The First Lady,Dame Patience Jonathan flanked by wife of Cross River Gov., Mrs. Obioma Liyel Imoke and Gov. Liyel Imoke of Cross River,(Left) and wife of Akwa Ibom Gov., Mrs. Ekaette Akpabio cutting tape to commission the 6,000 capacity stadium in Ikom, Cross River ahead of the PDP National Women Rally in Ikom Wednesday, 25/2/15
Dame Patience Jonathan, Linda Ayade, Obioma Imoke at the rally Wednesday in Ikom
Diana Okon-Effiong, Ikom
Dame Patience Jonathan, wife of Nigeria’s president Good luck Jonathan Wednesady in Ikom, Cross Rriver enjoined Nigerians to re-elect her husband as President of the most populous black race in Africa.
The First lady, who stated this at the PDP rally in Ikom, Cross River Central Senatorial district, aAlso explained why her husband deserved re-election for a second term.
She said that she was in Ikom, about three hours’ drive from Calabar the state capital, in continuation of the PDP nationwide Women rally to solicit votes for her husband.
The first lady, who spoke shortly after inaugurating the 6,000-capacity Ikom Township Stadium, said Jonathan had so far performed well to earn a second term in office.
“I came to thank you for keeping to your promise in 2011 to vote for my husband. And I want to use this opportunity to appeal to you to you to repeat the same thing in the March 28 presidential election. My husband, during his first tenure has performed tremendously and has impacted positively on the people especially women. My husband promised to give women 35 per cent appointment in line with the affirmative action and he did. Now we are in 2015 and he will do more for the nation and women in particular.”
She listed the progress made by the PDP-led Federal Government to include improvement in health care delivery where infant mortality rate had dropped drastically.
The first lady said her husband’s administration established of federal universities in all the 36 states of the federation, instituted developmental programmes to empower women and youth.
She said Jonathan’s administration should also be credited for building no fewer than 125 Amajiri schools to take kids off the street and give them hope as well as improvement in transportation sand energy sectors.
She said that Nigeria’s participation in sporting competitions improved significantly on the continent and at the global during her husband’s first which also saw the blossoming of Nollywood.
The First Lady therefore enjoined them not to be cajoled by those who claimed to be agents of change because when they were in office, they did not implement the change they are canvassing now.
“Those promising you change did not recognise nor regard women when they were in office and it is better you follow a man who has promised to do more for the nation and sworn to keep it. You have two options, either President Jonathan or nothing. I am confident that the women, youth and all eligible voters in Cross River will vote for Jonathan and all PDP candidates in March 28 and April 11 elections.”
Also speaking Imoke said: “There are only two options for Nigerians to choose, that is either they vote Goodluck Jonathan and move forward with its transformation initiatives or follow the opponent and be dragged 30 years backward.’”
Imoke said Jonathan had in his first term established and initiated developmental programmes as well as empowered women.
“What President Goodluck has done, no president has done so in the history of Nigeria women, for the first time have been given opportunity to participate in politics and be voted into offices. We the youth and women in Cross River wil support President Goodluck Jonathan and all PDP candidates,’’ he said.
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