has yielded over 3
million metric tons of assorted grains and vegetables, with a market
value of about 45 billion naira.
18. Before the advent of this
administration, the Railway system was practically dead. Today, we have
revived the rail sector. The narrow gauge line from Lagos to Kano has
been rehabilitated with improved coaches providing regular services. The
rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri rail line is progressing
with the Port Harcourt-Gombe segment as well as the branch line from
Kafanchan to Kaduna expected to be completed and fully operational by
December 2014.
19. Already, work on the
Abuja-Kaduna standard gauge rail line, is progressing. The tracks of the
rail line will be completed by December this year 2014. Upon completion
of the project in the first quarter of 2015, it will be possible for
Nigerians to live in Kaduna and work in Abuja. The Itape-Ajaokuta-Wari
standard gauge line has attained an advanced stage, with the track
completely laid. We hope to commence full operation before the end of
2015.
20. Other segments of the new
standard gauge speed train network are planned with contract already
awarded for the Lagos –Ibadan Segment. There will be more of such modern
and faster rail connections in the coming years. Already, discussions
are now at advanced stage, for the Coastal rail line that will traverse
through 10 states, from Lagos through the South-South and South-East,
all the way to Calabar.
21. My administration has
successfully completed the dredging of the lower River Niger from Baro
in Niger State to Warri in in Delta State. The cheering news is that
over 6.7 million passengers and over 1.6 million tonnes of cargo have
been moved through this channel in less than three years.
22. I am happy to also report that
our ports now operate 24 hour service, which has led to the reduction of
clearing time and improved efficiency.
23. When I assumed office in 2010,
out of the 35,000km of federal roads nationwide, only about 5,000km were
motorable. Today, that number has increased to about 25,000km. We
expect to complete the remaining 10,000km in three years while
initiating new ones.
24. I made a commitment to build two
new major bridges across the River Niger and River Benue. Today, the
new bridge over the River Benue, connecting Loko in Nassarawa State to
Oweto in Benue State has reached an advance stage of completion, while
work has commenced on the Second Niger Bridge.
25. Beyond these, my administration
has concluded plans to re-commence the construction of Bodo-Bonny Road
with three major bridges on the alignment that will link the Island of
Bonny with Rivers mainland.
26. Preliminary works have started
on my administration’s planned re-construction and expansion of the
Murtala Muhammed International Airport Road in Lagos to a world class
entry point into our country. Only a few months ago, work started on the
dualization of Kano-Katsina Road. While many Nigerians are celebrating
the marked improvements on our roads, I want to assure that it will get
even better as we move forward.
27. In the pursuit of an integrated
transportation system, we embarked on the construction of five new
Airport Terminal Buildings and Air-field facilities. We are also
re-constructing existing ones. The re-construction upon completion, will
lead to improved passenger processing, increased cargo handling
capacity and enhanced Air-field facilities that meet international
standard and improves safety. These efforts have been met with global
acknowledgement including the attainment and retention of the FAA
Category One status.
28. In housing, we signed the
National Housing Policy to kick-start the framework for providing more
affordable homes for our people. We have also expanded the National
Housing Fund to accommodate more Nigerians. We have started a revolution
in the housing sector with the start of the Nigerian Mortgage and
Refinanced Company (NMRC) a new initiative of my administration, that
will enable more citizens in the lower income bracket to become first
time home owners.
29. Our partners such as the World
Bank group are supporting this with US300million dollars interest free
credit, while my administration will back it with over 100billion naira
in bonds. We are already processing 66,000 mortgage applications for our
young people. We have amended the PENCOM Act to enable the pension
funds invest in housing sector bonds. This will create a boom in the
housing sector.
30. In the Federal Capital
Territory, we are rapidly building a befitting National Capital by
expanding and providing new infrastructure, developing ten new districts
and Satellite Towns to cater for the ever increasing population. In no
distant future, you will be able to arrive at the Nnamdi Azikiwe
International Airport and proceed to the city using the Abuja Light
Rail. In addition to providing durable health, educational and
transportation services, we are also collaborating with Organized Labour
to build functional, affordable and social housing in Abuja.
31. Other critical capital
developments that are being packaged by this Administration include the
development of the Ultra-Modern World Trade Centre, the Abuja Town
Centre, the Jabi Lake Comprehensive Centre, the Centenary City and the
Land Swap Districts. This private sector driven infrastructural
development will positively change the skyline of the city and provide
the required office and residential accommodation, shopping and
recreation as well as tourism and entertainment facilities of the FCT.
