The clearest indication that President Goodluck Jonathan will contest the 2015 presidential election emerged Tuesday in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, with the full endorsement of the President for the 2015 election by South-South governors and leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The endorsement of the President for the election was the highpoint of a stakeholders meeting called by the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Ahmadu Mua’zu as part of his zonal tour of the South-South.
The leaders of the region in a communiqué read at the end of the meeting by former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Chibudom Nwuche hinged their endorsement of the President on the giant strides recorded by his administration across all sectors.
The communiqué read in parts: “We acknowledge the giant strides of Mr. President in the area of Education, Agriculture, Health, Tourism, Re-invention of the Railway Systems, Roads and other infrastructural development across the country. It is also notable that there is tremendous focus on economic empowerment of Nigerians.
“In view of his (President) doggedness in pursuing his transformation agenda for Nigeria, the South-South is in full support of President Jonathan’s administration. We therefore, endorse Mr. President for the forthcoming 2015 presidential election so as to continue his transformation agenda which transcends across all spheres of our lives.”
The communiqué was signed by Governors Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, Liyel Imoke of Cross River State and Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State.
With thousands of party faithful in attendance, the leaders of the region condemned in strong terms, the spate of violence and insecurity in Nigeria, which they observed was being tackled headlong by President Jonathan.
They pledged their “unalloyed and unwavering support for the fight against terrorism in Nigeria”, even as they vowed “to be strong advocates of the continuous unity of the Nigerian state, as co-existence as a collection of various nationalities remains non-negotiable.”
While urging Nigerians to keep identifying with the PDP, they praised the current leadership of the party led by the National Chairman, attributing current electoral successes recorded in places like Ekiti State to the leadership style of the former governor of Bauchi State.
Before the communiqué, speaker after speaker had praised the President for his achievements, saying no past president of the country achieved more than President Jonathan in their first terms.
Those in attendance beside the governors were Chief Tony Anenih, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the PDP, Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Dakwambo, the South-South members in the National Assembly, and state chairmen of the party from the six South South states amongst others.
