“If I am elected, my administration will revive the railway system, create more job opportunities and ensure that more refineries are built. We will also tackle the security situation to ensure that the security challenges become a thing of the past.” - President Goodluck Jonathan addressing campaign supporters in Ogun State. Just another one of his numerous campaign promises as the president traverses the length and breath of the country, seeking votes and urging the people of Nigeria to elect him president in 2011.The myriad of promises so far made by the president has caught so many peoples attention including Icheoku that we are now forced to align forces with the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammed Sa'adu Abubakar, in asking President Goodluck Jonathan to "put it in writing" - his promises to do this and that for everybody and groups in Nigeria. Campaign promises are one thing, finding the money and political goodwill to see those projects through is another and it is on this premise that Icheoku calls on President Jonathan to tone down the flurry of promises; especially their specificity such as building sea ports, refineries, power plants, international airports etc as such capital intensive projects might not be all fully accommodated within his four year promised term by Nigeria's lean finances.
The April 2011 presidential election is President Jonathan's to loose, hence he does not need to make all these tall flowery promises to remain in contention but should try to keep it real - just general promises that he will strive to improve on what is and will do more, funding permitting. To date, President Goodluck Jonathan promises on his campaign trail has reached more than ten trillion Naira and Icheoku wonders how Mr. President plans to fund them within just four years when elected within the next few weeks as is most certain he will. All the same, Icheoku wishes the President well and hopes he delivers on his promises to avoid being tagged long on promises short on delivery; his election is as good as concluded, the CPC/ACN much anticipated alliance having not materialized to give the PDP any meaningful challenge. Godspeed Mr. President but please keep it short and real.
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Christy 'Apena' Essien-Igbokwe , the wife of Jegede Shokoya of the New Masquerade and Nigeria's lady of songs is dead; she was 51years old. Although her family claimed that "brief Illness" killed her like so many Nigerians; Icheoku retorts that it was most likely AKwa Ibom voodoo and remote control that was used to arrest her. It is on record that she had fallen out with the governor of her native Akwa Ibiom State and have been having a relentless war for political turf with the governor? So who knows whether she was sacrificed to Ekpe cult or even Alusi-Okija as an offal; afterall African science is still very much alive and portent. May her soul rest in peace.
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Promises: Sultan wants Jonathan to sign undertaking
ReplyDeleteThursday, 10 March 2011 00:00 Mohammed S. Shehu & Rakiya A. Muhammad, Sokoto
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Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar has asked President Goodluck Jonathan to sign an undertaking that he will deliver all the catalogue of campaign promises he rolled out at his palace. “All we need to do, through our amiable governor is to get a paper, list out all those things he said he is going to do, let him sign an undertaking so that we will start pursuing him with that paper around,” Sultan said.
The Sultan, flanked by his council members, including the former President Shehu Shagari received Jonathan in audience before the latter commenced his campaign rally at the Sokoto township stadium yesterday.
“When somebody asks for a favour, the person who is going to do the favour may say, well let’s see if it is going to be possible. But when the person who is going to do that favour, openly, unsolicited, comes up and says this is what I’m going to do, that gives room to the person who is going to ask the favour to say thank you. So if I had spoken before him and requested him to do something and he promises to do so, it would have been a different thing. And without me asking him, he has himself listed out a catalogue of things that we are going to benefit from.”
He thanked God for what He has done to Jonathan in his life, adding: “You are here by the virtue of the Almighty’s blessing on you as President of this country and nothing more. Nobody could have done it otherwise: it was already destined it was going to happen.
“So you are coming now for campaign rally and pay this courtesy visit. It is just a formality for you to come and tell us what you are here for.”
Meanwhile, Jonathan, at his presidential campaign at the Gingiya Memorial stadium, Sokoto, harped on the need to avoid violence during the forthcoming elections, stressing that his government stands for peace and unity of the country.
Jonathan pledges to establish airports in states
ReplyDeleteMarch 18, 2011 01:31AM
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President Goodluck Jonathan in Dutse on Thursday promised to ensure that all the 36 states have a domestic airport, if he is elected in April.
Mr. Jonathan, who is the PDP presidential candidate, made the promise while inaugurating 500 housing units built by Governor Sule Lamido's administration.
"If I win the election, within my four years in office, I will establish domestic airports in all the states without airports.
"We will work with the state governments to achieve that and Jigawa will be our focal point," Mr Jonathan said.
He said the airports would boost economic activities in the country.
The President commended Mr. Lamido for the development projects executed within four years, saying that the quality of those projects were of PDP standard.
In his remarks, Mr. Lamido said the housing estate was named after the former governor of defunct Kano State, Abubakar Rimi, to immortalise him for his selfless service during his administration before Jigawa was carved out of Kano.