32. In our determination to encourage much greater participation of Nigerians in the oil and gas industry, one of the first actions I took, was the enactment of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act. As a result of this law, indigenous Nigerian participation levels, in upstream and downstream activities of the oil and gas industry have increased by over 45%, thereby increasing employment opportunities for our youth.
32. In our determination to encourage much greater participation of Nigerians in the oil and gas industry, one of the first actions I took, was the enactment of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act. As a result of this law, indigenous Nigerian participation levels, in upstream and downstream activities of the oil and gas industry have increased by over 45%, thereby increasing employment opportunities for our youth.
33. We have also succeeded in
eliminating the long queues that previously characterised our filling
stations, through regular and sustained product supply.
34. Gas infrastructure to ensure
adequate Gas to Power and Gas to Industry, is being aggressively put in
place. Over 450km of gas pipelines have been installed over the last
3years. Another 2,000km is planned over the next 4years. Critical
petrochemical and fertilizer facilities have commenced including the gas
industrial park in Delta State, for which I am scheduled to perform the
ground-breaking this Friday. This will create millions of jobs and make
Nigeria a regional hub.
35. In addition, as a result of
government favourable policies the private sector is investing over 12
billion dollars in the petrochemical sector, over the next 4years. This
will surely create millions of jobs for our people.
36. In terms of gas supply, we have
grown from less than 500 million cubic feet per day, 4years ago, to
about 1.5 billion cubic feet per day currently. Our goal is to attain 4
billion cubic feet per day, over the next 4years.
37. We have changed the face of
agriculture. We moved agriculture away from a development Programme to
agriculture as a business. My vision is to create wealth for our people
through agriculture.
38. We have focused on encouraging
the private sector to boost investments in the agricultural sector. As a
result, the number of seed companies rose from five to eighty in the
past three years. Private sector investment in the agricultural sector
expanded by $ US 5.6 billion across the Agricultural value chain.
39. We ended decades of corruption in the fertilizer and seed sectors. We developed a transparent and efficient system of reaching farmers directly with subsidized farm inputs. Before our reforms, fertilizer procurement and distribution took from the needy and gave to the greedy. We restored dignity back to farmers. Today, 14 million farmers, of which 2 million are women, access fertilizers with their mobile phones, through an e-wallet system. Nigeria is the first country in the world to develop an e-wallet system to reach farmers with subsidized farm inputs on their mobile phones. Several African countries are now borrowing this transparent and efficient e-wallet system for their own countries.
39. We ended decades of corruption in the fertilizer and seed sectors. We developed a transparent and efficient system of reaching farmers directly with subsidized farm inputs. Before our reforms, fertilizer procurement and distribution took from the needy and gave to the greedy. We restored dignity back to farmers. Today, 14 million farmers, of which 2 million are women, access fertilizers with their mobile phones, through an e-wallet system. Nigeria is the first country in the world to develop an e-wallet system to reach farmers with subsidized farm inputs on their mobile phones. Several African countries are now borrowing this transparent and efficient e-wallet system for their own countries.
40. Our national food production
expanded by an additional 21 million metric tons between 2011 and 2014, a
record, exceeding our set target of 20 million metric tons set for
2015. The Dangote Group, has committed to invest $US 1 billion in
commercial rice production and processing. With all these developments,
we are expected to be an exporter of rice in the next five years. This
will be a new dawn!
41. The benefits are showing on our
food imports. Our food import bill has declined from 1.1 trillion Naira
in 2009 to 684 billion Naira by December 2013, even with our increasing
population, a reduction of 40%.
42. Nigeria met its Millennium
Development Goal One on reducing hunger and extreme poverty, two years
ahead of 2015 target set by the United Nations, and was given an award
by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
43. To sustain this trend, we are
encouraging young graduates through the Nagropreneurs Programme to go
into commercial Agriculture. We are also encouraging our students in
Post Primary Schools to embrace commercial Agriculture through the
National School Agriculture Programme.
44. My dear people, corruption
remains a big challenge in our national life. It corrodes our efforts at
development and at motivating competence in critical sectors of our
national growth. We have eradicated it in the agricultural sector and we
will surely eradicate it in other sectors of our economy.
