Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja [caption id="attachment_14394" align="alignnone" width="512"] Jonathan and Sambo at the declaration ceremony[/caption] President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday declared that he will do everything 'humanly' possible to end the challenge of criminal violence being inflicted on the country by the Boko Haram insurgent group. The President who identified terrorism as one of the challenges that his administration has been confronted with said this in Abuja in a ceremony to mark his declaration to seek re-election for a second term of office in the 2015 general elections on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The ceremony was witnessed by a mammoth crowd which includes chieftains of PDP, governors and national assembly members elected on the platform of the party and aspirants for various positions in the 2015 elections. While making reference to the bombing incidents which claimed 48 lives at a secondary school in Potiskum, Yobe State on Monday, the President noted that lives and property of many Nigerians have been lost to the insurgency that has swept through some parts of the country in the past four years. The President who asked those present at the ceremony to stand up to observe a minute silence in honour of the slain Yobe students lamented that though the killing has “cast a dark cloud on our Nation but we will surely win the war against terror. ” In addition, the President also promised that the over 200 girls kidnapped from Chibok by the insurgents since April 14 will be freed. “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,” the President said. He added that the armed forces is already being equipped while special forces are also being deployed to engage the terrorist to end the war which he described as “senseless.” ” We must protect our country. We must save our people. I will do everything humanly possible to end this criminal violence in our Nation, ” Jonathan further affirmed. The President listed the various initiatives government has introduced to mitigate the effects of terrorist attacks in North East Nigeria where the Boko Haram sect has been active. [caption id="attachment_14395" align="alignnone" width="512"] Jonathan declares[/caption] According to him, to ensure the long term stability and development of the affected areas, government has launched three programmes which he identified as 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,” Jonathan explains while promising the region that government will continue to stand with them. There is more to be done - The President also listed his achievements in the area of infrastructure development, economy, agriculture, power, transportation, water and other sectors in the past four years affirming that he has done so much done so much in the last three and half years, but to take Nigeria to the next level, there is still more to be done. President Jonathan who noted that history has shown that the path of honour for any true leader is not to walk away from his people in moments of challenges asked Nigerians to stand together in adversity and overcome all threats to our development.” We must defend our future, for the sake of our children,” the President who said he appreciate contributions of ordinary groups of Nigerians to his re-election efforts said. “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,” President Jonathan declared to a rousing ovation by party faithfuls at the occasion. “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. 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,” the President said while appealing to his supporters to shun violence. “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,” he said while appealing to Nigerians to support his second term ambition. Forward Ever The President said Nigeria cannot go back to its old ways of doing things asking the big crowd intermittently: “Do you want to go back to the old ways?,” in the various sectors which he claimed his administration has turned around. The President acknowledged that he has been faced with many challenges since coming to office as President, but have stayed the course with the support of Nigerians said his administration is succeeding, against all odds, expanding opportunities for the citizens in all sectors. Privatisation of Power sector The President noted that the privatization of the power sector by his administration is already yielding the desired fruits as can be seen in the on-going 450MW Azura Power Plant in Edo State being constructed by a private investor. He added that his government has also began the construction of power plants designed to exploit Nigeria’s 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. “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!,” Jonathan declared. In the water sector, the President said his administration has in the past three and half years increased access to potable water for Nigeria to 67%, up from 58% in 2010, while sanitation coverage is 41%, from 32% within the same period. He added that government has also completed the construction of 37 Dams and rehabilitation of 10 others, while several others are undergoing construction. The President also said the Kashimbila Multipurpose Dam which is being built to contain flood from Lake Nyos, is now at 90% completed while government has also completed about 5,000 rural and semi urban water schemes. “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,” Jonathan said. Railways now back to life The President also trumpeted the achievements of his administration in the transportation sector pointing out that his government has rehabilitated the rail system which was virtually dead before his assumption of office in addition to procurement of improved coaches which have now enabled the railway to be providing regular services. He added that while his administration is rehabilitating the old standard gauge system across the country, contracts for 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,” said Jonathan. The President also said in no distant future, Nigerians will be able to arrive at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and proceed to the city using the Abuja Light Rail. Nigeria roads now more motorable Other achievements listed by Jonathan as the handiwork of his administration in the transport sector include the dredging of the lower River Niger from Baro in Niger State to Warri in in Delta State, introduction of 24 hour service at the ports which he said has led to the reduction of clearing time and improved efficiency and increase in the number of the motorable portion of 35,000km federal roads nationwide from 5,000km in 2010 to about 25,000km. He added that government expects to complete the remaining 10,000km in three years while initiating new ones. He also said he has made good his pledge to build two new major bridges across the River Niger and River Benue with work on the new bridge over the River Benue, connecting Loko in Nassarawa State to Oweto in Benue State at an advance stage of completion, while work has commenced on the Second Niger Bridge. The President also said preliminary works have started on his administration’s planned re-construction and expansion of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Road in Lagos to a world class entry point into the country among others while government has also in the past three years embarked on the construction of five new Airport Terminal Buildings and Air-field facilities and has 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,” said the President. Access to Housing expanded. In the Housing sector, the President listed the introduction of National Housing Policy, expansion of National Housing Fund to accommodate more Nigerians and the Nigerian Mortgage and Refinanced Company (NMRC) as key achievements of his administration designed to enable Nigerians in the lower income bracket become home owners. “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. 