Jonathan Must Seek Re-election In 2015, TAN Declares

Less than eight months before the 2015 presidential election in Nigeria, a political support group and non-governmental organisation (NGO), Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), has stated that incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan deserves to re-contest for the presidency.

According to a statement released on Tuesday, 29 July, 2014, in Awka, the Anambra State capital, the group insisted that there was enough reason for Jonathan’s mandate to be renewed, adding that his modest achievements must be consolidated in the interest of the country.

The group’s spokesperson, Prof Joe Okanlawon, while speaking with pressmen, informed that with his Transformation Agenda, Jonathan had positively impacted on the people of Nigeria and the polity.

* Incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan

According to the renowned professor of Sociology, all the sectors of the economy have received the Midas touch of the president who has proved that, with quality leadership, Nigeria could overcome its challenges and take its pride of place in the comity of nations.

Singling out revolution in the power sector as an outstanding achievement, he said while the successful power reform cannot be wished away by any individual, irrespective of the level of political antagonism, it would be wise and ideal to allow the president to consolidate on his achievements.

Okanlawon noted that a great number of small-scale industries that were forced to shut down because of poor and epileptic power supply had bounced back, following the restoration of power by President Jonathan.

He added that the situation before Jonathan came on board was so bad that the industrialists had to rely on alternative sources of power which were very expensive, thereby making the cost of production higher than the ruling market prices.

He observed that some of the small scale industries that were laid off, with its owners thrown back into the already over-populated unemployment market later became agents of insecurity in the country, justifying the saying that an idle mind is always the devil’s workshop.

Okanlawon pointed out that things started looking up for the country when the president through reform policies embarked on a systematic restructuring of the power sector by way of privatisation and unbundling which made it possible for over 4000kw of electricity to be generated and distributed across the country.

He stated further that all members of TAN are satisfied by the performance of Mr. President to the extent of showcasing the monumental achievements for Nigerians to see for themselves.

He revealed that TAN in demonstration of its support for Jonathan in an unusual radical way sponsored 15 people to Brazil to watch the Super Eagles during the recently concluded World Cup where souvenirs were cheerfully distributed.

Okanlawon also stated that since “the reward for hard work is more work” that allowing Jonathan to take another shot at the presidency after his first four years would consolidate the monumental achievements that will serve as a springboard for further development to whoever succeeds him in 2019. 

Though President Jonathan is yet to make his re-election bid open, political analysts are already saying the former governor of Bayelsa state would contest in 2015.

It is believed that the contest for the presidency would be between the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The APC has also not announced who would be flying its flag during next year's polls.

Source: Legit.ng