45. Going forward, my focus is to
continue to reinforce institutions, systems, and processes to tackle
corruption, and also to bring to justice those that perpetrate
corruption. Through the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information
System (IPPIS), we have weeded out 56,000 ghost workers from the Federal
Civil Service, saving 162 billion naira.
46. I have directed ICPC to bring
the perpetrators of this criminal act to book. Let this be very clear,
public officers must live by example, fully accounting for the national
trust and resources in their care.
47. In our journey to progress,
knowledge is indispensable. Knowledge is power! This is why my
administration established 14 new Universities out of which 12 are
conventional and two are specialized Police and Maritime Universities.
Under my watch, every state in Nigeria, now has a Federal University.
48. In addition, over 500billion
naira have been spent, through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund
(TETFund) and the special NEEDS assessment fund on various projects to
increase access and improve the quality of infrastructure at the
tertiary level of our education system.
49. To provide equal access and
opportunities in education and ensure that no Nigerian child is left
behind, we have established and equipped 150 Almajiri Schools across the
Northern states and the Out-of-School-Children Programme including
Specialized Boys and Girls Schools across the country.
50. Fellow Nigerians, our country
was faced with a major National security, humanitarian, and economic
threat in the form of the Ebola Virus Disease, which arrived in the
country on July 20, 2014, by way of a foreign national, Mr Patrick
Sawyer.
51. Realizing the imminent threat, I
declared a national emergency, pulling states, local and federal
government into action as well as individual Nigerians to combat this
disease. Without the quick action of patriotic Nigerians in the First
Consultant Hospital, as well as the co-operation of Lagos and Rivers
State, where the disease occurred, working with the Federal Ministry of
Health and the co-operation of all Nigerians we could not have succeeded
in overcoming this deadly disease. Fellow Nigerians we stopped Ebola
together.
52. Just as we stopped Ebola, we are
on our way to eradicating the Polio Virus in our country. We have
reduced the incident of new Polio Virus from 300 in 2010, to 6 today.
53. My brothers and sisters, to
encourage entrepreneurship and self-reliance among our teeming
graduates, we have developed creative opportunities for enterprise for
our young people.
54. Programmes such as YouWIN, the
Graduate Internship Scheme, the Nagropreneurs Initiative, the 220
Billion Naira Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund and
the 3 Billion Naira Grant to Nollywood are empowering our graduates, the
creative industry and other young people to start up their own
businesses and employ others.
55. We have supported the growth of
industry through policy and action. We launched The National industrial
Revolution Plan (NIRP), and the National Enterprise Development
Programme as key drivers to bring about our desires in the industrial
sectors and to diversify our economy. Our new National Automobile Policy
is transforming Nigeria into a vibrant hub for the automobile industry.
Our own Innoson Motors is producing world standard vehicles, and
Nissan, Hyundai, and Kia, have set up factories in Nigeria and are
employing thousands of our people.
56. Our support for cement
production is unprecedented. We have increased our installed capacity
from 16.5 million metric tons per annum in 2011 to 39.5 million metric
tons per annum in 2014. Nigeria is now exporting cement. We are moving
forward! We must produce what we consume and consume what we produce.
57. Our efforts to create an
enabling environment for job creation in different sectors of the
economy including the MSME sector, agriculture, housing and
manufacturing have yielded results. Between the third quarter of 2012,
when we started tracking jobs created and the end of 2013, 1.9 million
jobs were created. To deepen our success in this area, I have created a
Presidential Jobs Creation Board headed by the Vice President with the
mandate to create at least two million jobs a year.
58. My brothers and sisters, our
economy is heading in the right direction and our efforts are yielding
positive results. Our economy continues to grow at the rate of 6 to 7
percent annually, one of the highest in the world. Our country is now
the top investment destination and the largest economy in Africa, with a
GDP of 80trillion naira (510billion dollars) as well as the 26th
largest economy in the world.
59. As part of its efforts to
support inclusive growth and economic development in Nigeria through the
CBN, my administration has created and disbursed the sum of 200billion
naira via the Commercial Agric and Credit scheme, 300billion naira Power
and Aviation fund, 220billion naira Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise
Fund, as well as 300 billion naira rail sector refinancing facilities at
single digit interest rate. We will continue to deepen the reforms in
the financial sector, in order to sustain the growth of our economy and
uplift our people from poverty to prosperity.
