In case you are interested, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR gave this long Speech on his Victory at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 2014
National Convention Eagle Square, Abuja Wednesday 10th – Thursday 11th
December 2014 . Read it below 🙂 1. Mr Chairman, our dear delegates, today is another great day in the
history of our great Party; The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and
indeed in the history of our great Nation. 2.Nothing gives me greater joy, as leader of our party, than such an
opportunity as presented today, for direct interaction with so many
enthusiastic and dedicated fellow party members, and may I add, all
proudly dressed in our party colours and regalia. 3.It is also my pleasure to be here as a delegate today and I welcome
whole heartedly all our delegates, party members and all Nigerians, from
across the country and beyond; including those joining us by television and online, as we gather here in the Eagle Square, to reaffirm the noble democratic traditions and foundations, that bind us together. 4. I thank the Party and the Organizing Committee for a successful
convention. I thank all the delegates for a smooth nomination process. 5.Let me congratulate, the Chairman of our great Party, the game changer, Alhaji Ahmed Adamu Muazu. I have no doubt that the democratic process we have witnessed here today, and his confirmation as Party chairman, are both pointers to the consolidation of democracy in our country as a whole. 6. There is no doubt that his commitment to the ideals
of our party, his consistency and hard work, has helped to reposition
the party. And today we are stronger, bigger, and more in tune with the
yearnings of our people. Let me also congratulate Professor Wale Oladipo
and Alhaji Adewale Adeyanju whose appointments as National Secretary
and National Auditor, respectively, have been ratified at this
Convention. 7. Nigeria is undergoing great changes at this time, and also
experiencing great challenges; so, political parties must rise above the
fray, to provide hope and clear direction, to propel the development of
our country. 8. As expected in every contest, especially political contests, the
journey to this convention has not been without issues in some
constituencies. Indeed, Party Congresses from the ward to state levels,
and the legislative and state primaries, have produced both triumphs and
some misgivings. 9. Without prejudice to various on-going resolution mechanisms, we will
take steps, after the elections to review and refine the candidate
selection procedures within our party. An appropriate committee will be
set up to work on this, with contributions across board. 10.I commend the efforts of the supervising and appeal committee
members, who travelled across the country to conduct and oversee the
primaries and congresses. I appreciate also the dedication of the
various working committees and special committees engaged in organising
and delivering all aspects of the election season programmes. 11.Fellow delegates, dear party members, while we congratulate our
candidates who have emerged at the primaries, we must reassure all our
members, that our party remains a large, accommodating and responsible
party. 12. We will make sure that conflicts are amicably resolved and that the
genuine interest of every member is respected and assured. 13.As party members, we must be conscious of the responsibility we hold
to our Nation. The political party is the vehicle for national
organisation, and the PDP is the foremost political party in Nigeria. 14.For the sake of the entire nation, we must, at this time, more than
ever, stand together as one united party. We are all joint stake
holders, this party belongs to all of us. 15.What we have achieved today should be a lesson to all who care about
Nigeria. What we have done exemplifies our unity. What we have done
exemplifies our determination. What we have done exemplifies our
purpose. 16.We are a Party that accepts challenges. We are a Party that confronts
those challenges. But above all, we are a Party that resolves
challenges. And it is exactly these qualities that will lead us to
victory. 17.Distinguished Delegates, ladies and
gentlemen, I stand before you as your humble servant, to accept your
nomination as the Presidential candidate of our great Party, the PDP. 18. Having placed great faith in me and chosen me as your candidate, I
assure you, that I am truly honoured tonight, to lead another electoral
contest. 19.This will be a campaign, and an election, that will serve to consolidate our successes. 20. I will give my all. 21.I will not let you down. 22.I will not fail the PDP. 23.I will not fail you. 24.Above all, I promise, I will not fail our great nation, Nigeria. 25.This convention shows that we are ready. 26. The PDP is ready. 27. Nigerians know we are ready. 28. And today in Abuja, we begin the next phase of our mission. 29. Our mission is to secure Nigeria’s future. 30.First of all, let me give gratitude to God Almighty who has sustained the nation. 31.There is much to say, but permit me some special words of gratitude.
