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!!
Tuesday
11th November, 2014
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