President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday,
said he has no ambition to stay in office beyond 2015, assuring
Nigerians in Diaspora that while he will not contest the 2015 election,
he will ensure that this year’s election is free and fair.

The President promised that if voted in for the next four years, he
would ensure significant improvement in key sectors of the economy —
security, power, education, road, health amongst others.

“Without security, there is no government. So it is not debatable, it is
something we have to addressed and we are working towards that with
vigour. But if I’m voted into power within the next four years, the
issue of power will become a thing of the past. Four years is enough for
anyone in power to make significant improvement and if I can’t improve
on power within this period, it then means I cannot do anything even if I
am there for the next four years.”

Jonathan said this while interacting with Nigerians mainly diplomats
working in the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, UNECA, and
the African Union, AU, in Addis-Ababa.

While fielding questions from those present at the interactive session
on whether Nigerians abroad will vote, Jonathan said: “I would have
loved that the Nigerians in Diaspora vote this year but to be frank with
you, that is going to be difficult now. Presently, the law does not
allow the voting outside Nigeria and so this year Nigerians in Diaspora
will not vote but I will work towards it by 2015 even though I will not
be running for election.”

On the issue of security, Jonathan said the government was doing
everything possible to arrest the situation. He disclosed that all those
involved in the October 1 bombing had been arrested and were being
prosecuted. He, however, said he ordered the release of the car dealers
because they were just businessmen who could not have known that the
vehicles were to be used for such heinous crime.

On education, the President said, the nine new approved universities
were to be specialised and to be headed by at least three Nigerians
experts in Diaspora.

On the concerns raised of having a database of Nigerian experts in
Diaspora, President Jonathan assured that he was working on creating a
forum for interaction between them and government and also develop a
database, where experts needed to address the various challenges of the
economy will be drawn. He hinted that this was why the Diaspora
Commission was being set up as the bill was already before the National
Assembly.

The President also disclosed that the government is looking towards
reviewing the country’s foreign policy to ensure that Nigeria gets
maximum benefit from its roles and contributions to international
organizations like the AU, UN and ECOWAS.

He lamented that right now Nigeria’s contributions were not being
recognized adding that “there is need for Nigeria to have something in
return for our investments. We are investing so much but it is not being
noticed and there is need to reverse that trend.

On the concerns about road network and transportation in the country,
President Jonathan assured that the railway system will be revamp
because presently heavy duty vehicles were destroying the roads. “Why we
cannot have continuous road maintenance for now because no contractor
wants to go into it because of the continuous pressure on the road by
heavy duty vehicles. That is why we are working to ensure that we revamp
the rail”.

The President also assured that Nigerians working in international
organization and institutions would be issued diplomatic passports. He
directed the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Odein Ajumogobia to submit the
list of those qualified within the shortest possible time to him.

On the 35 per cent affirmative action implementation and the
domestication of protocols signed, he assured that he will present
before the National Assembly within the shortest possible time

Date of publication: 1st February, 2011

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/02/i-ll-not-contest-2015-election-jonathan/
saw
this news some minutes back and it got me thinking.......

And now he has declared his ambition... I can outrightly say dat he aint a man of his words...

GEJ told the world in 2011.

Op, tnx very much for bringing this issue to the fore, I really do hope in a Ernest this post makes the front page, for mature, objective, courteous and non tribal Nigeria n's to debate on this matter raised
Before I start I'll wanna state categorically that I am not a party chauvinist, neither do I tend towards idolizing any being, I only want to deliberate and incisively discuss the matters stirred up,very objectively...

I know Jonathan, said, in his own words and on his own volition in 2011, "he will not be contesting the position,".. ok, now let's keep that in abeyance

His promises aforementioned , let's take an objective look into it

ECONOMY
I'll start with our power (electricity) situation; every truthful and we'll meaning Nigeria knows within his heart, that within the Jonathan ' administration, Nigeria has experienced an obvious improvement in the power sector, amidst the various humongous and trying challenges hinged to that sector, although we are very far from satisfactory or better still optimal power stands , we have seen good improvements viz a viz : the various privatisation in different sector.... and enrolling of more qualified officials, and improved power supply

Rail roads : I think ì shouldn't dwell so much on this, as we have over time , during Jonathan ' administration seen the revamping of all the railway lines that were left redundant during the era of our general . He is still sorting them out., the automobiles Industry is showing some very huge potentials and also gradually growing.
The agricultural sector as well they have been good innovations, like soft loan for farmers et all ,

Security: well for this I really cannot score him very well on this index, but of course, we know the security situation in the country is very dire, and is not something any man can address in a day, I believe God being our helper, we shall overcome.

Generally Mr. President has done well, the gross issue I have with the man, is his laxity and kids gloves when it comes to dealing with corruption, he has a very huge penchant for dinning with corruption and theft of public funds, in such a way he shield culpable parties from justice.....I really don't know and understand the morale n rational behind that. And I know no economy that really wants to succeed can strive in corruption .

Last bullet : what he said to gather votes, does not in anyway disqualify him from viability in d eyes of the law. And in terms of fulfilling his electoral promises, he has performed to a reasonable extent. So it is left for you to vote him or not to.

Personally I will vote for Jonathan in the forthcoming election, unless a better candidate with better antecedents surfaces, and vie for same position


Tnk u

I honourable ray, humbly move a motion , for this topic to be moved to the front page...