Excerpts:
Why did you leave the APC when it is the ruling party in Yobe State?
I was one of the original founders of APC but what is happening in APC today is not a palatable story. Some of the things happening may have happened in some other political parties but what is happening in APC is worse. First of all there is injustice in the party. Because of the cases of injustice, I don't believe the party will get out of the crisis soon. That is why I left for the PDP. I am PDP youth leader in Yobe State. Like I said, there are issues in all the political parties we have all in Nigeria. But the issue on ground within the PDP is just a storm in a tea cup which I am sure that very soon we will overcome. You should also know that when it comes to politics there are interests. We are all one by God's grace; we shall soon overcome this crisis.
You are from the North-East region; some of the prominent elders from the zone are agitating that it's their turn to rule in 2015. What is your stand on this?
I have said it many times and I don't want to continue to be talking on this subject. Let me ask you a question; why are people concerned about Jonathan's second term, is he not Nigerian or has he no right to re-contest if he wishes for second term like what happened with former president Obasanjo? The President has a lot of people; those who say Jonathan will not get their support in 2015 may have spoken out of anger. But to me anybody who thinks the President will not return to office is joking.
I am from the North-East zone but nobody can stop Jonathan, it's only God. If we refuse GoodLuck Jonathan going a second term in 2015, tell me who are we going to bring and what will be the moral behind our demand for going for a second term? It is not our turn yet. To be sincere, Jonathan has done a lot of things to the North-East region and Nigeria in general. That is why we are behind him in 2015. He must complete his two tenures. The President is our son and brother. We will continue to give him the support he needs and this is the first time that somebody from Niger Delta is sitting on that seat and they are already saying he won't complete his second term mandate. This is not right and not in the interest of the country.
So you are saying he should go for a second term?
Yes, of course. We the people of North-East region including all the teeming youths are in support of Jonathan to go for a second term. This is a man we brought out to be the president of this great country and he is the President now. We want him to re-contest and complete his second term. I am telling you the truth. He has only done it once and the Nigerian Constitution allows him to go for a second term and we the original PDP members say he should go for second term that means our President has done well so the best and simple thing is to allow him a second term. Jonathan is the best candidate for the PDP in 2015. No going back. I am assuring you that North-East region will vote him for second term. Quote me anywhere.
In what area has he achieved that you are supporting him?
A lot of areas but I can mention few. Look at roads, education sector, agriculture, housing estate, health delivery and others. To be very objective, the President has done very well in these areas compared to previous administrations. In my own state Yobe, for example, you cannot travel from Damaturu to Gombi, from Gombi to Borno State and from Gombe-Bauchi and from Adamawa-Taraba States during the previous administrations. The roads were so bad; we spent a lot of time and money to get to our towns and villages. So now you can drive from Yobe to Borno, Adamawa to Taraba, without any problem of bad road. The Jonathan administration has introduced SURE-P Programme, NERFUND which has given loans to the people in the 36 state of the federation, from 2012 to 2013 over 350, 000,00 people benefited from the loans. For example, Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Oyo, Yobe, Borno, Adamawa, Bauchi, Sokoto, and Taraba States are among the benefitting states. Look at the railway system that has been moribund for so many years. Now, from Maiduguri to Port Harcourt from Nguru in Yobe State to Gombe. Youth empowerment Programme, YouWiN, general fertilizer distribution, improved seeds distribution, 50 tractors for farmers at 50 percent discount, community works programme, construction of youth development centre, employment of over 300 Yobe indigenes in the Federal Public Service, why don't we appreciate him for once?
Looking at the political situation in Yobe today where the opposition has only one member of the House of Reps out of six. How do you intend to defeat the APC come 2015?
I will assure you that they will never win again; APC will lose Borno and Yobe States this time. In any analysis, the gap between APC and PDP has been shown to be too wide. I think there is nothing to worry about. To the best of my knowledge defeating APC is very easy judging from their blunders at the top down to state and local government levels in the last four years. No reasonable person will vote for APC. They don't play the game by the rules.
If there is going to be free and fair election the APC will never have won election in Borno and Yobe state, if you understand the meaning of politics. No doubt from Borno and Yobe, Jonathan will get 25 percent votes in the forthcoming elections.
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