President Goodluck Jonathan has promised to fully implement the report of the 2014 National Confab
The President said this on Saturday when he paid a courtesy call on the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi.
The President noted that with his administration’s power sector reforms, Nigerians would take power supply for granted within the next few years.
Jonathan told the Oba that he did not influence the report of the conference which he noted if fully implemented, would take Nigeria to a greater level.
He however urged the people of the state to vote for all Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Assembly candidates in order to have a legislature well disposed to approving the report.
“We set up the National Conference and the report is ready. As a government and as a party, we believe that those who did that report meant well for the country. We gathered almost 500 Nigerians from all walks of life including the traditional institution; young people, teachers, journalists, lawyers, everybody.
“I never influenced it because I believe that what is good for Nigeria is good for me.
“And I believe that if really we want to change this country in a better way, we should implement that report.
“The government and the party are totally committed to implementing 100 percent of that report but we need a National Assembly that will work with us.
“So, we are using this platform to plead with our people of this great state to support the PDP to send their strong daughters and sons to the federal level to work with us so that we will implement that report because I know how passionate some of you are in terms of that report.”
President Jonathan restated his passion to reform the power sector in view of its role in the development of small and medium scale enterprises.
He said while the privatisation processes were almost completed and the change over phase from public to private sector was ongoing, “we believe in the next two years, this will be consummated and Nigerians will take power for granted.
“We believe that if you give us your mandate, at least, in the next two years, this epileptic power supply will be a thing of the past and it will be the basis for the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises in this country.”
Jonathan spoke of his government achievements in the agricultural sector which he said prevented food crisis in 2012 after a devastating flood; robust policies in health, roads, transport infrastructure, saying that he wanted to see Nigerians spend less money on transportation through the utilisation of revamped rail services.
He said he was in Oyo to inform the Alafin that he was re-contesting presidential election with Namadi Sambo as his running mate and to ask for his blessing and prayers.
In his response, Alaafin commended the president for what he said was “the dynamism you are noted for in the country.”
With the president during the visit were PDP National Chairman, Adamu Muazu; former Anambra State governor, Mr. Peter Obi, former Ogun State governor, Gbenga Daniel; Chief of Staff to the President, Brig-Gen. Jones Arogbofa; Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory (FCT); Olajumoke Akinjide; PDP Oyo State governorship candidate, Teslim Folarin, Ifeanyi Uba, Ahmed Gulak, Hosea Agboola, Musiliu Obanikoro, among others.
