‘How Jonathan Can Fulfill Yar’Adua’s Dream’

The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), Chairman in Benue State,  Baba Agan has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to fulfill the dream of late President Umaru Yar’Adua on electoral reforms by pursuing it to its logical end.

Agan, who was the governorship candidate of the PRP in the 2007 general elections in Benue, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Makurdi.

He said that since Jonathan and Yar’Adua came into office on the same ticket, “it will be a mark of honour if he delivers on that promise.”

“Remember that the late president included the idea in the 7-point Agenda of the administration, so it means it was a project that was dear to his heart.

“Moreover, during his oath taking ceremony lasty Thursday, he still restated commitment to electoral reforms, and that means he has taken a covenant with, not just Nigerians but God too,” he said.

Agan urged the new president to ensure that the amnesty deal initiated by the late president and the militants which ended insurgency in the Niger Delta was sustained.

“The new president, being from that part of the country, will earn the confidence of Nigerians if he does everything to ensure that the boys do not go back to the creeks. “He should remember that while he was acting president, he had the honour of meeting President Barak Obama and pledged his commitment to peace, so that too should be at the back of his mind,” he said.

Meanwhile, More Benue residents have joined other Nigerians to  pay tribute to Yar’Adua.

Mr Nathaniel Ben, a businessman, said that Yar’Adua would be remembered for his commitment to the fight against corruption, pursuit of peace in the Niger Delta and commencement of work in the of the Niger.

Abdullahi Salawu, a civil servant, said, “ It is sad that we have lost a good leader with all his good intentions for the vision 20-2020.

“As a fellow muslim, all that is left is to pray for him for eternal rest, that Allah should forgive him and grant him paradise.”

The Speaker, Abia House of Assembly, Chief Agwu U. Agwu, told newsmen that the electorate had implicit confidence with the manner he administered the country that Yar’Adua would be remembered for propagating the rule of law, adding that “the country was at the verge of becoming a lawless society before his emergence”.

The Deputy Speaker,Chief Chinedum Elechi,described the death as devastating, saying that Yar’Adua was a focused leader and would be remembered for enthroning peace in the Niger-Delta region and his handling of electoral reforms.