Never in the history of Nigeria has a non-governmental organization, under the aegis of the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), moved with passion for the unrivaled good leadership precepts and love for the masses already evidenced by the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan taken up the initiative to guide the citizens ahead the coming 2015 general elections.
Apparently feeling what many Nigerians have noticed-that the numerous life-enhancing/transforming achievements of the president have remained unnoticed, unreported or intentionally disregarded, the international Nigeria-based NGO few months ago decided to take up the challenge.
So far, two out of its scheduled seven national rallies planned to hold at each of the nation’s geopolitical zones, with a grand finale scheduled for Abuja, have proved that the dogged determination of the group to showcase Jonathan and the gains of his transformation project is working.
The sleepy cities of Awka and Ibadan stood still when they played host to visitors from other South-eastern and South Western states namely Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo for Awka, and Oyo, Osun, Lagos, Ogun, Ekiti and Ondo for the Ibadan rally. The august visitors had one vision, mission and purpose— to ask President Goodluck Jonathan to seek a renewal of his mandate, having been adjudged excellent in his performance so far.
Just like in Awka, the people started trooping into the Liberty Stadium, Ibadan as early 7.00 in the morning which to certain extent demonstrated the importance of the business at hand. And by 10am the venue of the rally was already filled to capacity.
Understandably, because of the eminent personalities that graced the occasions, it was easily misunderstood in some quarters, especially the opponents of Jonathan, as political campaign rally. But the question that readily comes to mind is how could such gatherings be tagged campaign outing when even the principal actor was conspicuously never in attendance.
Because TAN has repeatedly stressed it is not a political group, and is not limited by any party, group or individual, and that the rallies were not planned as political outings took that message further. As a result, it could be seen that the gatherings were usually of mixed political, gender and ages colorations. Leaders of virtually all political parties in the country either attended or sent representatives. Little wonder members of the different political parties-the All Progressives Grand Alliance(APGA), All Peoples Congress(APC), Labour Party(LP) the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) and others were seen trying to outdo one another to make a speech at both rallies.
Millions who watched the event live on television admitted that even avid opponents of Jonathan attested to the fact that the nation’s democratic development has really come of age, now that politicians campaign for their perceived opponents. That by putting up appearance at all, the rallies were symbolic and pointer to the fact that the transformation agenda of the Jonathan administration has positively impacted on all and sundry of all political divide.
In Awka, the rally was used to correct certain long-held fallacies particularly concerning the 1967 civil war in which the Igbo were erroneously perceived as losers or defeated. Speaking on behalf of the people of Imo State, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyawu, said pointedly that Ndigbo neither lost in the war nor surrendered. According to him, the warlord and the natural leader of Ndigbo did not write any letter of surrender and that the acclaimed letter of surrender was written Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe for political expediency.
Iwuanyawu recalled that at the end of the no victor, no vanquished civil war, the government, decided to embark on the 3Rs approach to developing the nation. This, according to him, remained in the pipeline all through successive administrations until the administration of Jonathan came on board with his transformation agenda which has indeed given hope to the so much neglected Igbo people not minding their industrial and business acumen which has indeed put the nation on the world map for good.
The Minister of Power, Prof Chinedu Nebo, who spoke on behalf of the people of Enugu State, noted that apart from the fact that Jonathan has generally done so well for the country and that Ndigbo have never had it so good under any dispensation in terms of appointments and infrastructural development, cited the second NIger Bridge that was hitherto over-politicized and had repeatedly became issue for political campaigns for any elective office-seeker in the country but was quietly and promptly settled by the president who believe that the bridge would not only be useful and helpful to the Igbo but the entire nation.
Nebo also recalled that the nation’s railway system was non existent when Jonathan took over the leadership of the country but today all eyes could see, all hands can touch the beauty that has emanated from the old ruins. The railway breakthrough, according to Nebo, was in addition to the milestone recorded, in the nation’s airports which has moved them away from notorious death traps to those with international safety standard. The minister also observed that there is aggressive road reconstruction and rehabilitation.
He added that the power sector has also been touched by the president’s transformation agenda which has led to improvement in the power made available to the people.
The former Minister of Women Affairs, Iyom Josphine Anenih, who spoke on behalf of Igbo women, handed an ultimatum to the president to declare his interest to run for second tenure. Anenih reminded the president that in the 2011 general elections, the Igbo women gave him bloc vote which was second to none in the country. She said the South-east women are ready to re-enact the feat once Jonathan heeds their clarion call to seek renewal of his mandate.
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, in a motion he moved during the rally, galvanized the mammoth crowd into rising in unison to call on Jonathan to run again which according to him was not only fair but also just. The business class was also not left out of action at the rally, Prince Arthur Eze, who was full of praises for the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) for blazing the trail in fair political advocacy, expressed the preparedness of the business class to partner with the group based on what he described as objectivity and forthrightness of the advocacy group.
As if to ensure that the gods of the land are adequately represented at the occasion, the royal fathers from across the length and breadth of Igboland were led to the rally by host paramount ruler, HRM, Obi Gibson Nwosu, Eze-uzu of Awka.
The Church, under the aegis of the Christian Association Of Nigeria (CAN), prayed fervently for Jonathan, Dr Ifeanyi Ubah and TAN.
Musicians, actors and actresses across the country took time to be the in the Awka rally with one song in their mouth- all we are saying is give us goodluck which is inherent in Goodluck Jonathan.
The Awka gathering climaxed when a register containing over 1.6 million signatures of the Nigerian people from all walks of life who passionately pleaded with the president to seek a renewal of his mandate was handed over to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim, for onward delivery to Jonathan.
The register speaks volumes of what the people want and since democracy is government of the people by the people and for the people, it is obvious that the Ndigbo have taken their destiny in their hands and are not ready to be distracted by the opposition and are asking the government to continue and consolidate his transformation program for the nation.
The Igbo through TAN have therefore said loud and clear that there is no VACANCY in Aso Rock Villa until 2019 when Jonathan must have laid a sustainable foundation for the transformation of the nation which of course would be beneficial to his successor. It is obvious by the statement made in Awka by Ndigbo and the similar one at Ibadan by the Yoruba that no one has stake in the nation’s number one position now until 2019 was clear enough to all political hawks and professional aspirants in Nigeria.