60. Dear Compatriots, I promised as
President, that we would sanitize and restore integrity in our electoral
process, by ensuring that our votes are not only counted, but truly
count. We have gone to great length to ensure transparent, free, fair,
and credible elections. Elections have been conducted across the country
with local and international election observers testifying to their
transparency.
61. On the international scene, we
have advanced our regional, continental and global objectives. We have
strengthened our relationships with our neighbours and in many instances
supported them to protect their democracy, security and stability. We
are serving for a second time within a period of 4 years at the United
Nations Security Council. This is unprecedented in our Nation’s history.
My brothers and sister, this is a growing attestation of our country’s
growing influence.
62. In the first quarter of this
year, our country celebrated its centenary. To prepare the nation for
the challenges of the next one hundred years, I convened a National
Conference where recommendations and resolutions were reached towards a
more perfect union. We shall implement the report.
63. Four years ago, I made a
commitment to advance the rise and rise of womanhood. Today, I am glad
that we have made remarkable progress in this regard, trusting in the
potential of our women and reaping from their dedication and ingenuity. I
believe that any nation that ignores womanhood cannot achieve its full
potential. It is in this regard that I ensured that women were given
more opportunities in government, and I have not been disappointed.
64. Specifically, I doubled the percentage of women in the cabinet and gave them more challenging assignments.
65. The Nigerian Defence Academy
(NDA), is now admitting female cadets as regular combatants and it is
now possible for a woman to rise through the ranks to the peak in
military service, and become a full general.
66. We must continue to sustain the
banner of freedom and justice that we have held high in our country. I
am proud to say that there are no political prisoners in Nigeria today.
No Nigerian has been driven to exile and no one will be, under my watch.
67. It is in furtherance of a
peaceful, participatory and inclusive democracy that I signed the
Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill into law, to expand the frontiers of
our fundamental freedom.
68. Let me re-affirm that under a
Jonathan Presidency, your views, no matter how freely expressed, will
not send you to prison or into exile.
69. I am convinced that I have kept
my pact with Nigerians, and it is now time to look to the future. With
your tremendous support, we have collectively done so much in the last
three and half years, but to take our country to the next level, there
is still more to be done.
70. History has shown that the path
of honour for any true leader is not to walk away from his people in
moments of challenges. We must stand together in adversity and overcome
all threats to our development. We must defend our future, for the sake
of our children.
71. So many things have inspired me
in the journey to this moment. I want to appreciate ordinary Nigerians,
especially young people, for the solidarity shown to me by contributing
their meagre resources to enable me arrive at this point.
72. I appreciate the kind gesture of
the Cattle Breeders Union, Miyetti Allah, and the Market Women
Association, who encouraged me by coming together to contribute to the
purchase of my Nomination form.
73. In the same vein, I am touched by the National Association of Widows who also encouraged me with their widow’s mite.
74. This labour of love, from
ordinary Nigerians, has increased my appreciation of your solidarity, my
trust in our joint destiny, and all we have achieved together these
past three and half years.
75. Therefore, after seeking the
face of God, in quiet reflection with my family and having listened to
the call of our people nationwide to run, I, Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe
Jonathan, have accepted to re-present myself, on the platform of The
Peoples’ Democratic Party, for re-election as the President of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria, in the 2015 general elections.
76. Democracy is a collective
action, energized by individual responsibility. Your mandate at this
time will inspire in me the strength to complete the good work we have
started together.
77. My dear people of Nigeria, we
must complete the task of ensuring that we lift the poor out of the
depth of want, and place their feet firmly on the ladder of prosperity.
78. In this election season, I
appeal to all of you, not to harm, maim or kill; and not to incite
violence of any kind. We must never forget our common bond, one people
from the womb of one Nigeria. Again I say: My ambition to serve you is
not worth the blood of any Nigerian. I remain committed to this
principle of non-violence.
79. If you believe that we must
build a country that works for all, where the strong lift up the weak,
and not trample upon them, where the vote of every citizen determines
who governs or represents you, where the democratic space is open to all
citizens to fulfil their aspirations, irrespective of the circumstance
of birth, your brother, Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan stands ready to
continue in service to you.
80. My brothers and sisters, we
cannot go back to the old ways! Our railways were allowed to rot in
neglect, we have revived and are modernising them.
