ASABA (Sundiata Post) – The Asagba of Asaba, in Delta State, Prof. Chike Edozien, on Friday endorsed the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan.
The endorsement was announce by the royal father when Jonathan paid him a courtesy visit at his Asaba palace.
Edozien noted that the endorsement would ensure the president continue his transformation agenda, as well as implement the recommendations of the National Conference with a view to moving the nation forward.
“We are particularly delighted that you had the courage to set up the National Conference to look into the problems that were setting this country backwards.
“We are convinced that if the recommendations of the conference are implemented they will place Nigeria in its proper place.
“We are giving you our full support to complete your work.
“We do so, not only because of the giant stride that you have made in transforming the economy, defence and education, but we believe that you are in the best position to implement the resolutions of the National Conference,’’ Edozien said.
He added on March 28 which is billed for the presidential election, his stool “will mobilise its children and people to support you not only by words but by deed to make sure that you return to Aso Rock.”
He added that “we affirm that support to return you on May 29 as the President of Nigeria.
“It is our hope that in the next four years, some of the issues in our minds will be fully accomplished,” he said
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The monarch, however, called on Jonathan to dualise the road from Asaba through Agbor and Kogi to Abuja, raise the Asaba Airport to an international hub to improve commerce and reduce travel time for the people.
He equally also appealed to the president to compensate families of victims of the 1967 civil war massacred by the federal troops they came to receive in Asaba, and also establish a federal university in the area.
On the request for a federal university, Asagba said “since that request, your administration has created more than 12 federal universities, why are we forgotten?’’
Earlier, Jonathan promised that his administration would continue to strive hard “to bring peace, secure our country and bring development.
“As your own son, I will keep faith to the promises that I made to you in public and in private to bring development to the country and Delta State will not be left out.’’ the president noted.
According to Jonathan, his administration established a maritime University in Delta State for manpower development, adding that the police Academy in Kaduna was upgraded to a degree awarding institution in addition to creating 12 other universities in the states that had none.
Jonathan told Asagba that with the efforts of his administration, Guinea worm, polio and Ebola Virus disease had been eradicated.
He said the aviation industry got massive boost, just as rail and road infrastructure had attained 90 per cent rehabilitation.
According to the president, the carbotage law was strengthened to involve local entrepreneurs in the oil and gas business.
“We are marching on and in the next four years, if re-elected, we will take this country to an unimaginable height.’’
On power supply, he said improvement had been greatly made, as the sector would be solely private sector driven this year to end power outage.
Sen. Amodu Alli, who represented the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national chairman, Dr Adamu Mu’azu, lauded Jonathan’s achievements .
Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan spoke of how the monarch’s reign brought development to bear in the state.