Temi Imafidon Aghedo, retired from the Nigerian Army in 1972 as a Major. He is the National Deputy Co-ordinator, Diaspora, of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, campaign group. The United Kingdom-based retired Major, tells OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU, why President Goodluck Jonathan deserves a second term in office. Excerpts: What is the name of the organisation you head in the Diaspora, which we believe is for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan? There are many groups and fora all over the world the world rooting for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan for a second term in office that I cannot continue to mention them one by one. I belong to about 80 of such groups. These groups are scattered all over the world where Nigerians live. There are co-ordinators in each country and regional co-ordinators for sub-regions. The membership is over two million as at today. The groups I administer have well over 400,000 members and they are growing in thousands on daily basis despite our very strict rules for accepting members. What informs your rooting for President Jonathan’s second term bid? I joined others in rooting for President Jonathan’s reelection after carefully assessing his very wonderful performance. His transformation programmes are unprecedented in the history of Nigeria. He took it upon himself to first of all repair all the damages done by all previous administrations. 1. Nigeria Railways is back and running after 28 years of total neglect. There are air-conditioned trains in operation. Trains run normally and frequently on all routes now. More tracks are being laid to link other parts not formerly on rail routes. Tracks to link up major cities are also being laid. 2. All major roads have been repaired and refurbished under this administration. Examples are Shagamu-Benin road, which was a death-trap, Lagos-Ibadan Express road under full refurbishment and expansion, and all major roads linking Abuja and most inter-city roads. 3. There are Federal Universities of Technology in over 12 states that previously have no federal presence . 4. 120 schools built and fully equipped all over the North for mass education of children, almajiris, in order to reduce and eradicate Illiteracy especially in those areas. 5. Cash crops pyramids are springing up again after decades of neglect at the instance of oil. The drive for other means of generating national income through agriculture is also yielding fruit as farmers are being encouraged and empowered in the agricultural sector. 6.There are no fewer than three vehicle assembly plants in full operation right now in the country and more manufacturers are negotiating for space and licences to operate. 7.Jonathan deserves another term in order to complete most of the projects at hand as well as finish up all neglected and abandoned projects by previous administrations. Do you think President Jonathan deserves to be given another chance, considering the security challenge in the North-East and other parts of Nigeria? On the issue of the so called insurgents, they are being supported and sponsored by very high profile Nigerians, especially our brothers from the North who believes that they are BORN TO RULE . As long as some high profile people are behind them, they will continue to commit atrocities. Those influential people include former very senior retired military officers who still have their loyalists in the ranks and file of the military. Traditional rulers, Clerics and even legislators are involved. The Federal Government would have fully dealt with them by now, but for the saboteurs planted everywhere, especially in the military by those top military brasses. As retired military personnel, do you think the government has handled the Boko Haram insurgency well? On the whole matter so far, President Jonathan has really tried all humanly possible, but for those who are hell bent on destabilising the country. What the supporters and sponsors of these evil groups cannot think about is that by these actions they are frightening and discouraging foreign investors. Don’t you think the opposition will give Jonathan a good run for his money in 2015? The coalition or alliance of some political parties that called themselves All progressives Congress, APC, are not only not serious, but they are a bunch of dreamers and losers. APC leadership is fraught with power greedy individuals that will fight each other with whatever it takes come 2015. An example was what happened between supporters of Atiku Abubakar and Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja recently. They are no match, both individually and collectively for President Jonathan. The scaling of gates and fences at the National Assembly by the so called “law breakers” led by Aminu Tambulwa and thugs of supporters was an eye opener to some would be supporters as to the calibre and sensibilities of those they intend voting for. What is your advice to Nigerians as the march towards 2015 gathers momentum? Nigerians, you have been clamouring for change, the change is already here; cutting off the head is not the solution for headache. Quite a lot of you are witnessing the massive transformation going on all over the country, join in the struggle to better Nigeria, support a working President, shun tribal politics, stop following tricksters and liars as leaders. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is the man. He has performed far better than all previous leaders put together. No fewer than five elections were conducted under his tenure, his party only won two and he did not rig in favour of his party’s candidates. Jonathan is a very transparent, honest and humble leader. He meant well, he is doing well and he will do better.
Posted on: Wed, 17 Dec 2014 07:17:15 +0000
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