81. We cannot go back to the old
ways! Our road infrastructure collapsed. We are reconstructing, and
expanding federal roads across the country.
82. We cannot go back to the old
ways! Our airport terminal buildings were dilapidated and our airspace
unsafe. We are fixing this.
83. We cannot go back to the old
ways! Our agricultural practices did not benefit our farmers and our
people. Fertilizer distribution was a major source of fraud and we were
importing food more than our budget can carry. Now we are on our way to
self-sufficiency in food production.
84. Do you want to go back to the old ways?
85. We cannot go back to the old
ways, where there were long queues at our filling stations due to
irregular supply of products and our people were exploited.
86. We cannot go back to the old
ways, when women and youths were denied opportunities in government and
in responsible positions.
87. Do you want to go back to the old ways?
88. We cannot go back to the old
ways! We had skewed distribution of tertiary institutions. Whereas some
states had more than one degree awarding institution, some had none. We
have now made sure all states have at least one Federal University.
89. We cannot go back to the old
ways! Our economy is now the largest in Africa. Once, we were virtually
importing everything, now we are exporting several products, including
cement.
90. We cannot go back to the old
ways! In 2009, average life expectancy was 47 years, by the end of 2013,
it was 52 years. Some of our hospitals now perform open heart
surgeries, kidney transplants and other challenging operations as we
reposition our health service to end decades of medical tourism that
drains our scarce resources.
91. We cannot go back to the old
ways! Together, in unity, we overcame Ebola, and in the process
demonstrated the strength of the Nigerian spirit. And together, united,
we must maintain our vigilance.
92. Do you want to go back to the old ways?
93. We cannot go back to the old
ways where individual freedoms were trampled upon and citizens were
locked up for expressing their views or criticising government.
94. Do you want to go back to the old ways?
95. We cannot go back to the old
ways! We must continue to have free and fair elections. We cannot go
back to the era where ballot box snatching and stuffing became the norm.
Where your votes never counted.
96. Certainly, we cannot!
97. We have to move forward! Only forward!!, my dear people, Forward!!!
98. In moving forward, I see a
Nigeria that thirsts for progress with children across the nation, eager
for knowledge and safely in schools!
99. I see a Nigeria where all who have taken up arms, would again embrace peace!
100. I see a Nigeria where our women can aspire to any heights, without hindrance!
101. I see a Nigeria where the flames in the Eagles will rekindle, and the Falcons soaring higher in victory!
102. I see a Nigeria where the children of Mustapha, and Christopher, Ade and Ada, Timi and Bunmi, Nnamdi and Namadi, do not go hungry!
102. I see a Nigeria where the children of Mustapha, and Christopher, Ade and Ada, Timi and Bunmi, Nnamdi and Namadi, do not go hungry!
103. I see a Nigeria where all, no matter their beliefs, live in peace and harmony!
104. I see a Nigeria where the green passport is accorded a royal reception the world over!
105. I see a Nigeria where one day the next generation will take us to outer space.
106. Distinguished ladies and
gentlemen, leadership is about staying focused to achieve goals despite
challenges. I have been faced with many challenges since coming to
office as President. With your support and encouragement, we have stayed
the course.
107. We are succeeding, against all
odds. For the young Nigerian child, who grew up in the rural area, just
like me, we are expanding opportunities and giving them hope. For the
market woman, we are expanding opportunities. For our young
entrepreneurs, we are expanding opportunities. For the right of our
people to vote and for their voices to be heard, we are expanding
opportunities. For Nigerians to have the right to free speech, we are
expanding opportunities. For the job seekers, against all odds, we are
expanding opportunities.
108. While serving our people, I
will always ensure the rule of law. I do not intimidate, I expand the
democratic space. I give voice to the voiceless and uphold the weak, for
the nation belongs to us all. Fellow Nigerians, as we build our
democracy, leaders must show temperance at all times. That is a virtue,
one which I treasure, and will always uphold.
109. My people, Nigeria is destined
for greatness. Today, here at Eagle Square, I say to Nigeria, that
working together in love, in strength and in faith, we will build a
nation of one people, united in purpose and in action.
110. Fellow Nigerians, it is forward ever! We must put our hopes to work! Together, we will realize our collective destiny.
111. Thank you!!
112. God bless Nigeria!!
source: nigerian eye
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