Jonathan’s Statement Rally in Enugu

L-R: Orji, Jonathan, Chime and Elechi 

President Goodluck Jonathan’s peace and unity rally in Enugu State, last Friday, was an instructive statement to the South-east zone ahead of the 2015 elections. Christopher Isiguzo writes

Enugu, the Coal City State literally stood still last Friday when the ongoing zonal peace and unity rally of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) berthed in the South-east zone with President Goodluck Jonathan leading a power-packed team of party leaders from across the country. Held at the main bowl of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, the rally attracted prominent political bigwigs including the Vice-President, Namadi Sambo, National Chairman PDP, Adamu Mu’azu, Board of Trustees Chairman of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih and the Senate President, David Mark.

Others are the Chairman of South-east Governors’ Forum and Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji, who led other PDP governors in the zone including the host, Sullivan Chime and Martin Elechi of Ebonyi. The chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Akwa-Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio also led Governors of Kebbi, Cross River, Delta, Kaduna, Kogi and the Deputy Governor of Niger State to the rally.

Other personalities who attended the rally adjudged by Mark as one with largest crowd when compared to others included Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu; Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha; two former Senate Presidents, Adolf Wabara and Ken Nnamani; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, Senators, House members, former governors Sam Egwu, Achike Udenwa, Chinwoke Mbadinuju, Okwesilieze Nwodo and ministers from the zone as well as other prominent PDP faithful.

Though, party leaders had made it clear that the rally was merely to sensitize the people ahead of the 2015 elections, different banners, posters and T-shirts displayed at the rally put a lie to the claim as party men and women freely drummed support for their benefactors.
Also, most of the speeches were in favour of the president’s yet-to-be-declared second term bid. For instance, supporters of Governors Chime and Orji wore T-shirts championing the senatorial ambitions of the two governors. Other governorship aspirants from some states especially Abia, with Senator Nkechi Nwaogu and Chief Uche Ogar had their banners of support displayed on their behalf.

Different youth and women groups also wore different uniforms in a bid to outshine one another. It was indeed one gathering of statement in the south-east zone as major roads leading to the venue were blocked to traffic, while military helicopters hovered around the city in readiness for any breach of security.

A former governor of old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo, set the stage for the event which lasted about three hours with his opening prayer while renowned gospel artiste, Felix Ndukwe added colour and glamour with his gospel tunes mixed with some political flavours.

Jonathan, while addressing the crowd, said the daughters and sons of the people of South-east have been playing strategic role in the overall success of his administration and that the people of the zone have equally demonstrated dedication, commitment and resilience in their support to the PDP and development of the nation.

The president, who rebuffed all entreaties by governors of the South-east to formally declare his interest in the 2015 presidential election reiterated the fact that it was not yet time for such declaration, but that at the appropriate time, he would not disappoint his supporters.

"Like I said when I was with the traditional rulers, we thank them for the total commitment of the people of South-east and their contributions to the success of this administration. So, I thank you for your support to this government and total commitment that this country must move forward," he said.

He said the rally has demonstrated that PDP is strong and united in the zone and that the overwhelming number of PDP senators from the area is a confirmation of that fact.

He explained that in 2015 election, PDP will record total victory in the zone in the governorship, National Assembly and other positions insisting that PDP remained the only truly democratic party standing and also the party that will lead Nigeria to other democratic nations in the world because PDP is the only party recognised outside the country.

He said his administration will not relent in creating jobs and creating wealth to the people, noting that those claiming to be progressive party are rather maximum dictators, who impose candidates and cancel ward congresses with impunity.

"Our party chairman has said it all that PDP is the number one party in Nigeria; we are yet to see number two, talk less of a rival party. There is no rival party in Nigeria, it is said that by their fruits you shall know them. Here in the South-east, we have seen that we have no problem; it is clear that South-east is a PDP zone.

“We will take total control of the governments in the South-east, I say total. It is only in PDP that people like me from an unknown background can be whatever they want. Other parties can never take Nigeria anywhere. Nigeria is a great country where to move forward, you have to have an open mind. PDP is the only party with that quality.

