The declaration ceremony held at the Eagles Square in Abuja and was attended by political stakeholders from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party.
President Goodluck Jonathan today, November 11, 2014 officially declared his intention to run for a second term in office.
President Goodluck Jonathan today, November 11, 2014 officially declared his intention to run for a second term in office.
The
declaration ceremony held at the Eagles Square in Abuja and was
attended by political stakeholders from the ruling Peoples Democratic
Party.
Read the full text of the president’s speech below:
Dear Compatriots:
1.
Four years ago, precisely September 18, 2010; I stood in this Eagle
Square, to offer myself for election as the President of our beloved
country on the platform of our great party; the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP).
2. Seven months after that declaration,
you elected me to lead this country with overwhelming support from all
parts of our Nation. I remain grateful for the trust you reposed in me
to lead our Nation through uncommon challenges in our march of progress
as a united and democratic country.
3. Over the
years, the Almighty God has made it possible for me to develop a bond
with you and I am grateful for your support and understanding in the
difficult periods we have journeyed through.
4.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, our stewardship has not been without
challenges. We have had to deal with the wave of insurgency that has
swept through some parts of our dear country. Only yesterday, Government
Science Secondary School in Yobe State was bombed by insurgents,
killing our promising young children who were seeking education to build
the country and support their parents. Many Nigerians have lost their
lives and property to these mindless killings. Let me crave the
indulgence of all present here to stand up to observe a minutes silence
in honour of these young lads who lost their lives. Clearly, this has
cast a dark cloud on our Nation but we will surely win the war against
terror. A number of young men and women have been kidnapped by these
criminal elements including our daughters from Chibok. We will free our
daughters and defeat terrorism.
5. We are
equipping the armed forces and deploying special forces to engage the
terrorist and end this senseless war. We must protect our country. We
must save our people. I will do everything humanly possible to end this
criminal violence in our Nation.
6. To ensure the
long term stability and development of the affected areas, government
has launched three programmes: The Presidential Initiative for the North
East, the Victim Support Fund and the Safe School Initiative. The
Presidential Initiative for the Northeast is focused on improving
infrastructure and economic growth in the region. The Safe School
Initiative is centred on creating a safe environment to encourage our
children in the communities to acquire education. The Victim Support
Fund, a partnership with the Private Sector, has raised about 60 billion
Naira, which will help to empower and rehabilitate victims of terror. I
promise the victims of these dastardly acts that we will continue to
stand with you.
7. I am grateful to all Nigerians for standing with me.
8.
Let me also thank the leaders and elders of our great party, the
Peoples Democratic Party, for the opportunity you have given to me to
serve our country, Nigeria.
9. I am overwhelmed by
the trust, confidence and support of the various organs of our party,
the Board of Trustees, the National Caucus, the National Executive
Committee, the National Working Committee, the PDP Governors Forum,
members of the PDP Caucuses of the National Assembly, and others.
10. This day affords me the opportunity to continue the conversation of development we started together.
11.
Infrastructure has been a major focus area of my administration and so,
we pursued the power sector reform to this point of irreversible
progress. Nigeria has undertaken a most transparent and corruption free
bidding process, attracting global commendation. The on-going 450MW
Azura Power Plant in Edo State is a testimony to the success of this
transformation.
12. We have also resumed
development of our Hydro-Power potential, with the construction of the
700MW Zungeru Hydro-Power Plant, while construction work on the 3,050MW
Mambilla Hydro-Power Plant is about to take off.
13.
Our power generation and distribution companies have now been
privatized. We are firmly on the road to guaranteed regular power supply
in the months ahead. This our bold move, is paying off!
14.
We are committed to environmental protection and conservation and
reducing vulnerability to climate change. In this regard, we have
embarked on a number of projects across the country. Of particular note
is the African Great Green Wall Programme, where we have released about
16 billion naira for implementation. The project will create a green
belt across 11 states from Kebbi to Borno.
15. In
the past three and half years, the water sector has witnessed
unprecedented improvement. Access to potable water is now 67%, up from
58% in 2010, while sanitation coverage is 41%, from 32% within the same
period.
16. Major developments in water include
the completion of 37 Dams and rehabilitation of 10, with several others
on-going construction. The flagship Kashimbila Multipurpose Dam which is
being built to contain flood from Lake Nyos, is now at 90% completion.
