2015: Northern youth contribute N2M for Jonathan to purchase nomination form

From Edwin Olofu, Kano

Northern Nigeria youth associations under the aegis of Northern Youth Forum, weekend donated the sum of two million Naira (N2m) to President Goodluck Jonatan as their contribution for him to purchase nomination form.

The chairman of the group, Engineer Bello Gambo Bichi while presenting the cheque of N2 million to the Minister of Education, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, revealed that it was the total acceptance of the federal government’s achievements under Jonathan that informed their decision to support his re-election bid come 2015.

The group stated that President Jonathan deserved another term to conclude his laudable programmes under the transformation agenda.

“We are convinced that President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is a good and responsible leader. It is on this basis that we came to understand that all effort is not wasted when we support him for the second time,” he stated.

He further called on Nigerians to know that, this country was created for all Nigerians not for a particular section. Assuring that President Jonathan brought about so many positive changes during his administration, “…that is why we are assuring Mr President to know that Kano State will fall under our great party the PDP in the next coming general election,” Bichi assured.

In his speech, the Minister of Education, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau who represented President Jonathan challenged that Islam preached for justice to all sections of society. “What we are saying is let us go by the tenets of our religious teachings. In Islam people are not subjected to maltreatment because of their creed or faith. Nigeria is for all of us Muslims and Christians,” he reminded.

Arguing that actions are judged according to intentions, as he quoted a Prophetic saying, insisting that people should not allow themselves to be manipulated by some power-mongers.

According to him the President wanted to be in Kano himself to witness the grand occasion, but was absent due to some official exigencies.

Shekarau also maintained that politics and religion were inter-twined as according to him, should form a basis for people to start reading between lines. “It is very wrong for people to blame fellow leaders blindly. Our President has done a lot in the area of developing our great country,” he stated.

Political Adviser to the President, Professor Rufai Alkali, in his remarks, commended the youth for their effort in supporting President Jonathan for re-election, urging Nigerian youth to put extra efforts in their support to Jonathan’s presidential bid.

Present at the rally were Ministers of Education, Foreign Affairs, and Youth Development, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, Ambassador Aminu Wali and Mr Boni Haruna, Political Adviser to President Good luck Jonathan, Prof Rufai Alkali, among others.