…shifts Ekiti ward congresses
By Lawrence Olaoye
The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday passed a vote of confidence on President Goodluck Jonathan for his performance in the last two years and ten months of his administration.
The party said it is particularly impressed with the President for embarking on landmark projects which have impacted positively on the economy and social life in Nigeria in spite the sectarian violence that threaten to destabilize the nation and shut down the economy.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, in a statement yesterday said the party is happy with President Jonathan for his determination and commitment towards the commencement of work at the Second Niger Bridge which, when completed, will boost commercial and social activities while broadening the horizon for business partnerships to promote massive job and wealth creation in the country.
It said the decision by the President on the imperative of the Second Niger Bridge in his tenure and his resolve to ensure its completion in record time was instructive in many ways, one of which was his commitment towards the unity of the nation, knowing that the bridge is the major link between the South East and other parts of the country. This, the party said was in addition to the upgrading of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.
Noting that the President’s commitment towards transforming the nation has remained unprecedented, the party said Nigeria has witnessed a revolution in critical sectors such as works with the dualization and rehabilitation of major trunk roads across the country.
“The Lagos- Ibadan, Benin-Ore-Shagamu, Lokoja-Benin-Auchi, Abuja-Abaji-Lokoja roads, repair of the Lagos Third Mainland Bridge and a host of other road projects as well as the rehabilitation and reconstruction of major inter-state roads across the country are all testimonies to this.
“This is in addition to the resuscitation of the inland waterways and the railway system which have been abandoned for years. Rail trucks now run across the west between Lagos, Abeokuta, Ibadan and Ilorin among other cities. The dredging of the River Escavos and the Niger from Warri to Baro in Niger State and the inland city ports in Onitsha have been completed.
“We are also highly impressed by the landmark projects in the housing sector, especially the establishment of the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC), a first of its kind in the country, which is tailored to deliver 75,000 houses every year for Nigerians in addition to 300,000 direct and close to half a million indirect jobs incidental to the projects.”
“Nigerians are all witnesses to the commitment in the power sector resulting in the completion and commissioning of key power stations across the country including the Geregu Power Project in Kogi state as well as the Omotosho 2 Power Station in Ondo as well as investments in power plants in Calabar, 630MW; Egbema, 378MW; Ihorvbor, 504MW; Gbarain 252MW; Sapele 504MW; Omoku 252MW; Alaoji 1076MW and Olorunsogo 750MW, all geared towards meeting the targeted 20,000 megawatts of electricity by 2015 and 40,000 megawatts by 2020.”
“This is in addition to initiating the New Automobile Industrial Policy Development which has started yielding results with direct foreign investments already flowing in from leading vehicle manufacturers such as Nissan and Stallion Group which have entered into an agreement with the Federal Government to establish auto plants in Nigeria”, the statement said.
The PDP said the President has also posted impressive performances in wealth creation, agriculture, education and youth empowerment using unprecedented initiatives such as the Almajiri education in the north, the YouWin and the SURE-P projects as well as the Agricultural Transformation Agenda through which six million farmers have received inputs in a programme that targets an increase in domestic food production by an additional 20 million tonnes and creating 3.5 million jobs before the end of 2015.
