Supporters of President Goodluck Jonathan recently presented to the media the profile, acts and deeds of the president and why Nigerians should vote for him next month. Our Correspondent, Tessy Igata, was there.

As the war of words continue between the PDP and the APC, following the forth coming elections in Nigeria come February 14, 2015, the electorate may have it tough choosing from the presidential aspirants. For General Buhari, he may give Jonathan a run for his money but the incumbent government is not budged as the one time military Head of State may have so many factors standing against him at the coming polls. For a man who has been alleged to have said that he does not believe in democracy when asked what he thinks of democracy; this, to so many Nigerians, cannot be the spirit of a man who wants to rule Nigeria under a democratic setting.

However the PDP and its allies have staged a campaign in Lagos tagged; Media Presentation of Goodluck Jonathan, organised by the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs under the supervision of Dr. Doyin Okupe.

At the event, the two Presidential candidates were juxtaposed based on their performances as Heads of state. The guest lecturer on the occasion, Professor Dupe Olatubosun, said that candidate Goodluck Jonathan is the best man for the job. He indicted General Buhari for having said that he will make the country ungovernable for President Jonathan.

He added that this is consistent with what is happening in the country today, while also enumerating all the achievements (Telecoms, agriculture, manufacturing, education, entertainment, the fight of the Ebola virus disease, becoming the largest economy in Africa etc.) of President Jonathan within his four- year term.

He however lamented the gap between the haves and have nots.“This very serious problem of increasing gap between the rich and the poor is caused mainly by the Nigeria elite of all shades, especially the politicians, irrespective of political party affiliations who are very greedy and selfish due to their insatiable acquisition of wealth”.

He added that President Jonathan believes so much in the unity of the nation which is why he will not take drastic decisions that may create chaos that may lead to the splitting of the nation. He however said that with tact and wisdom the president is gradually winning the war on insurgency even as many had expected him to tow the same hardline as Obasanjo did in the case of Odi.

He commended the president for being the first Head of state to successfully convene a national conference, which has laid a very solid foundation for the unity of Nigeria. He attributed part of Jonathan’s success to his wife Patience Jonathan whom he said has helped to up the game of women in Nigerian political arena today. While also lauding the cooperation of Vice President Namadi Sambo with the president in achieving his transformation agenda and that if given the opportunity to continue for another term the transformation agenda will be taken to greater heights.

“The administration has a template, roadmap and a vision. I have no illusions as to his mission. A government is worth no more than the people who work for it; nothing but the best is good for Nigeria. President Jonathan is cool, calm and collected. He’s not desperate for power. And anybody who has been following Jonathan in his political aspirations in the past 10 years will see the hand of God in his life. With all your support I firmly believe that the right combination of Namadi Sambo and Jonathan are the right and appropriate leadership that Nigeria needs.”

He said while Jonathan has faced a lot of challenges, Buhari never had challenges when he was Military Head of state and therefore he had the power to do so many things but in spite of all the power to achieve what Buhari can be remembered for was War Against Indiscipline, WAI, but the actual credit was to late General Tunde Idiagbon. He however called Burahi’s government oppressive, repressive, draconian, authoritarian and was devoid of any form of human rights. And for a man who had told Nigerians in 2011 that, that would be the last time he’ll contest for presidency, what is he looking for again in 2015?

The Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN) and former national deputy chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, lent their voice as they said that President Goodluck Jonathan will win 2015 presidential election with ease.

Olabode George however said that the “foot soldiers are battle ready for 2015 election and one of the sacred points that will make Jonathan’s victory next year a foregone conclusion is that he is the first sitting president in the history of this country to convene a national conference without interference.” He assured the crowd that, “President Goodluck Jonathan, out of the love he has for the country will implement all the recommendations at the conference to the letter, while he urged Nigerians to allow him finish the good work he had started, reasoning that, “a president that allowed all shades and characters to x-ray the nation’s problems and proffer solution should have our collective support,” reminding the nation that the recommendations included the institution of a State Police, abrogation of immunity to governors, local government autonomy and power rotation.

Presenting candidate Jonathan to the media and the public, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, said: “In the 2015 elections, the choice is clear. It is either Goodluck or bad luck. President Jonathan is the best thing that has ever happened to this country, who bears our burden and bears it very well, nobody would pick bad luck where Goodluck is available. The progress in the country is not a coincidence but product of his vision and support from God.”

Alhaji Tanko Yakasai in his goodwill message thanked the leadership and members of the PDP for supporting Jonathan’s second term ambition saying, the PDP’s act was similar to what obtained in advanced democracy. The elder statesman further gave kudos to the PDP for being the first party to introduce such a standard to the nation’s political landscape. “In America and other places, when an incumbent signifies his intention to go for a second term, no party member would contest primaries against him”. He however urged Nigerians to allow Jonathan have his second term. Yakasai was of the opinion that, zoning of offices and power shift should be made a stronger clause in the country’s constitution.

Senator Ita-Giwa in her comments expressed the view that, if the south-south geo-political zone of the country has supported the north for a very long time, the principle of reciprocity was nonetheless expected from the people of the north. “The President Jonathan should be allowed a second term in office, as his administration is accommodating, peaceful, compassionate and not draconian.”