We have also completed about 5,000 rural and semi urban water schemes.
17.
We are reforming the National Urban Water supply programmes in 12
states, with 385 formal and informal irrigation projects, covering a
total land area of 118000 ha, cultivated mostly by small holder farmers.
This has yielded over 3 million metric tons of assorted grains and
vegetables, with a market value of about 45 billion naira.
18.
Before the advent of this administration, the Railway system was
practically dead. Today, we have revived the rail sector. The narrow
gauge line from Lagos to Kano has been rehabilitated with improved
coaches providing regular services. The rehabilitation of the Port
Harcourt-Maiduguri rail line is progressing with the Port Harcourt-Gombe
segment as well as the branch line from Kafanchan to Kaduna expected to
be completed and fully operational by December 2014.
19.
Already, work on the Abuja-Kaduna standard gauge rail line, is
progressing. The tracks of the rail line will be completed by December
this year 2014. Upon completion of the project in the first quarter of
2015, it will be possible for Nigerians to live in Kaduna and work in
Abuja. The Itape-Ajaokuta-Wari standard gauge line has attained an
advanced stage, with the track completely laid. We hope to commence full
operation before the end of 2015.
20. Other
segments of the new standard gauge speed train network are planned with
contract already awarded for the Lagos –Ibadan Segment. There will be
more of such modern and faster rail connections in the coming years.
Already, discussions are now at advanced stage, for the Coastal rail
line that will traverse through 10 states, from Lagos through the
South-South and South-East, all the way to Calabar.
21.
My administration has successfully completed the dredging of the lower
River Niger from Baro in Niger State to Warri in in Delta State. The
cheering news is that over 6.7 million passengers and over 1.6 million
tonnes of cargo have been moved through this channel in less than three
years.
22. I am happy to also report that our
ports now operate 24 hour service, which has led to the reduction of
clearing time and improved efficiency.
23. When I
assumed office in 2010, out of the 35,000km of federal roads nationwide,
only about 5,000km were motorable. Today, that number has increased to
about 25,000km. We expect to complete the remaining 10,000km in three
years while initiating new ones.
24. I made a
commitment to build two new major bridges across the River Niger and
River Benue. Today, the new bridge over the River Benue, connecting Loko
in Nassarawa State to Oweto in Benue State has reached an advance stage
of completion, while work has commenced on the Second Niger Bridge.
25.
Beyond these, my administration has concluded plans to re-commence the
construction of Bodo-Bonny Road with three major bridges on the
alignment that will link the Island of Bonny with Rivers mainland.
26.
Preliminary works have started on my administration’s planned
re-construction and expansion of the Murtala Muhammed International
Airport Road in Lagos to a world class entry point into our country.
Only a few months ago, work started on the dualization of Kano-Katsina
Road. While many Nigerians are celebrating the marked improvements on
our roads, I want to assure that it will get even better as we move
forward.
27. In the pursuit of an integrated
transportation system, we embarked on the construction of five new
Airport Terminal Buildings and Air-field facilities. We are also
re-constructing existing ones. The re-construction upon completion, will
lead to improved passenger processing, increased cargo handling
capacity and enhanced Air-field facilities that meet international
standard and improves safety. These efforts have been met with global
acknowledgement including the attainment and retention of the FAA
Category One status.
28. In housing, we signed the
National Housing Policy to kick-start the framework for providing more
affordable homes for our people. We have also expanded the National
Housing Fund to accommodate more Nigerians. We have started a revolution
in the housing sector with the start of the Nigerian Mortgage and
Refinanced Company (NMRC) a new initiative of my administration, that
will enable more citizens in the lower income bracket to become first
time home owners.
29. Our partners such as the
World Bank group are supporting this with US300million dollars interest
free credit, while my administration will back it with over 100billion
naira in bonds. We are already processing 66,000 mortgage applications
for our young people. We have amended the PENCOM Act to enable the
pension funds invest in housing sector bonds. This will create a boom in
the housing sector.
