• NCP promises to boost power supply, ADC raises campaign team
• Ex-President Obasanjo urges candidates to focus on issues
IN continuation of their campaigns nationwide yesterday, President Goodluck Jonathan promised to consolidate on his achievements so far and particularly tackle unemployment if re-elected, while his All Progressives Congress (APC) counterpart, Major-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) bemoaned what he regarded as Nigeria’s dwindling fortunes.
In a related development, the National Conscience Party (NCP) has promised to double power supply in the country in three years if its presidential candidate, Martin Onovo, is elected.
The NCP expressed dismay that electricity generation had remained a little over 3000 mega watts since 1999 despite the billions of Naira spent, stressing that published reports indicated that Nigeria has the lowest public power per-capita in Africa.
Similarly, the presidential candidate of African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ambassador Ibrahim Ahmad, has inaugurated his campaign organisation ahead of the February 2015 polls.
Speaking at the inauguration yesterday in Abuja, Ahmad stated that Jonathan and Buhari should be held responsible if there was any post election crisis in the country.
Also, former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday urged political parties and their candidates to focus on issues rather than attacking individuals in their campaigns.
In the same vein, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday said that given the rapid change in all sectors in the last four years, the continuity of Jonathan was what the nation needed.
Moreover, the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCPCO) has assured that Buhari if elected President would lift the veil of secrecy and shadiness that has characterised the transactions of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
Addressing a mammoth crowd at a rally held at Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, Osun State, Jonathan explained about 1.8 million Nigerians entered the labour market yearly, saying the calculation by the leadership was to provide two million job opportunities in order to check the ugly trend.
The president ruminated over the various challenges facing the nation, noting that despite the difficulties, the PDP administration still performed well.
He expressed delight at the progress made so far by his administration on the revitalisation of the rail system, stressing the renewed effort was intended to providing means of mass transit system to Nigerians at cheap and affordable cost.
He said the PDP deserves the votes of Nigerians because according to him, his administration had fulfilled promises made to the people in 2011.
His words: ‘‘We ask for your vote as you did the other time and we remain grateful for your support. We will not deceive you but fulfill promises made to you as part of the pact we have with you.’’
Jonathan, who enumerated some achievements recorded by his administration, promised to develop the agricultural sector to enable the country reap more revenues by providing fertilisers and other farm inputs to farmers to enhance production.
In Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, Jonathan said the PDP has in the last 16 years re-defined Nigerian politics by its achievements and speaking the truth to the populace.
The President also denounced the APC mantra that the 16 years of PDP governance have been wasted, saying those making the comments were only being economical with the truth or jealous of PDP achievements in the country.
Jonathan, who assured Nigerian youths of better days if reelected, disclosed that he has set up a presidential Jobs Board, chaired by Vice President Namadi Sambo to develop a framework through which two million Nigerian youths can be gainfully employed annually.
Buhari, who spoke in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, referred to the frightening security situation in country, saying he agreed with those who shared the view that Nigeria was sitting on a keg of gun powder.
He told Obasanjo: “Sir, it’s a fact that you know more than all that we know about the problem that we are in. But what we will try to do is to convince you to believe us that we are going to do better. We expect your understanding and support, although you insist in remaining in PDP.”
Hinting that he had made futile attempts to convince Obasanjo to dump the PDP for APC, Buhari said: “I have reached a certain degree of frustration in my attempt for you to try to shift a bit but you have refused. Briefly, we have been going around three fundamental issues: Security, economy, corruption. This vicious circle is what the APC is determined to break. Because without security, there is no way the country can settle down not to talk of living in it. So many people, educated and uneducated, some said up to 60 per cent, will say Nigeria is sitting on a keg of gun powder.
“We believe that if we are able to stop corruption, a lot of resources will be available to invest in infrastructure, get the factories to reopen, get jobs and get goods and services. So security, economy, in terms of employment, production, manufacturing, goods and services, and then agriculture will again give impetus to employment.”
Speaking during the presidential and governorship kick-off campaign of the party in Enugu, Onovo said it was unfortunate that South Africa per capita power was about 60 times Nigeria’s per capita power.
He said: “Currently, published reports indicate that Nigeria has the lowest public power per capita in Africa. Power generation has remained just over 3000 MW since 1999 even after we have spent $ 51 billion on power, since then. South African per capita is about 60 times Nigeria per capita power. The 2013 WHO report shows life expectancy in Nigeria to be about 49 years for men, one of the lowest in the whole world, enough is enough.”
He expressed optimism that when he assumes office as president, Nigeria could change “from wrong to right, insecurity to security, unemployment to employment, evil to good, mass deceit to veracity, indiscipline to discipline, underdevelopment to development, darkness to light, abuse of power to service, violence to peace.”
Ahmad explained that the presidential candidates of the PDP and APC “have done nothing but personal attacks and hate speeches, further doing things that are heating-up the polity.
“The so-called two big parties and their candidates have remained nothing but petty in terms of their campaigns.”
Obasanjo, who spoke when Buhari visited him in Abeokuta, stated that though he was a card carrying member of the PDP, “what is paramount to me is Nigeria.’’
He further added that any government that can boast of credible, honest persons with proven character can solve the myriad of problems confronting the nation.
He, therefore, urged whichever party that wins the forthcoming elections to form a
government with “men and women” with proven character.
A statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Olisa Metuh, yesterday said no administration in the history of Nigeria has turned in high flying, all sector delivery in its first four years as Jonathan, saying that in adopting change as its slogan, the APC has shown it is out of tune with reality as change has since begun under the present administration.
The party further argued that the mark of true leadership was the ability to stay the course notwithstanding the level of distractions orchestrated to make the leader lose focus, saying that Jonathan has beaten every adversity to achieve an unprecedented transformation of Nigeria.
A statement from the Directorate of Media and Publicity of the campaign in Abuja on Tuesday said it is apparent that the reason the country’s economy comes under heavy shock any time there is instability in the global oil market is because of corruption and lack of transparency and honesty in the way the NNPC is run.
The statement signed by Mallam Garba Shehu, director of Media and Publicity of the campaign, assured that if elected into office an APC-led government will promote credible book-keeping in the day-to-day workings of the NNPC.
“To create a level playing field for all operators and investors in the oil and gas industry, there is an urgent need to have a clear and transparent regulatory and fiscal framework for the upstream, midstream and downstream activities,” he said.
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