President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday declined to reply to Atiku Abubakar’s scathing attack saying, “I won’t join issues with him.” Jonathan who described himself as agent of change, however, cautioned delegates to vote wisely in the larger interest of the party and Nigeria.
In an off-the-cuff address to delegates shortly after similar addresses by his two opponents, the president described the PDP as the envy of other parties in the country. “Every other political party believes PDP is the party to set transformation agenda for this party, that is why non-PDP members show interest in our activities.”
President Jonathan noted that Nigeria is on the threshold of history desirious of an agent of change and promised to offer himself as that agent of change.
“We need an agent of transformation, I Dr. Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan is that agent that can bring the transformation we need,” he said amidst loud ovation. Jonathan refuted Atiku’s claim that there had not been any significant change in the lives of Nigerians in the last eight months.
According to him: “Within eight months, we have set agenda that you can verify. Today, nobody sleeps in any filling station in any part of the country. You go to power sector is a major challenge, we are handling it. Now there is significant change.” Unveiling his blueprint, Jonathan promised every state in the federation a federal university, revitalization of the health sector, employment generation and security.
Finally, he pleaded with delegates to vote for the aspirant that would transform the nation.
“The delegates know all of us, they know our history, they know our past and they will select whoever they like,” he said. On the Niger Delta situation, Jonathan faulted Atiku’s claim that crisis has not abated arguing that, “If the crisis had not abated the nation’s oil production quota could have been on the increase, risen to meet OPEC’s quota.”
Before he mounted the podium, there had been a mild drama when Sarah Jubril, the sole female presidential aspirant, started campaigning for him. “Mr. President you have done well for women; you and your amiable wife. Today you shall reap bountifully the reward,” she had said.
She, however, urged the delegates to vote for her as a solution to the zoning divide in the party.
“I represent zoning neutralizer. With Mama Sarah Nigeria shall not be labelled as one of the corrupt nations of the world. If you love Nigeria and you want your children to escape from this criminality that is going on, vote for Sarah Jubril,” she pleaded.
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