Jonathan Restates Commitment To Fighting Corruption

President Goodluck Jonathan,(middle) Vice President Namadi Sambo (left) and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar II, at a meeting with Emirs and leaders of Jama'atu Nasril Islam in Kaduna, yesterday.

President Goodluck Jonathan last Saturday restated his administration’s commitment to fighting corruption in the country.

Jonathan, who made the promise at the grand finale of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential rally in Abuja, promised that all existing institutions would be strengthened effectively to fight corruption.

He said that government was determined to fight the menace at all levels regardless of positions of persons in the society.

“We will strengthen the existing institutions so that they can carry out their obligations without fear or favour.

“We will build a society where probity, accountability, fairness and equity will be the foundation in our polity,’’ Jonathan promised.

He expressed government’s commitment to the creation of an inclusive society where there would be jobs for Nigerians.

“ In the petroleum sector, we have commenced and would continue to explore all our inland basins within the Chad and the Anambra basin areas.

“Most especially, we will continue to add value to our petroleum product we will no longer export only pure gas or pure crude but we will add value to our gas.

“That is why only Thursday this week, we signed a memorandum that will ensure the establishment of major petrochemical industry and fertiliser plant in this country.

“The Federal Government, with the private sector, will spend about 25 billion U.S. dollars in the next few years to ensure that we have petrochemicals and fertiliser blending plants across the nation.

“And that will create about one million jobs,’’ the president assured.

The president, who warned those perpetrating violence in the country to desist from the act, added: “Neither my ambition nor the ambition of any politician is worth the blood of any Nigerian.

“I’ve called on our youth that they should not allow themselves to be used by people who have sent their children abroad or locked their children in mansions and ask you to go and kill and maim people.

“Any responsible government will not play with security even in the name of politics.’’

He said that the law enforcement agents would deal with any situation as it deserved, adding that Nigerians desired leaders who would provide the basic necessities of life for them.

“Our people want leaders who are more concerned with their well-being,’’ the president said.

The president, who noted that the telecoms sector had witnessed tremendous improvement as a result of the ruling party’s intervention, gave the assurance that it would also tackle problems in the education sector.

He commended Nigerians for their unflinching support for the party and its flag-bearers.

Earlier, Vice President Namadi Sambo urged Nigerians to vote massively for the party in all the elections in April.

He said that the large turnout of Nigerians at the rally was a reconfirmation that the people supported the PDP.

PDP National Chairman, Dr Haliru Bello, said that the Jonathan and Sambo ticket was that of unity and cohesion that were generally acceptable to all Nigerians.

He said that Nigerians should hold the party responsible if it deviated from its campaign promises.

Meanwhile, the declaration by President Goodluck Jonathan to be a one-term President was a statement of sacrifice and statesmanship, former President Olusegun Obasanjo said in Abuja on Saturday.

“There is a press report that Dr Goodluck Jonathan has already taken a unique and unprecedented step of declaring that he would only want to be a one-term President.

“If so, whether we know it or not, that is a sacrifice and it is statesmanlike, Obasanjo said at the PDP presidential campaign grand finale at the Eagle Square.

“Rather than vilify him and pull him down, we, as a party, should applaud and commend him and Nigerians should reward and venerate him. He has taken the first good step,’’ the former President said.

“Let us encourage him to take more good steps by voting him in with a landslide victory as the fourth elected President of Nigeria on the basis of our common Nigerian identity and for the purpose of actualising Nigerian dream,’’ Obasanjo urged the electorate.