These last four years have not always been easy, but through it all, my
wife has effortlessly taken care of our home. So to you, my companion
and my foremost supporter, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. 32. I also want to thank, the Vice President, my brother, Arch
Namadi Sambo, and his dear wife. You have both provided loyal support
and commitment to this presidency; working with you for our people, has
been a pleasure. 33.The work and progress recorded these past four years has been
possible because we have had the best team possible. The Ministers,
Advisers, Assistants and staff that have formed the Transformation team,
have shown great dedication, creativity and loyalty. 34.They have put in extra hours when necessary, and always gone the
extra mile to ensure delivery. Today, I thank them fervently for their
patriotism and hard work. 35. Our Party, the PDP, has been the foundation of our Transformation
Agenda. I thank the Chairman and Party Executive at all levels, the
Board of Trustees and National Working Committee, the PDP Governors
Forum, Federal and state legislators, Secretariat Staff and volunteers,
across the country. You have played your part well, and I am indeed very
grateful. 36. It is not a mere coincidence that our National Convention this year
starts on the same day as the United Nations World Human Rights Day.
This government, led by our Party, has made the respect of human rights
and individual freedoms, the cornerstone of our administration. 37.I did say during my declaration on November 11, 2014, that we are
proud that no Nigerian has been exiled or imprisoned on our watch, for
holding contrary views. We must ensure that we continue to water the
tree bearing the fruits of freedom, for our beloved people. 38.In the last 16 years, the PDP has kept faith with the Nigerian people
by promoting and projecting a united nation, under God. We have united
our people around common national goals for the good of our citizens and
the development of our nation. 39.Through its years of office, our great Party, the PDP created the
Anti-corruption agencies, that is, the EFCC and the ICPC, the Excess
Crude Account, the Pension Reforms, Fiscal Responsibility Regime, the Sovereign Wealth Fund and various privatization programmes. 40.We initiated Debt Relief, the Amnesty Programme, the Presidential
Jobs Creation Board, Power Sector Reforms and the National
Infrastructure Master-plan; the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan, the
National Automobile Policy, the Freedom of Information regime, the
Nigerian Mortgage Refinancing Company, and the Infrastructure Bank,
amongst others. 41.At the advent of democracy in 1999, Nigeria’s GDP was 35.9 billion
US dollars. Today, it is 510 billion US dollars – and we have become
Africa’s biggest economy. In 1999, our debt to GDP Ratio was 93.1%. Today, it is 13.6 % of which external debt to GDP ratio is 1.89%. 42.As at 1999, only 400,000 telephone lines were active in our country.
Today, we have about 120 million lines, which have created many more
jobs for our youths. 43.This administration is also working to revitalize our insurance
industry. Compared to other emerging economies, our insurance industry
has not achieved its full potential. Today, only 3 million of our
citizens are insurance policy holders, and overall insurance penetration
is less than 0.5 percent of our GDP. We want to transform this sector,
just as we have done for our banking sector and our pensions industry. 44.Our goal is to grow the total insurance premiums in our country from
300 billion naira currently to 1 trillion naira in the next three
years. And to increase the number of direct jobs created in this sector
from about 30,000 people today to over 100,000 people in the next few
years. 45.My brothers and sisters, the PDP as a party has delivered on its
promise. In the last decade, it has seen to the largest expansion of
the middle class in Africa. Certainly, our Party has a rich history of
enduring legacies. 46.For those who defected from the PDP, I enjoin you to tell the truth
in your campaigns. Many of the developments in your States were
initiated by the PDP. So be honest with the voters and give credit where
it is due. 47. In adopting the umbrella as our symbol, we have become the umbrella
of the nation. Our politics has not been defined by our differences,
but in forging the bond of oneness. 48.After our victory at the polls in 2011, we articulated a
TRANSFORMATION AGENDA, which we have faithfully implemented. The agenda
has created the framework of our desire to promote and deepen access to
economic and social benefits, through equal opportunities. 49. The Transformation Agenda is helping to secure Nigeria’s future.