30. In the Federal Capital
Territory, we are rapidly building a befitting National Capital by
expanding and providing new infrastructure, developing ten new districts
and Satellite Towns to cater for the ever increasing population. In no
distant future, you will be able to arrive at the Nnamdi Azikiwe
International Airport and proceed to the city using the Abuja Light
Rail. In addition to providing durable health, educational and
transportation services, we are also collaborating with Organized Labour
to build functional, affordable and social housing in Abuja.
31.
Other critical capital developments that are being packaged by this
Administration include the development of the Ultra-Modern World Trade
Centre, the Abuja Town Centre, the Jabi Lake Comprehensive Centre, the
Centenary City and the Land Swap Districts. This private sector driven
infrastructural development will positively change the skyline of the
city and provide the required office and residential accommodation,
shopping and recreation as well as tourism and entertainment facilities
of the FCT.
32. In our determination to encourage
much greater participation of Nigerians in the oil and gas industry, one
of the first actions I took, was the enactment of the Nigerian Oil and
Gas Industry Content Development Act. As a result of this law,
indigenous Nigerian participation levels, in upstream and downstream
activities of the oil and gas industry have increased by over 45%,
thereby increasing employment opportunities for our youth.
33.
We have also succeeded in eliminating the long queues that previously
characterised our filling stations, through regular and sustained
product supply.
34. Gas infrastructure to ensure
adequate Gas to Power and Gas to Industry, is being aggressively put in
place. Over 450km of gas pipelines have been installed over the last
3years. Another 2,000km is planned over the next 4years. Critical
petrochemical and fertilizer facilities have commenced including the gas
industrial park in Delta State, for which I am scheduled to perform the
ground-breaking this Friday. This will create millions of jobs and make
Nigeria a regional hub.
35. In addition, as a
result of government favourable policies the private sector is investing
over 12 billion dollars in the petrochemical sector, over the next
4years. This will surely create millions of jobs for our people.
36.
In terms of gas supply, we have grown from less than 500 million cubic
feet per day, 4years ago, to about 1.5 billion cubic feet per day
currently. Our goal is to attain 4 billion cubic feet per day, over the
next 4years.
37. We have changed the face of
agriculture. We moved agriculture away from a development Programme to
agriculture as a business. My vision is to create wealth for our people
through agriculture.
38. We have focused on
encouraging the private sector to boost investments in the agricultural
sector. As a result, the number of seed companies rose from five to
eighty in the past three years. Private sector investment in the
agricultural sector expanded by $ US 5.6 billion across the Agricultural
value chain.
39. We ended decades of corruption
in the fertilizer and seed sectors. We developed a transparent and
efficient system of reaching farmers directly with subsidized farm
inputs. Before our reforms, fertilizer procurement and distribution took
from the needy and gave to the greedy. We restored dignity back to
farmers. Today, 14 million farmers, of which 2 million are women, access
fertilizers with their mobile phones, through an e-wallet system.
Nigeria is the first country in the world to develop an e-wallet system
to reach farmers with subsidized farm inputs on their mobile phones.
Several African countries are now borrowing this transparent and
efficient e-wallet system for their own countries.
40.
Our national food production expanded by an additional 21 million
metric tons between 2011 and 2014, a record, exceeding our set target of
20 million metric tons set for 2015. The Dangote Group, has committed
to invest $US 1 billion in commercial rice production and processing.
With all these developments, we are expected to be an exporter of rice
in the next five years. This will be a new dawn!
41.
The benefits are showing on our food imports. Our food import bill has
declined from 1.1 trillion Naira in 2009 to 684 billion Naira by
December 2013, even with our increasing population, a reduction of 40%.
42.
Nigeria met its Millennium Development Goal One on reducing hunger and
extreme poverty, two years ahead of 2015 target set by the United
Nations, and was given an award by the Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations.
43. To sustain this trend,
we are encouraging young graduates through the Nagropreneurs Programme
to go into commercial Agriculture. We are also encouraging our students
in Post Primary Schools to embrace commercial Agriculture through the
National School Agriculture Programme.
44. My dear
people, corruption remains a big challenge in our national life. It
corrodes our efforts at development and at motivating competence in
critical sectors of our national growth. We have eradicated it in the
agricultural sector and we will surely eradicate it in other sectors of
our economy.