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,” said the President. Greater participation of Nigerians in oil and gas sector The President listed other key achievements of his administration in the past three and half years to include encouraging greater participation of Nigerians in the oil and gas industry through the enactment of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, regular and sustained supply of petroleum products, installation of over 450km gas pipelines, increase of gas supply from less than 500 million cubic feet per day, four years ago, to about 1.5 billion cubic feet per day currently. Agricultural production boosted He also noted that his government has achieved a lot in the agricultural sector with movement of agriculture away from a development Programme to agriculture as a business. Private sector investment in the agricultural sector , according to him, have expanded by $ US 5.6 billion across the Agricultural value chain while the government has also 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,” said the President. He added that the various initiatives of his administration in the sector has led to increase in national food production by an additional 21 million metric tons between 2011 and 2014, a record which he said has already exceeded target of 20 million metric tons set by government for 2015. He added that with the Dangote Group investment of $US 1 billion in commercial rice production and processing, Nigeria is expected to be an exporter of rice in the next five years. Declining food import bills. “ 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%. 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,” said Jonathan. ICPC to prosecute ‘ghost’ federal civil servants- On corruption, the President said his administration has been able to eliminate corruption in the agriculture sector and will also eradicate it in other sectors of our economy. The President said he will do this by focusing on reinforcing institutions, systems, and processes to tackle corruption, and also to bring to justice those that perpetrate corruption. The President noted that through the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), the government has been able to weed out 56,000 ghost workers from the Federal Civil Service, saving 162 billion naira. He also said he has directed the Independent Corruption and Other Offences Commission, ICPC to book. “Let this be very clear, public officers must live by example, fully accounting for the national trust and resources in their care,” said the President. Increased access to education In the educational sector, the President said his administration has established 14 new Universities out of which 12 are conventional and two are specialized Police and Maritime Universities and under my watch, every state in Nigeria, now has a Federal University. [caption id="attachment_14396" align="alignnone" width="512"] Supporters of Jonathan at the declaration ceremony[/caption] He added that 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 the education system. To provide equal access and opportunities in education and ensure that no Nigerian child is left behind, President Jonathan also said his administration has 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. We’ve reduced polio infection Jonathan also said his administration was able to defeat the Ebola Virus Disease, which arrived in the country on July 20, 2014, by way of a foreign national, Mr Patrick Sawyer through 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. “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, said Jonathan. Self employment, creation of jobs The President said his administration has also introduced programmes like 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 to encourage the creative industry and other young people to start up their own businesses and employ others. According to him, the government also launched National industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP), and the National Enterprise Development Programme as key drivers to develop industrial sectors and diversify the economy. He added that the new National Automobile Policy is transforming Nigeria into a vibrant hub for the automobile industry with companies like Innoson Motors producing world standard vehicles locally while Nissan, Hyundai, and Kia, have set up factories in Nigeria and are employing thousands of our people. The President said government support for cement production have increased Nigeria installed capacity from 16.5 million metric tons per annum in 2011 to 39.5 million metric tons per annum in 2014 with Nigeria now exporting cement. “We are moving forward! We must produce what we consume and consume what we produce, ” said Jonathan. He added that government job creation efforts in different sectors of the economy including the MSME sector, agriculture, housing and manufacturing have yielded results have between the third quarter of 2012, and the end of 2013 resulted in creation of 1.9 million jobs. The President said the Nigerian economy is heading in the right direction with grow at the rate of 6 to 7 percent annually, one of the highest in the world while the 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. He added that his administration has supported the Nigeria’s economic development with the creation and disbursement of the 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.” Influence on global stage growing The President added that his administration has succeeded in sanitizing the nation’s electoral process with local and international election observers now testifying to the credibility and transparency of elections being held in the country. The President also listed his achievement on the regional, continental and global level arguing that the country has strengthened her relationships with her neighbours and in many instances supported them to protect their democracy, security and stability. Nigeria, he noted is also serving for a second time within a period of 4 years at the United Nations Security Council, a feat which he described as unprecedented and an attestation to growing to the country’s growing influence globally. No Political prisoner in Nigeria/strong> Other areas of achievements the President dwelt upon in the speech include the convening of National Conference, female empowerment and freedom and justice. “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,” said Jonathan who added that in furtherance of a peaceful, participatory and inclusive democracy, he signed