Jonathan Kicks Off Campaign In Lagos

President Goodluck Jonathan and his ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, on Thursday officially opened their campaign towards next month’s presidential and governorship elections in Lagos, with a vow to emerge victorious at the polls.

The president and all PDP state governors made the declaration at the Tafawa Balewa Square.

Thousands of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supporters converged at the Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos for the event.

Big wigs in the party including Vice President Namadi Sambo, governors: Emmanuel Uduaghan, Ayo Fayose, Godswill Akpabio, Olusegun Mimiko as well as Femi Fani-Kayode, Bode George and several others expressed support for the president and made promises to help him secure votes in the different regions.

In his opening remarks, Ahmadu Ali, the Director of the Jonathan-Sambo Campaign Organisation, said that the PDP, unlike the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, belongs to all Nigerians.

“The PDP is not the exclusive preserve of an individual who has turned Lagos into a cow to be milked,” said Mr. Ali.

Tunji Shelle, Chairman, Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Lagos State, on Thursday said the impressive turnout at the party’s rally in Lagos indicated support for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Mr. Shelle was quoted by the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, as saying that the transformation agenda of the Jonathan administration should be allowed to continue.

“President Jonathan, despite security challenges being faced by the nation, has performed well in all sectors of the Nigerian economy.

“The crowd here today is not just party members but Nigerians who believe that Jonathan, his team and the PDP have done well and will do better,” he said.

The imminent return of President Jonathan for four more years is inevitable. The Yoruba people will return The president -Gov Ayo Fayose, noted.

Also, footballer, Joseph Yobo, who represented youths supporting the president, approved Jonathan for a second term. “Goodluck Jonathan has given us hope”, he said.

Speaking earlier in the day on Sunrise Daily, Former Commissioner of Information and Strategy in Ondo State and member, of the Jonathan Campaign Organization, Eddy Olafeso, defended the choice of Lagos as kick off point, noting that it is the third largest mega city in the world and the largest city in Nigeria.

He said “it’s about time to speak up and that’s the reason for the excitement in Lagos”, adding that, “I think there are times for you to work and there are moments you have to express and let the world know what you have been able to do”.

“The fact remains we are on course and from now on, Nigerians will be hearing more of what Mr. President will have to do in addition to what he has done to move Nigeria forward”, Olafeso said.

President Jonathan used the opportunity to apologize to federal civil servants whose salaries were not paid early enough in December, blaming the delay on a corruption-fighting measure.

“I believe that for you to fight corruption you must take some measures, establish and strengthen institutions”, insisting that “you don’t just wake up and go into the streets arrest someone and lock up and show on television and say you are fighting corruption”, he said.

The president also spoke of various ways his administration has been fighting corruption.

The party later presented its flags to the governorship candidates of the respective states.