45. Going forward, my focus is to
continue to reinforce institutions, systems, and processes to tackle
corruption, and also to bring to justice those that perpetrate
corruption. Through the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information
System (IPPIS), we have weeded out 56,000 ghost workers from the Federal
Civil Service, saving 162 billion naira.
46. I
have directed ICPC to bring the perpetrators of this criminal act to
book. Let this be very clear, public officers must live by example,
fully accounting for the national trust and resources in their care.
47.
In our journey to progress, knowledge is indispensable. Knowledge is
power! This is why my administration established 14 new Universities out
of which 12 are conventional and two are specialized Police and
Maritime Universities. Under my watch, every state in Nigeria, now has a
Federal University.
48. In addition, over
500billion naira have been spent, through the Tertiary Education Trust
Fund (TETFund) and the special NEEDS assessment fund on various projects
to increase access and improve the quality of infrastructure at the
tertiary level of our education system.
49. To
provide equal access and opportunities in education and ensure that no
Nigerian child is left behind, we have established and equipped 150
Almajiri Schools across the Northern states and the
Out-of-School-Children Programme including Specialized Boys and Girls
Schools across the country.
50. Fellow Nigerians,
our country was faced with a major National security, humanitarian, and
economic threat in the form of the Ebola Virus Disease, which arrived in
the country on July 20, 2014, by way of a foreign national, Mr Patrick
Sawyer.
51. Realizing the imminent threat, I
declared a national emergency, pulling states, local and federal
government into action as well as individual Nigerians to combat this
disease. Without the quick action of patriotic Nigerians in the First
Consultant Hospital, as well as the co-operation of Lagos and Rivers
State, where the disease occurred, working with the Federal Ministry of
Health and the co-operation of all Nigerians we could not have succeeded
in overcoming this deadly disease. Fellow Nigerians we stopped Ebola
together.
52. Just as we stopped Ebola, we are on
our way to eradicating the Polio Virus in our country. We have reduced
the incident of new Polio Virus from 300 in 2010, to 6 today.
53.
My brothers and sisters, to encourage entrepreneurship and
self-reliance among our teeming graduates, we have developed creative
opportunities for enterprise for our young people.
54.
Programmes such as YouWIN, the Graduate Internship Scheme, the
Nagropreneurs Initiative, the 220 Billion Naira Micro, Small and Medium
Enterprises Development Fund and the 3 Billion Naira Grant to Nollywood
are empowering our graduates, the creative industry and other young
people to start up their own businesses and employ others.
55.
We have supported the growth of industry through policy and action. We
launched The National industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP), and the
National Enterprise Development Programme as key drivers to bring about
our desires in the industrial sectors and to diversify our economy. Our
new National Automobile Policy is transforming Nigeria into a vibrant
hub for the automobile industry. Our own Innoson Motors is producing
world standard vehicles, and Nissan, Hyundai, and Kia, have set up
factories in Nigeria and are employing thousands of our people.
56.
Our support for cement production is unprecedented. We have increased
our installed capacity from 16.5 million metric tons per annum in 2011
to 39.5 million metric tons per annum in 2014. Nigeria is now exporting
cement. We are moving forward! We must produce what we consume and
consume what we produce.
57. Our efforts to create
an enabling environment for job creation in different sectors of the
economy including the MSME sector, agriculture, housing and
manufacturing have yielded results. Between the third quarter of 2012,
when we started tracking jobs created and the end of 2013, 1.9 million
jobs were created. To deepen our success in this area, I have created a
Presidential Jobs Creation Board headed by the Vice President with the
mandate to create at least two million jobs a year.
58.
My brothers and sisters, our economy is heading in the right direction
and our efforts are yielding positive results. Our economy continues to
grow at the rate of 6 to 7 percent annually, one of the highest in the
world. Our country is now the top investment destination and the largest
economy in Africa, with a GDP of 80trillion naira (510billion dollars)
as well as the 26th largest economy in the world.
59.
As part of its efforts to support inclusive growth and economic
development in Nigeria through the CBN, my administration has created
and disbursed the sum of 200billion naira via the Commercial Agric and
Credit scheme, 300billion naira Power and Aviation fund, 220billion
naira Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Fund, as well as 300 billion
naira rail sector refinancing facilities at single digit interest rate.
