By Omos Oyinbode, Asaba
The re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday received a massive boost as over 10 million northern Nigerians resident in the southern part of the country endorsed him and his running mate, Vice President Namadi Sambo for the March 28, 2015 presidential election.
The endorsement was the highpoint of a solidarity rally organized by the Arewa Initiative for Peaceful Co-existence in Southern Nigeria which held at the Cenotaph, Asaba, the Delta State capital. South-West coordinator of the initiative, Danlami Isah ,moved the motion for the overwhelming endorsement of the President and his vice which was seconded by the Sarkin Fulanin of Anambra State, Gidado Saddik.
President Jonathan in his acceptance speech, promised to protect all Nigerians in any part of the country against any discriminatory tendency if re-elected, insisting that the peace and unity of the country must never be compromised on the altar of politics
According to the President, a process which his administration had started to entrench laws against discriminatory tendencies was truncated by the crisis of interest that rocked the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), noting that the process will be revived if given a second chance to be President.
Besides, Jonathan stated that it was only the PDP-led government that could implement totally the recommendations of the National Conference which has provisions for the interest of every Nigerian living in any part of the country.
According to him, the full implementation of the CONFAB recommendations was the only means to guarantee enduring change and peaceful co-existence in the country with diverse religious, ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
He said those who boycotted the CONFAB cannot be trusted to be change agents, insisting that the opposition will never implement the recommendations of the conference and urged the people to support the PDP in all the elections.
The President promised to eradicate poverty through wealth creation and employment generation for the people and urged youths across the religious to work together to frustrate efforts by some politicians to create division among Nigerians.
Chairman of the Arewa Initiative for Peaceful Co-existence in Southern Nigeria and former Governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa had explained that the initiative was formed to protect the political, social and economic rights of northerners resident in southern Nigeria.
He listed some challenges of Arewa community in southern Nigeria to include political marginalization, economic deprivation, lack of access to education incentives, lack of access to employment by host state governments and inadequate security of lives and property. Bafarawa urged President Jonathan to put measures in place in tackling the issue of political, economic and social discrimination against Arewa people in southern Nigeria, pledging that the people were solidly behind the President’s quest for second term.
Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan in his remark, revealed that some state governors in the southern part of the country were already addressing some of the challenges articulated by the former governor of Sokoto State.
Uduaghan however canvassed for support for all PDP candidates in the forthcoming general election for the policies to protect the rights of all Nigerians in any part of the country to be sustained.
The rally was attended by representatives of Arewa community across the 17 states of southern Nigeria. Also in attendance were chieftains of the PDP including the Director-General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Dr. Ahmadu Ali.
