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 YobeState
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 wholost 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 Northeastis 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 PDPCaucuses 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 administrationand 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.
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 AfricanGreat Green Wall Programmed, where we have released about 16
billionnaira 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 45billion
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-Maidugurirail 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, itwill 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-Southand 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 Warriin 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 10,000kmin 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 MurtalaMuhammed 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
alsore-constructing existing ones.The re-construction upon completion, will
lead to improved passenger processing, increased cargo handling capacity and
enhancedAir-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 theNigerianMortgage 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 thepension
funds invest inhousing 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 NnamdiAzikiwe
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 enactmentof 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 characterisedour
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 andfertilizerfacilities have commenced
including thegas industrial park in
Delta State, for which I am scheduled to perform the ground-breaking this
Friday. This will create millionsof 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 than500million cubic feet per day, 4years
ago, to about1.5 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.
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 specializedPolice 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 Fundand
the 3 Billion Naira Grant to Nollywoodare
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
Nigeriathrough 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 thegrowth
of our economy and uplift our people from poverty to prosperity.
60.
Dear Compatriots, I
promised as President,that we wouldsanitizeand restoreintegrity 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 4years 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
notbeen 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, GoodluckEbeleAzikiweJonathan,
have acceptedto 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, GoodluckEbeleAzikiweJonathan 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 expandingfederal 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 onedegree
awarding institution, some had none. We have nowmade 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 virtuallyimporting 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!
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!!
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