We will continue to deepen the reforms in the financial sector, in order
to sustain the growth of our economy and uplift our people from poverty
to prosperity.
60. Dear Compatriots, I promised
as President, that we would sanitize and restore integrity in our
electoral process, by ensuring that our votes are not only counted, but
truly count. We have gone to great length to ensure transparent, free,
fair, and credible elections. Elections have been conducted across the
country with local and international election observers testifying to
their transparency.
61. On the international
scene, we have advanced our regional, continental and global objectives.
We have strengthened our relationships with our neighbours and in many
instances supported them to protect their democracy, security and
stability. We are serving for a second time within a period of 4 years
at the United Nations Security Council. This is unprecedented in our
Nation’s history. My brothers and sister, this is a growing attestation
of our country’s growing influence.
62. In the
first quarter of this year, our country celebrated its centenary. To
prepare the nation for the challenges of the next one hundred years, I
convened a National Conference where recommendations and resolutions
were reached towards a more perfect union. We shall implement the
report.
63. Four years ago, I made a commitment to
advance the rise and rise of womanhood. Today, I am glad that we have
made remarkable progress in this regard, trusting in the potential of
our women and reaping from their dedication and ingenuity. I believe
that any nation that ignores womanhood cannot achieve its full
potential. It is in this regard that I ensured that women were given
more opportunities in government, and I have not been disappointed.
64. Specifically, I doubled the percentage of women in the cabinet and gave them more challenging assignments.
65.
The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), is now admitting female cadets as
regular combatants and it is now possible for a woman to rise through
the ranks to the peak in military service, and become a full general.
66.
We must continue to sustain the banner of freedom and justice that we
have held high in our country. I am proud to say that there are no
political prisoners in Nigeria today. No Nigerian has been driven to
exile and no one will be, under my watch.
67. It
is in furtherance of a peaceful, participatory and inclusive democracy
that I signed the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill into law, to expand
the frontiers of our fundamental freedom.
68. Let
me re-affirm that under a Jonathan Presidency, your views, no matter how
freely expressed, will not send you to prison or into exile.
69.
I am convinced that I have kept my pact with Nigerians, and it is now
time to look to the future. With your tremendous support, we have
collectively done so much in the last three and half years, but to take
our country to the next level, there is still more to be done.
70.
History has shown that the path of honour for any true leader is not to
walk away from his people in moments of challenges. We must stand
together in adversity and overcome all threats to our development. We
must defend our future, for the sake of our children.
71.
So many things have inspired me in the journey to this moment. I want
to appreciate ordinary Nigerians, especially young people, for the
solidarity shown to me by contributing their meagre resources to enable
me arrive at this point.
72. I appreciate the kind
gesture of the Cattle Breeders Union, Miyetti Allah, and the Market
Women Association, who encouraged me by coming together to contribute to
the purchase of my Nomination form.
73. In the same vein, I am touched by the National Association of Widows who also encouraged me with their widow’s mite.
74.
This labour of love, from ordinary Nigerians, has increased my
appreciation of your solidarity, my trust in our joint destiny, and all
we have achieved together these past three and half years.
75.
Therefore, after seeking the face of God, in quiet reflection with my
family and having listened to the call of our people nationwide to run,
I, Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, have accepted to re-present myself,
on the platform of The Peoples’ Democratic Party, for re-election as the
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in the 2015 general
elections.
76. Democracy is a collective action,
energized by individual responsibility. Your mandate at this time will
inspire in me the strength to complete the good work we have started
together.
77. My dear people of Nigeria, we must
complete the task of ensuring that we lift the poor out of the depth of
want, and place their feet firmly on the ladder of prosperity.
78.
In this election season, I appeal to all of you, not to harm, maim or
kill; and not to incite violence of any kind. We must never forget our
common bond, one people from the womb of one Nigeria. Again I say: My
ambition to serve you is not worth the blood of any Nigerian. I remain
committed to this principle of non-violence.
79.
If you believe that we must build a country that works for all, where
the strong lift up the weak, and not trample upon them, where the vote
of every citizen determines who governs or represents you, where the
democratic space is open to all citizens to fulfil their aspirations,
irrespective of the circumstance of birth, your brother, Goodluck Ebele
Azikiwe Jonathan stands ready to continue in service to you.
