The First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, on Wednesday gave reasons why President Goodluck Jonathan deserves to be reelected for a second term, Thisday reports.
Mrs. Jonathan, who was in Ikom, Cross River State, in continuation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), nationwide women rally to solicit votes for her husband, said President Goodluck Jonathan has performed well to earn a second term in office.
Speaking shortly after the inauguration of the 6,000-seat capacity ultra modern Ikom Township Stadium, Mrs. Jonathan said: “I came to thank you for keeping to your promise in 2011 to vote for my husband. And I want to use this opportunity to appeal to you to repeat the same thing in the March 28 presidential election.”
According to the First Lady, her husband, during his first tenure has performed tremendously and has impacted positively on the people especially women.
Mrs. Jonathan reminded the large crowd of female politicians that in 2011, her husband promised to give women 35 per cent appointment in line with the affirmative action which he did through political and elective offices, adding that
“Now we are in 2015, and he will do more for the nation and women in particular.”
She listed the progress made by the PDP-led federal government to include improvement in health care delivery where infant mortality rate has dropped drastically, establishment of federal universities in all the 36 states of the federation, instituted developmental programmes to empower women and youth and the construction of 125 Amajiri schools to take kids off the street and give them hope for the future.
Others include improvement in transportation system and energy sector while the country’s participation in sporting competitions has improved significantly on the continent and at the global arena and Nollywood, which she said has been brouhgt to international recognition.
The First Lady therefore enjoined the women not to be cajoled by those who claimed to be agents of change because when they were in office, they did not implement the change they are canvassing now.
According to her, “Those promising you change did not recognise nor regard women when they were in office and it is better you follow a man who has promised to do more for the nation and sworn to keep it.
Continuing, she said: “You have two options, either President Jonathan or nothing,” adding that “I am confident that the women, youth and all eligible voters in Cross River will vote for Jonathan and all PDP candidates in March 28 and April 11 elections.”
Also speaking, Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, said: “There are only two options for Nigerians to choose, that is either they vote Goodluck Jonathan and move forward with his transformation initiatives or follow the opponent and be dragged 30 years backward.”
Imoke disclosed that President Jonathan has in his first term established and initiated developmental programmes as well as empowered women, stressing that, “What President Goodluck has done, no president has done so in the history of Nigeria. Women, for the first time have been given opportunity to participate in politics and be voted into offices.
“We the youth and women in Cross River will support President Goodluck Jonathan and all PDP candidates.”
Cross River State PDP standard bearer, Prof. Ben Ayade said the state has chosen to follow the man who will lead them into the future and that only Jonathan who has promised to link the state capital with a fast rail line is the only man they will follow.