the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill into law, to expand the frontiers of our fundamental freedom. Huge crowd at declaration venue Chieftains of Nigeria's ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP had begun gathering at the popular Eagle Square, Abuja for early in the morning for the declaration. Ministers, Senators and members of the House of Representatives, and top members PDP are among the huge crowd who had arrived the venue of the declaration to await the arrival of the President. Many could not get access into the Square. There were however large tents outside the Square with three large screens installed for people who cannot get access into the Square. Before the President's arrival, Sani Danja a popular Abuja based Hausa musician entertained the crowd with songs specially composed for the President. The event kicked off with the arrival of President Goodluck Jonathan at the venue in a convoy of vehicles. The President came into the venue accompanied by PDP Governors and Patience, his wife. The President was received by Vice President Namadi Sambo and wife. He immediately went round the Eagles Square, waving at party members immediately he alighted from the vehicle. This was followed by the National Anthem and prayers. The declaration was anchored by a 37-man Presidential declaration committee headed by former Minister of Defence, Bello Haliru which was set up for the purpose by President Goodluck Jonathan on October 23 after a meeting with PDP leaders at the Presidential Villa. In a brief speech to welcome party supporters to the occasion, Professor Haliru said the President is being asked to run for a second term by Nigerians, not just because they love him, but because of their love for development as being carried out by Jonathan administration. He therefore asked the President to accede to the demands that he should run for another term of office. Endorsements galore This was followed by declaration of support for President Jonathan's aspiration for second term of office by groups and individuals who attested to the various things the President has achieved in office. Also, Senate President, David Mark led all PDP members of the National Assembly to the declaration. In his speech, Senator Mark asked the President to accede to the call of Nigerians to run for second term of office. This, he said will be in tune with practice in other parts of the world where sitting presidents who have performed are allowed to have a second term. The Senate President said Nigeria wants a President who can be trusted, reliable and inspiring like Jonathan. He added that the projects initiated by the President may be abandoned if he did not return to office in 2015. He said Nigerian lawmakers believe the President can deliver dividends of democracy to the citizens. Leaders from each of Nigeria six geopolitical zones also came forward with reasons they wanted the President to continue in office as they were called to the podium. Adamu who is also Wakili Adamawa who spoke on behalf of the North-East told the huge crowd that President Jonathan has delivered on his promises and so should be allowed to have a second term of office . Hassan Adamu also thanked the president for setting up two universities in the zone and said it is time for the North East region to reward him. Ken Nnamani, former senate president who spoke for the South East said the region supports Jonathan's continuation in office because they did not want the Second Niger Bridge to be abandoned. He also said Jonathan as president will create a level playing field for all to compete favourably. He added that he also wanted the President to continue so that he can fix the deplorable Enugu Onitsha highway and the Enugu International Airport, which he said is yet to be completed. According to him, only a Jonathan led government beyond 2015 can fix the deplorable infrastructures. Former Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa who spoke for the North West said the President appointed many people from the region to his government. Chief Olabode George, a former Deputy National Chairman of PDP said the South West will vote for Jonathan in 2015 and that the Yorubas will declare their support for the President in the forth coming Yoruba Unity Day. Former Information minister, Professor Jerry Gana also who spoke on behalf of North Central Nigeria said the region will support Jonathan while Peter Odili, former governor of Rivers state who spoke on behalf of the South-South people. He said there are over 6million individuals demanding that the president runs for 2015 elections from his zone. 2015 will be tough, but… Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom state led PDP Governors to pledge support for President's second term ambition. Akpabio said the PDP Governors as the field commanders will ensure the PDP gets 30 states in the 2015 election. Akpabio said the President transformations of Nigeria can be seen in what he has achieved in railways, power, agriculture, power, and economy. He said this is why the PDP Governors decided not to contest against the President. The Akwa Ibom State Governor however admitted that the 2015 election will be tough, but PDP will emerge victorious at the end of the day. "Those who are behind you are more than those who are against you," Akpabio who said the opposition have no plans for the country said. He also accused the opposition of encouraging terror. "We cannot handover Nigeria to the enemies of Progress," said Akpabio, Olawale Ajani, a youth leader who spoke alongside the President of National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS said has give opportunity to the youths in his government and therefore deserves support of the youths. The Federal Capital Territory has been agog with politicians and their supporters going round the city with vehicles branded with posters and pictures of the PDP and aspirants for various positions who had descended in Abuja in solidarity with the President ahead of the declaration. Tight security The event was held under tight security, a situation that has resulted in locked down of some parts of the city. Men of the Nigerian Police, the President’s Guards Brigade, State Security Services, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Nigerian Army were deployed in strategic areas of the city for security purposes while a police helicopter also hovered round the city while the event lasted. Also, all roads leading to the capital city from the satellite town were manned by a combined team of soldiers and policemen who conducted through searches on vehicles, a situation that has resulted in traffic gridlock with commuters spending as much as three hours for a journey that should ordinarily last for about 30 minutes. Also, all roads leading in and out of the Eagle Square were blocked to traffic as Police indicated in a statement yesterday. Emmanuel Ojukwu, spokesperson for the Nigeria Police had in s statement said the diversion of vehicular movements within the area was one of the proactive security measures put in place to avoid break down of law and order in the area and Abuja at large. Civil servants who are immediate neighbours at the Federal Secretariat complex abutting Eagle Square were asked to keep off work today.