80.
My brothers and sisters, we cannot go back to the old ways! Our
railways were allowed to rot in neglect, we have revived and are
modernising them.
81. We cannot go back to the old
ways! Our road infrastructure collapsed. We are reconstructing, and
expanding federal roads across the country.
82. We
cannot go back to the old ways! Our airport terminal buildings were
dilapidated and our airspace unsafe. We are fixing this.
83.
We cannot go back to the old ways! Our agricultural practices did not
benefit our farmers and our people. Fertilizer distribution was a major
source of fraud and we were importing food more than our budget can
carry. Now we are on our way to self-sufficiency in food production.
84. Do you want to go back to the old ways?
85.
We cannot go back to the old ways, where there were long queues at our
filling stations due to irregular supply of products and our people were
exploited.
86. We cannot go back to the old ways,
when women and youths were denied opportunities in government and in
responsible positions.
87. Do you want to go back to the old ways?
88.
We cannot go back to the old ways! We had skewed distribution of
tertiary institutions. Whereas some states had more than one degree
awarding institution, some had none. We have now made sure all states
have at least one Federal University.
89. We
cannot go back to the old ways! Our economy is now the largest in
Africa. Once, we were virtually importing everything, now we are
exporting several products, including cement.
90.
We cannot go back to the old ways! In 2009, average life expectancy was
47 years, by the end of 2013, it was 52 years. Some of our hospitals now
perform open heart surgeries, kidney transplants and other challenging
operations as we reposition our health service to end decades of medical
tourism that drains our scarce resources.
91. We
cannot go back to the old ways! Together, in unity, we overcame Ebola,
and in the process demonstrated the strength of the Nigerian spirit. And
together, united, we must maintain our vigilance.
92. Do you want to go back to the old ways?
93.
We cannot go back to the old ways where individual freedoms were
trampled upon and citizens were locked up for expressing their views or
criticising government.
94. Do you want to go back to the old ways?
95.
We cannot go back to the old ways! We must continue to have free and
fair elections. We cannot go back to the era where ballot box snatching
and stuffing became the norm. Where your votes never counted.
96. Certainly, we cannot!
97. We have to move forward! Only forward!!, my dear people, Forward!!!
98.
In moving forward, I see a Nigeria that thirsts for progress with
children across the nation, eager for knowledge and safely in schools!
99. I see a Nigeria where all who have taken up arms, would again embrace peace!
100. I see a Nigeria where our women can aspire to any heights, without hindrance!
101. I see a Nigeria where the flames in the Eagles will rekindle, and the Falcons soaring higher in victory!
102.
I see a Nigeria where the children of Mustapha, and Christopher, Ade
and Ada, Timi and Bunmi, Nnamdi and Namadi, do not go hungry!
103. I see a Nigeria where all, no matter their beliefs, live in peace and harmony!
104. I see a Nigeria where the green passport is accorded a royal reception the world over!
105. I see a Nigeria where one day the next generation will take us to outer space.
106.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, leadership is about staying focused
to achieve goals despite challenges. I have been faced with many
challenges since coming to office as President. With your support and
encouragement, we have stayed the course.
107. We
are succeeding, against all odds. For the young Nigerian child, who grew
up in the rural area, just like me, we are expanding opportunities and
giving them hope. For the market woman, we are expanding opportunities.
For our young entrepreneurs, we are expanding opportunities. For the
right of our people to vote and for their voices to be heard, we are
expanding opportunities. For Nigerians to have the right to free speech,
we are expanding opportunities. For the job seekers, against all odds,
we are expanding opportunities.
108. While serving
our people, I will always ensure the rule of law. I do not intimidate, I
expand the democratic space. I give voice to the voiceless and uphold
the weak, for the nation belongs to us all. Fellow Nigerians, as we
build our democracy, leaders must show temperance at all times. That is a
virtue, one which I treasure, and will always uphold.
109.
My people, Nigeria is destined for greatness. Today, here at Eagle
Square, I say to Nigeria, that working together in love, in strength and
in faith, we will build a nation of one people, united in purpose and
in action.
110. Fellow Nigerians, it is forward ever! We must put our hopes to work! Together, we will realize our collective destiny.
111. Thank you!!
112. God bless Nigeria!!
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