Sympathizers of Prez Goodluck Jonathan At A Rally In Accra (PHOTO)

Many sympathizers of President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria on Saturday converged on the James Town Mantse Palace, one of Accra’s famous landmarks to campaign for his re-election in the general elections, which has been postponed from February 14, 2015 to March 28.

The political rally was organized by members of the Transformational Ambassadors of Nigeria, Ghana (TAN), a group in the Diaspora, which is closely linked to People’s Democratic Party (PDP) of Nigeria and advocating the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan.

President Jonathan is contesting against ex-military leader, General Muhammadu Buhari in an election considered to be the most tightly contested since military rule ended in Nigeria in 1999.

Mr. Jonathan’s sympathizers in Ghana believe he should be given another term to lead Africa’s most populous nation.

For them, there is no tangible change that Mr Buhari, the leader of the All People’s Congress (APC) will bring to Nigeria.

According to them, President Goodluck Jonathan has already transformed Nigeria to the delight of most citizens and that all that is needed is to sustain the “positive changes” that has already effected in that country.

Nigeria continues to witness significant economic growth under the Jonathan administration evidenced by the fact that the country is currently ranked as Africa’s biggest economy.

It would make no sense for a leader who had led the country into economic prosperity to be ousted over night, they indicated.

They argued that Nigeria could be plunged into an economic crisis like in past should Mr. Buhari be elected as Nigeria’s new President in the forthcoming election.

They said Mr. Buhari lacks the ability to prudently manage the country’s economy.

President of TAN, Prince Emmanuel Okeson, who addressed the gathering at the rally, recounted the several infrastructural developments that have taken place in Nigeria under the Jonathan administration.

He cited the current development projects that the PDP government was undertaking particularly in the transport, educational and health sectors of that country to improve the lives of Nigerians.

According to him, tribal sentiments have become a thing of the past in Nigeria due to President Jonathan’s ambition to unite all Nigerians under one common umbrella.

“It was Goodluck Jonathan who saw to it that certain ethnic groups were brought back into mainstream politics in Nigeria,” he said.

Chairman of PDP in Ghana, Oscar Ugo, in a brief remark, expressed optimism that Mr. Jonathan would be re-elected as President of Nigeria.

As part of efforts to ensure victory for President Jonathan, the leadership of TAN pledged to transport about 100,000 supporters from Ghana to vote for President Jonathan next month, urging their loved ones back home to cast their vote for the incumbent president of Nigeria.

Security

Owing to the carnage by the militant group, Boko Haram, many people have criticized the President Jonathan-led government for failing to stop the nefarious activities of the terrorists and have called for a change.

However, members of TAN insisted that terrorism is a global security issue and not peculiar to Africa or Nigeria and that President Jonathan should not be blamed for the terrorist attacks in Nigeria.

For them, he needs the support from all Nigerians to fight Boko Haram.

‘Rejuvenating Military Rule’

The leader of the All People’s Congress (APC), Mr. Buhari was a former military leader of Nigeria. No more military rule, no more oppression and injustice,” members of TAN stated at the function.