National Dev: Jonathan Seeks Govs, NASS Partnership …Drops C -In-C Title

Governor Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa State (left) in a handshake with President Goodluck Jonathan during the President’s visit to Bayelsa State on Friday

President Goodluck Jonathan has called for the partnership of the state governors and members of the National Assembly in the effort to reposition the country and make it rank among the best among the comity of nations.

The President also wants the youths and the governments of Niger Delta region to maximize the gains of the amnesty programme in attracting investments to the region.

President Jonathan who stated this at a state banquet organised in his honour during his two-day official visit to Bayelsa State, said his ambition of developing the country could only be achieved with the support of the state governors and members of the National Assembly.

His words, “the only thing I can promise is that I will do my best to serve our own dear country as the President of the country, to make sure that we reposition our country in a way that will follow other developing nations of the world. I have to do that with the governors of the states and members of the National Assembly.

Expressing the Federal Government readiness to partner with Bayelsa State government in the area of infrastructural development, the President assured that it would get its own rightful share of all the resources that are meant for the development of the country.

He added, “we will do our own bit, that is why I came here with a number of ministers because we believe that the Federal Government and the state governments have to work together to develop all the component parts of the country.

I have touched a number of states within this period. This period, I am in Bayelsa State, I have seen the humble development of the state and I believe that the state is growing.  I have seen the commitment of the people because the governor made reference to what happened in the afternoon which I wouldn’t want to bother myself about but I will plead with all of us, men and women and youths that for us as a people to grow, we must unite, we must work together.

Before this time, we experienced the excesses of the youths in terms of militancy but with the amnesty programme, at least, it has abated and this is the time for us to collectively work together to see how we can move the state forward.

Earlier in the day, President Jonathan had called for the active participation of the youths from the Niger Delta region in building a better Nigeria.

His words, “I am one of you, I grew up just like any of you from the creeks and today, I am the President. Definitely, any of you who is disciplined, who work hard can be where I am today. 

As part of you, I know Bayelsa State was created in 1996. The journey from 1996 till today has made so many people heroes. We have collectively built a state that you younger ones will come to take over.

We have to sincerely thank the Late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua for the amnesty programme. The amnesty programme has been able to bring peace to Bayelsa State and the rest of Niger Delta and the governor can now work.

I will urge you to co-operate with your state governor to ensure the success of the Federal Government’s initiative. We have come to a stage where we must do things differently. Where we must all collectively see how we move our country forward, whether in the power, infrastructure, road construction, water, education, health sectors, but most especially, how we can make things happen in this country so that there can be direct investments.

The youths have a great role to play because every nation is built for the youths because some of us that are above 50years have very few years more to stay again, but you must be prepared to take over from where we must have stopped.

We have listed certain things that the Federal Government needs to partner with State governments. I promised all of you and the government of the state that we need to see how we can partner to make sure that we bring this thing to fruition. We want every part of the country to develop. That is the only way we can create jobs for you”.

Earlier in his address, Governor Sylva said his administration had planned to create 10,000 jobs by the end of the year as part of a comprehensive package targeted at poverty reduction, adding that provision had been made for the quick win project to cost about N6.4billion.

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has dropped the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces from his official title lists, our correspondent reports.

“Mr President has removed the title, ‘Commander of the Armed Forces,’’ Vice President Namadi Sambo said at the Oxford University where he delivered a lecture to the Oxford International Relations Society.

“He (Jonathan) has directed that he should only be referred to as Mr President,’’ our reporters quoted Sambo as saying.

The Vice President who was responding to a question from the audience on why Nigerian leaders were being addressed by series of titles, added that the long lists of protocols at official events has also been dropped.

“During the declaration, where we declared to participate in the up-coming elections, it was very clear that Mr President said reading of long lists of protocols before the main address be reduced,’’ Sambo said.

The Vice President added: “If you notice; if it were before, I will recognise everybody on my entourage and the audience including you.’’

Sambo in his lecture entitled: “Vision 20:2020: Nigeria’s Agenda for the Membership of the New Emergent G20 Economic Group,’’ said Nigeria’s contribution at the global stage qualifies it to be a member of the G-20.

“As a regional power, Nigeria has undertaken tasks and incurred huge costs, both in financial and human terms, in furtherance of international peace and security that major powers have often applauded.

“Since membership of the G-20 does not reflect exactly the 20 largest economies of the World, it is only fair that Nigeria be admitted for her various contributions, for geographical balance and population representation,’’ he said.

He also expressed the belief that the current capital-led reforms and focused leadership of the present administration would propel economic growth for the country.

Sambo urged development partners and investors to partner with government in investing in Nigeria, “Africa’s largest market where returns on investment are guaranteed.’’

The Vice President who began a three-day visit to the U.K on Wednesday held a joint meeting with Mr Henry Billingham, Member of Parliament (MP) and United Kingdom (U.K) Minister for Africa and the United Nations (UN), Mr Stephen O’Brien, Under Secretary for International Development responsible for Africa.

He was accompanied by the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Godswill Akpabio, Ministers of National Planning and Works, Mr Shamsedeen Usman and Sen. Muhammed Daggash, respectively, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mrs Salamatu Ibrahim and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Martins Uhomoibhi.