A retrospective look at the campaign pledges of the two leading
presidential candidates, President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples
Democratic Party,PDP, and Gen Mohammadu Buhari ,rtd, of the All
Progressives Congress, APC, in the past five days, showed a deluge of
promises on how to move Nigeria forward. Unlike the pattern since the
presidential campaigns commenced, the rhetorics were less
confrontational and offensive from both parties this week
President Goodluck Jonathan (PDP Presidential Candidate)
SOKOTO: We will improve agriculture
“As President, my administration established 14 new Universities,
four was built in the South while 10 was built in the North, yet they
keep telling you I hate the North. If truly I hate the North and I do
not want the children from the North to be like me, will I take such
action”.
“In the area of Agriculture, tell me of any government that has
supported the North with several agricultural equipment and with
billions in cash loans. If I don’t like the North, will they benefit up
to 70percent of Agricultural reforms we are doing?’’
KEBBI: I’ll step up rice production
President Jonathan promised that the rice revolution in Kebbi State would be stepped up to stop importation in Nigeria.
“I want to plead with Nigerians not to mind all the criticisms
against me and my administration to vote for us. Our achievements so far
have been seen by Nigerians and the people of the north-west need to
vote us back into power at the February 14 presidential elections. Part
of our developmental plans for Kebbi is to step up the rice revolution
in the state”.
ZAMFARA: We will build an airport
President Jonathan promised the people of Zamfara State a befitting airport if re-elected.
“We must fix Bakolori Dam and irrigation project for our farmers. We
will work with you to explore the solid minerals in the state to create
jobs for the young people.
We will also improve education and that is why we created a
university in Zamfara State and we will make sure we step up on
agriculture. That is why we also have a silo here; about 100,000 metric
tonnes capacity. We will do everything to make sure we create jobs for
you; to make sure that you are educated.”
KATSINA: We built a federal university
‘’My administration was able to provide Katsina State a Federal
University when it became embarrassing that as the cradle of western
education in the country, the state could not boast of a federal
university.
‘’Katsina State had produced the first female pilot among those
currently being trained under the Petroleum Development Trust Fund
(PTDF) and my administration has associated more with farmers more than
any other in the country’s history.
“We have challenges like many other countries in the world but we are
still managing because of our focus. We will get through our challenges
because we are working hard and you know it.”
We have done well by building Almajiri’s schools, fighting
desertification, youth unemployment among others in the state and the
country in general.’’
KANO:
Jonathan promises more Industries
In Kano he said: “We are trying to create young business men and
luckily we are in Kano, and if you talk about business, you remember
people like the Aliko Dangotes, you can remember the Dantatas, the
Rabius and others. We will surely work with you to encourage small and
micro medium scale enterprises to make sure young people like you grow
up to the likes of Aliko Dangotes.
That is what we stand for, that is what we are working for.
“We reassure you that working with you, we will surely continue to
improve commerce and industry in Kano. We will make sure young people
have jobs, our women will have jobs; and that the economy of Kano will
continue to grow from strength to strength.”
BAUCHI: Solid mineral development to receive priority
At the Bauchi rally, he vowed to empower the youths. He said his
government would focus more on the solid mineral development which is
capable of providing empowerment to the youths of Bauchi State.
General Muhammadu Buhari (APC Presidential Candidate)
KANO: I will fight insecurity
“Wherever I go, I speak on three fundamental issues; insecurity,
unemployment and corruption because they are the main challenges
bedevilling the country. So, I am using this opportunity to call on you,
particularly the youth, to make sure you obtain your voter cards to
enable you vote for us to assist you. All these noise will not help
matters if you fail to come out and vote for the APC during the
forthcoming elections in the country,
‘’ I am appealing to you; the damage done to this country is great.
The level of unemployment, level of insecurity is intolerable. The
journey has
begun. It will take time, it will take patience, it will take support
from you to make sure that we succeed. My administration will serve the
people of this country judiciously, through improved healthcare
delivery system, and quality education, to enable the citizens enjoy the
dividends of democracy.’’
KADUNA: Protect your votes and shun violence
The rally in Kaduna was an avenue to re-echo his calls on his supporters to ensure that their votes are protected.
‘’We are calling on you, on February 14, pick your voters’ cards,
vote, protect your votes, escort your votes and wait. Anywhere I go, I
speak about three things that are major challenges to us as a nation
since the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) came to power 16 years ago
‘’If we vote APC, we are helping ourselves. We will renovate and
equip our schools and employ teachers. We will renovate our hospitals,
equip them and supply them with drugs. We will rehabilitate the entire
bad roads. By the grace of God, within two years into my administration,
if elected, Nigerians will see a remarkable difference. We believe in
democracy, and that is why in spite of the fact that we were short
changed in 2003, 2007 and 20011, we did not ask anybody to go and kill
or slaughter anybody, we went to the courts.’’
No comments:
Post a Comment