"Here, there is leadership and we follow everything based on the rule of law and due process. It is the only party recognised even outside Nigeria, other parties are not even known outside Nigeria. This is the party that will continue to create jobs for our people. Some people who claim to be opposition party will tell you that they are progressing, progressing to hell or to where? Do not make mistake, PDP is the only party,” he noted.

Earlier, the Vice Chairman of the PDP, South-east zone, Col. Austin Akobundu, said the zone will continue to support the government and the party, saying the main opposition party is on life support in the zone. Maintaining that the PDP was the only party in the zone, he added that governors elected on the party’s platform had made matters easier by their outstanding performance in the past years.
He recalled last year’s Good Governance Tour embarked upon by the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku and a team of journalists from across the country which he claimed revealed that the federal government had sited a number of projects in the zone.

“I can assure you that in the South-east, we speak one voice and that is PDP. There’s no room for APC in the zone. Presently, the APC is on life support and very soon, it will move to the intensive care unit before moving finally to the mortuary,” Akobundu noted.
The PDP governors in the zone however made two requests from the president. Apart from pleading with him to contest the 2015 presidential election, they made a second request which asked him not to turn down their appeal. The request was made on their behalf by Governor Chime while Governor Orji added that should he refuse to contest, the zone will conscript him to contest by force.

The governors listed the second Niger Bridge, Akanu Ibiam International Airport, and the appointment of an Igboman as Inspector-General of Police, Chief of Army Staff, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Coordinating Minister of the Economy among others.

"Mr. President, the essence of this gathering is very simple. Our people have been meeting and we have only two request. One is that you run for 2015. Our second request is to plead with you to please say yes to our first request.
"We are not here to discuss your budget, we are not here to assess your government, all we want is that you say yes to our first and second requests. If you say no, we shall conscript you,” they noted.

Elechi commended Jonathan for calmly withstanding all forms of unwarranted attacks perpetrated against his administration, saying it has become imperative for the president to continue to do the good works he started and complete them

"You have set unprecedented records in the Nigerian democratic landscape by allowing the people to freely elect their leaders in their respective states. You have also tolerated abuses even from the opposition, yet you never responded. Do not listen to those who claim that they are ready to rescue Nigeria. For these observations, we say do not reject our requests. You are the person we are waiting for," Elechi said.

Akpabio also reiterated the position of the people of South-east and added: "They want you to commission the second Niger bridge you are building for them. It was the first Azikiwe that commissioned the first Niger bridge and it will be the second Azikiwe that will commission the second Niger bridge.

"They also commended the President for opening up the former capital of south eastern region, Enugu to the world by building an international airport in Enugu," Akpabio said.

Other speakers at the rally including Chief Arthur Eze (for Anambra), Senator Sunni Ogbuoji (Ebonyi), Ike Nwachukwu (Abia), Senator Hope Uzodinma (Imo), Senator Ken Nnamani (Enugu) and Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu for the zone said Jonathan deserved a second chance.

Ekweremadu, Ihedioha, Labour and the Minister of Labour, Emeka Wogu, who spoke on behalf of the ministers that included Maku; Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs 1, Professor Viola Onwuliri and Prof Chinedu Nebo of Power noted that the President has over 53 projects executed for the people of South-east.

Nigeria’s Ambassador to Canada, Chief Ojo Madueke, said the South-east has no apology for supporting Jonathan for a second term. "We have no apology for supporting Jonathan, although the zone has been called so many names for putting all her eggs in one basket, it has no apology because it will enable the zone to fight harder to protect her eggs."

On their parts, Mu’azu, Anenih, PDP National Women Leader, Kema Chikwe, Mark and Sambo among others, eulogised the president and the PDP for ensuring the sustenance of the nation’s democracy through the ongoing transformation programmes. They noted that when INEC finally lifts the ban on campaigns, the party’s train would return to reel out the achievements of the government.

The rally also witnessed the formal defection of the member representing Owerri North, West and Municipality federal constituency, Ezenwa Onyebuchi formerly of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to PDP.

No doubt, the rally may have come and gone but it has left an enduring mark in the zone ahead of the general election. Indeed, the party may have unintentionally sent a signal to the opposition APC and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to get ready for the battle ahead.