Thanks to this Agenda we have remained focused, calculated and measured
in our decision-making. We have focused on sustainable gains, rather
than quick fixes. We have remained committed to our national maxim of
Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress. 50. Today, it is to our collective credit as a nation, that in spite of
our challenges, our unity remains solid. All across our nation, the
positive gains of the Transformation Agenda are being progressively
enjoyed by our people. 51. During this campaign, some office seekers will say it is “time for
change”, but while they were changing from one name to another and from
one party to the other, we had already brought change to Nigeria. 52.My dear delegates, 53.Has change not come to our railway system? 54.Has change not come to our airports? 55.Has change not come to our roads network? 56.Has change not come to our agricultural sector? 57.Has change not come to our electoral process? 58. Has change not come to Almajiri education? 59.Is change not coming to the power sector? 60.Distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, what we need today is
to consolidate on our gains in order to secure our future. 61.Our focus now must be on the future and not on the past. We have
challenges but we are determined to overcome them. And this we will. 62.These last four years, my priority has been in building a strong and
stable economy. We have created the enabling environment for businesses
to thrive. These are essentials for securing Nigeria’s future. 63.Back in 2008 and 2009, the country faced strong economic challenges
arising from unstable oil prices, but we confronted it consciously and
overcame. As the economic challenges of oil price-fall, looms in the
months ahead, Nigeria needs tested hands that will provide certainty, in
an uncertain world. We have a strong and capable economic team, which
has already worked out strategies to manage the oil price volatility and
curtail its effects. 64. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, our fight against corruption is
on course. Our systematic efforts have been acknowledged and we will
do more in the coming years. Corruption degrades development; we will
continue this fight, without compromise. 65. In the past four years we have run our administration with respect
for the principle of separation of powers between the different arms of
government. The judiciary and the legislature have independently and
introspectively pursued their own reforms and greater self-expression. 66.With a fresh mandate, we shall push for increased intra-party and
bi-partisan harmony, within the legislature, and between the executive
and the legislature. The duty of national development must never be
hindered by the over-politicization of interests; this is what we owe
our people, and our nation. 67.Dear party faithful, beyond security and corruption, there exist
environmental challenges, such as desertification, which is threatening
the lives of our people, especially in the frontline states of Adamawa,
Borno, Bauchi, Gombe, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoto, Yobe and
Zamfara. We have responded most appropriately by implementing the
GreatGreen Wall Programme for which we have released over 16 billion
Naira. 68.Our determination to provide a buffer of greenery that will stop the
advancement of the desert and reverse the many losses of farmlands and
grazing grounds, streams and aquatic life, among others, remains strong.
Similar programmes are being implemented to save communities from
erosion in the West, East, and the South-South parts of the country. 69. On my watch, the security of all citizens shall continue to be of
utmost priority. With the exception of the civil war, never before in
the history of our country have we faced the level of threat we see
today. I assure all Nigerians that this Government will continue to do
whatever is required to provide the security we deserve. It is
encouraging that the security situation is improving, and by the grace
of God, elections will be conducted in all states of the federation. 70. I call on all Nigerians, irrespective of party or belief, to join me
in this fight against insurgency and terror. We must be united.
Bickering and quarrels only serve to send the wrong signals to
terrorists and insurgents, that we are divided in this fight. More
importantly it can also demoralise our dedicated and brave armed forces.
This would be wrong. For this reason, we must remain united. 71. I believe that together as a people and with God on our side, we shall defeat terror and emerge an even stronger nation. 72.The experience in many countries shows that there may be a tendency
for the escalation of violence in an election year. We must not succumb
to blackmail. We must be vigilant – every one of us. Only by united
action, can we defeat terrorism. 73. I salute our gallant armed forces and security agencies who are
doing their best to keep our people safe. We shall continue to ensure
that they have the best in terms of equipment, training and conditions.
