We Will Overcome Boko Haram Just Like We Tackled Ebola..Goodliuck Jonathan

Encouraged by his administration’s successful containment of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed confidence about the imminent defeat of the Islamist terror group, Boko Haram.

His declaration comes at a time an optimistic Nigerian military is riding on the crest of the recent confirmation of the death of Mohammed Bashir, who was believed to have been posturing as Abubakar Shekau,  to liberate more towns in the North-eastern states of Borno and Adamawa, which the terrorists control.

President Jonathan, who was speaking during the South-south Peoples Democratic Party rally in the Edo State capital Benin City, said just as he government was able to effectively address the Ebola Crisis, the insurgency in the Northeast would be defeated.

The President also reiterated his administration’s resolve to continue to improve on all infrastructure in order to give Nigerians good and qualitative life.

Also calling for the support of Nigerians for the administration and his party come 2015 general elections, he recalled that prior to 2007 elections, the PDP had dominated in the six states that make up the South-south before Edo and Rivers States rebelled and left for the opposition All Progressives Congress.

He, however, declared that the party would surely triumph in 2015 with the return of Chief Tom Ikimi, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and others back to its fold.

The President had earlier inaugurated the rehabilitated Benin-Ofosu section of the Benin-Ore-Lagos express road. The road, which has been a source of nightmare to travellers, was first awarded in December 2006 at a cost of N26billion. At a colourful ceremony held at the Oluku section of the road, he had promised to fix more Nigerian roads but did not give a time frame.
According to President Jonathan, his administration met a comatose transportation sector which made former President Yar’Adua to bring all transport sectors under one ministry, promising to return roads in the country to Class A roads.

“The Benin-Shagamu road will be completed,” he assured.

“When we came on board in 2007… we noticed that all sectors in the transportation industry have collapsed. We decided to bring them under one Ministry of Transport.
“Before now, nobody saw railways in the country but we have brought them back. All our road projects will be completed. This government will not disappoint you.”

Also speaking at the rally, Vice-President Namadi Sambo gave reasons why the people of Edo State must vote for Jonathan in 2015, saying “among the several transformation agenda of the present administration, the South-south has benefited much with the completion of seven power plants which presently generates about 2000 MWT of electricity.”

He also announced that President Jonathan had only last week given approval for a Maritime University and the development of new ship building yard and a new coastal rail line where work would soon begin.

On his part, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih, appealed  to the North to support President Jonathan’s re-election bid in 2015.
Anenih said that the Zone had supported and formed successful political alliances with the North in the past, stressing that the current situation calls for reciprocity and cooperation.

Among the party’s stalwarts at the rally are the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu'Azu, Senate President David Mark, governors of Delta, Cross River, Bayelsa and Abia states, senators and former governors.