2015: Jonathan Declares …Declaration, Day After Yobe Bombing, Insensitive, Callous -APC

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday formally declared his intention to contest for the 2015 presidential election for a second-term on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
The President who made the declaration at a rally at the Eagle Square, Abuja said he had accepted to re-present himself for the presidential race after seeking the face of God and having listened to the calls of his people nationwide to run for a second term.
He expressed appreciation to individuals and various groups who contributed towards his expression of interest and nomination forms and restated that his ambition was not worth the blood of any Nigerian.
“In this election season, I appeal to all of you, not to harm, main 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 Nigeria.
I remain committed to this principle of non-violence”, he said.
He condemned the activities of terrorist groups in some parts of the country, stressing that he would do everything humanly possible to protect the territorial integrity of the country and save Nigerians from violence.
President Jonathan stated  that his government had launched three programmes – the Presidential Initiative for the North East, the Victim Support Fund and the Safe School Initiative  to ensure the long – term stability and development of the affected areas.
According to him, the Victims Support Fund, a partnership with the private sector has raised about 60 billion Naira which will help to empower and rehabilitate victims of terror.
The President listed his achievements in various sectors of the economy and reiterated his commitment to the well-being of Nigerians.
He said “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”.
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”, he added.
Thanking  Nigerians for their continued support and encouragement, he said : “So many things had inspired me in the journey to this moment; I thank all Nigerians and the Market Women Association who encourage me by committing some funds to support me. In the same vain, I am touched by the National Association of Widows who also encouraged me with their widows might; this labour of love from ordinary Nigerians has increased my appreciation of your solidarity.
It has also increased my trust in our joint destiny and all that we have achieved together this past three and half years.”
Major stakeholders from the six geopolitical zones of the country took time to speak on behalf of their people at the occasion.
While Chief Bode George spoke for the South West, Alhaji Hassan Adamu spoke for the North West zone.Adamu maintained that Jonathan had fulfilled his promises of boosting education in the region with the approval of two universities in Potiskum and Wukari.He added that the President had connected the region with rail tracks from Bauchi.
Representative of the North East, AlhajiAttahiruBafarawa, said the PDP would poll 80 per cent votes for the President in 2015.
Former Governor Peter Odili of Rivers State, on behalf of South South zone, said the region had absolute trust and confidence in the capability of Jonathan to ensure better living standard for all Nigerians.
Prof. Jerry Gana, on behalf of the North Central, said Jonathan was a catalyst of development who had rejuvenated rail tracks, transformed the power sector and ensured good governance in the country.
Former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, pointed out that the successes recorded by Jonathan called for continuity.
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress has described as utterly insensitive and absolutely callous the decision by President Goodluck Jonathan to declare his second term ambition a day after almost 50 students were killed and about 80 injured in a suicide bombing in Potiskum, Yobe State.
The APC accused the President of dancing on the graves of the students as well as of all the victims of the Boko Haram insurgency.
“Since this President has chosen to celebrate a national tragedy, Nigerians should also be ready to celebrate his electoral failure next year,” the party said in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
It said: “Today, the three North-east states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe are in danger of being overrun by Boko Haram and over 650,000 Nigerians are internally displaced in those states by the insurgency. Yet, President Jonathan says he puts Nigerians first. Lies have never worn a bolder face. The truth is that for President Jonathan, it is Jonathan first, Jonathan second, Jonathan third, Jonathan always!”
The party said: “When about 60 students were killed in the terror attack on the Federal Government College, BuniYadi, in February 2014, President Jonathan never visited the scene to commiserate with the families of the victims. When over 80 people were killed in the first Nyanya bombing in April 2014, President Jonathan went dancing ‘Azonto’ in Kano less than 48 hours later. And when almost 300 girls were freshly abducted in Chibok, President Jonathan neither acted fast enough to rescue the girls nor visited the village. His Administration even denied anyone was abducted, until 19 days after!
“This President has therefore established a pattern of putting his political interest above welfare of Nigerians who voted him into office. This President has trampled upon the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which makes the security and welfare of the citizenry the raison d’etre of the government’s existence. It is time for Nigerians to respond in kind by trampling on his political ambition and sending him back to Otuoke.” the statement added.
The APC wondered what purpose the so-called Safe Schools Initiative of the Federal Government is serving when over 70 students were killed and more than 100 maimed within a week in two separate attacks targetting schools in Potiskum alone.
It said: “The Safe Schools Initiative will remain a mere tokenism until the fundamental problem of insurgency, which has claimed thousands of lives, is conclusively addressed. Mr. President, what Nigerians want is not an isolated Safe Schools Initiative, but a Safe Nigeria Initiative.”
The APC said it is usually the practice for leaders who seek re-election to tout the achievements that will justify their return, adding, however, that in the case of President Jonathan there has been nothing but blood, tears, sorrow and the gnashing of teeth by Nigerians since he assumed office, hence he has nothing to showcase but lies.
The party wondered how President Jonathan could, in all good conscience, even ask Nigerians to re-elect him when he has wasted the mandate given to him in the first instance, adding that nothing shows the President’s incompetence and cluelessness more than the failure of his administration to provide security for the citizenry.
The party said: “This is undoubtedly President Jonathan’s biggest and most fundamental failure. At times it goes beyond incompetence to perhaps even collusion, or how else does one explain that the rate and intensity of attacks have increased in the three states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe since they were placed under a state of emergency last year?

President Goodluck Jonathan (right) and Vice President Namadi Sambo greet supporters at declaration ceremony in Abuja, yesterday.