I appeal to our countrymen and women to provide them with the fullest
support, and not to fall victim to those who fan the embers of terror. 74.As a political party, we must rededicate ourselves to the work of
securing our future. We are the party of the people, and not just the
elite. We must lift the poor out of the depth of want, onto the ladder
of prosperity. We will work to ensure that no child suffers from basic
needs. We must create equal opportunities for women and the physically
challenged. We must give a voice to all Nigerians. 75.And we can do all this! Nigeria is not a land of despair. We are a
people who show commitment and unity of purpose. Just look at how we
stood up to the Ebola Virus Disease. We are a hard-working nation. And
we will go from strength to strength. 76.Our best days are before us, not behind us. We must continue to move forward. 77. In accepting your nomination as flag bearer for the Presidential
Election, I once more accept the challenge to serve our party and
nation. I will continue the work we have begun with the Transformation
Agenda. 78.I will work to secure Nigeria’s future. I will serve with humility
and moderation, with simplicity and forthrightness; with openness and
inclusiveness, and with firmness and strength. I urge all Nigerians to
support me, to finish what we started together. 79.Fellow citizens, what we need, more than anything else, is to secure
our country’s future, by building, and not by destroying. 80.We can continue to build upon the foundations we have laid so far, we
can continue with our economic progress, we can continue improving our
infrastructure, we can continue delivering better health care, we can
continue to improve our agriculture and we can continue to safeguard
individual liberties and freedoms. 81.The choice before Nigerians in the coming election is simple: A
choice between going forward or going backwards; between the new ways
and the old ways; between freedom and repression; between a record of
visible achievements and beneficial reforms – and desperate
power-seekers with empty promises. 82.Fellow Delegates, dear Party members, so much is at stake. Let me
remind everyone – party leaders, mobilizers, members, men, women and
youth – that the hard work has only just started. 83.As your Presidential candidate and Party leader, I hereby commission
all delegates and party faithful, as my campaign mobilizers, to take our
message of unity and development back to your respective states and
communities, and to ensure victory for all candidates of the PDP in the
forthcoming elections. Working Together, we will do it! 84.Our political opponents shall assail us with the fury of their
desperation to win power. They will use every means – intimidation,
false accusations, hostile media and more. Do not descend to their
level. We must stay focused on the mission at hand – to secure Nigeria’s
future. 85. Let me emphasise again, that nobody’s political ambition is worth
the blood of any Nigerian. We must eschew violence, even in the face of
the most outrageous acts of desperation. 86.We must make sure our supporters have their voter’s cards. We must
get them motivated and eager to make their mark. It will be a mark for
our children. It will be a mark for a stronger economy. A mark that will
secure Nigeria’s future. 87. So my dear Party Men and Women, let us take this campaign to every Nigerian, every home and every community. 88.We will campaign in peace. 89.We will campaign with hope in our hearts. 90.We will campaign on the facts and the truth. 91. We will campaign with issues and ideas. 92. We will campaign on our record of performance. 93.We will campaign to win. 94. Mr. Chairman, Distinguished delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen 95.Let me at this point invite to join me on this podium, the Chairman
of our great party, Alhaji Ahmed Adamu Muazu; the Chairman of our Board
of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih; the Senate President, Senator David Mark
and his wife; my dear brother, the Vice President, Architect Namadi
Sambo and his wife, and particularly, my dear wife, the First Lady, Dame
Patience Jonathan. 96.I seize the opportunity of this occasion to formally announce that
as we commence the campaign for the 2015 Presidential elections,
Architect Mohammed Namadi Sambo, a loyal and tested partner, a
dependable, trustworthy gentleman and a true patriot will be my running
mate and Vice Presidential candidate once again. 97. With your continued support and the blessing of God Almighty, Vice
President Sambo and I will campaign together to win another resounding
victory for our great party in the coming elections. 98.God bless you all. 99.God bless our great Party, the PDP 100.God bless Nigeria 101.I thank you all.
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