I will crush Boko Haram —Jonathan

*Why the North must back Mr President’s re-election – Anenih SIMON EBEGBULEM, BENIN CITY PRESIDENT Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, yesterday, at the South-south Unity Party of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), held in Benin-City, vowed that his administration will crush Boko Haram exactly the way it fought Ebola virus disease. The President also boasted that the PDP will recapture Rivers and Edo states in 2015 and 2016, insisting that the entire South-south must return to the PDP as it were in 1999. This comes as South-south PDP leaders and governors, through the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, urged the North to back Jonathan’s re-election bid, asserting that the people of the zone were determined to ensure his re-election. According to Anenih, the North must reciprocate the gesture of the South-south in the political empowerment of the North in the past. Jonathan, who arrived the Benin Airport at about 1pm, was welcomed by Governor Adams Oshiomhole and members of the Edo State Executive Council. He proceeded with the governor to the commissioning of the reconstructed Benin-Ore-Lagos dual carriage road before storming the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium for the PDP rally. From left: President Goodluck Jonathan, APC Presidential aspirant and Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Chief Mike Onolemenmen, Minister of Works on arrival of the President at the Benin Airport for a party rally, Saturday Dignitaries at the rally include the Vice President, Arch.Namadi Sambo, Senate President, David Mark, National Chairman of the PDP, Adamu Muazu, Governors Liyel Imoke (Cross Rivers), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Seriaki Dickson (Bayelsa), Theodore Orji (Abia) and the deputy governor of Akwa Ibom State. Others are former governors of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion and Prof.Osariemen Osunbor; a former governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alameiseigha; Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion; Senator Roland Owie; Chief Dan Orbih (Edo PDP Chairman); Captain Hosa Okunbor; Ken Imasuagbon; Gen.Charles Airhiavbere; Senator Ehigie Uzamere; Chief Tom Ikimi; and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu. Addressing the rally, Jonathan declared that his administration had made giant strides in infrastructural development despite criticisms from the opposition, just as he urged PDP members to ensure unity to be able to win the forthcoming general elections. His words, “Before coming to this stadium, we commissioned the Benin-Ore-Shagamu dual carriage road. The governor (Oshiomhole), though he is not a PDP member appreciates that work. And we promise Nigerians that we will improve on infrastructures. And if you observe carefully, those who travel, you will know that the PDP administration has improved the quality of our roads. “We cannot do all our roads the same day, but, within this short time we have been in power, we have reconstructed the roads, we have also fixed the airports. So when we talk about infrastructure, PDP is not only talking about feeding people. There was somebody who said PDP believes in stomach infrastructure. Yes because PDP must ensure food security. Every President in this world talks about food security and job creation. “ And we have been commended for reducing hunger, our detractors don’t even want Nigerians to know that we are working, but those who monitor what is happening in the world know that we are working. Recently, we were recognized for fighting Ebola disease. So I promise you that there must be food security and anybody who says that we should not talk about food security is not ready to lead the people. “You are all aware that we have conquered Ebola and we will surely crush Boko Haram. And if you look at what is happening, a lot of things are changing. Everything is turning around”. ‘ We will get all our states back’ Admonishing PDP members to be united ahead of the 2015 general elections, the President said: “Let me appreciate the leadership of the party for their commitment and members of our party from the non-PDP states because we know the things they pass through. We are here in Edo for a unity rally, we are not here for campaign, we are here for a unity rally because we must bring our party members together especially now that elections are coming.