Jonathan, Buhari 2nd week tours: Their promises, the issues

A retrospective look at the campaign pledges of
the two leading presidential candidates, President
Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic
Party,PDP, and Gen Mohammadu Buhari ,rtd, of the
All Progressives Congress, APC, in the past five
days, showed a deluge of promises on how to
move Nigeria forward. Unlike the pattern since the
presidential campaigns commenced, the rhetorics
were less confrontational and offensive from both
parties this week
President Goodluck Jonathan (PDP Presidential
Candidate)
SOKOTO: We will improve agriculture
Jonathan
“As President, my administration established 14
new Universities, four was built in the South while
10 was built in the North, yet they keep telling you
I hate the North. If truly I hate the North and I do
not want the children from the North to be like me,
will I take such action”.
“In the area of Agriculture, tell me of any
government that has supported the North with
several agricultural equipment and with billions in
cash loans. If I don’t like the North, will they
benefit up to 70percent of Agricultural reforms we
are doing?’’
KEBBI: I’ll step up rice production
President Jonathan promised that the rice
revolution in Kebbi State would be stepped up to
stop importation in Nigeria.
“I want to plead with Nigerians not to mind all the
criticisms against me and my administration to
vote for us. Our achievements so far have been
seen by Nigerians and the people of the north-west
need to vote us back into power at the February
14 presidential elections. Part of our
developmental plans for Kebbi is to step up the
rice revolution in the state”.
ZAMFARA: We will build an airport
President Jonathan promised the people of
Zamfara State a befitting airport if re-elected.
“We must fix Bakolori Dam and irrigation project
for our farmers. We will work with you to explore
the solid minerals in the state to create jobs for
the young people.
We will also improve education and that is why we
created a university in Zamfara State and we will
make sure we step up on agriculture. That is why
we also have a silo here; about 100,000 metric
tonnes capacity. We will do everything to make
sure we create jobs for you; to make sure that you
are educated.”
KATSINA: We built a federal university
‘’My administration was able to provide Katsina
State a Federal University when it became
embarrassing that as the cradle of western
education in the country, the state could not boast
of a federal university.
‘’Katsina State had produced the first female pilot
among those currently being trained under the
Petroleum Development Trust Fund (PTDF) and my
administration has associated more with farmers
more than any other in the country’s history.
“We have challenges like many other countries in
the world but we are still managing because of our
focus. We will get through our challenges because
we are working hard and you know it.”
We have done well by building Almajiri’s schools,
fighting desertification, youth unemployment
among others in the state and the country in
general.’’
KANO: Jonathan promises more Industries
In Kano he said: “We are trying to create young
business men and luckily we are in Kano, and if
you talk about business, you remember people like
the Aliko Dangotes, you can remember the
Dantatas, the Rabius and others. We will surely
work with you to encourage small and micro
medium scale enterprises to make sure young
people like you grow up to the likes of Aliko
Dangotes.
That is what we stand for, that is what we are
working for.
“We reassure you that working with you, we will
surely continue to improve commerce and industry
in Kano. We will make sure young people have
jobs, our women will have jobs; and that the
economy of Kano will continue to grow from
strength to strength.”
BAUCHI: Solid mineral development to receive
priority
At the Bauchi rally, he vowed to empower the
youths. He said his government would focus more
on the solid mineral development which is capable
of providing empowerment to the youths of Bauchi
State.
General Muhammadu Buhari (APC Presidential
Candidate)
KANO: I will fight insecurity
“Wherever I go, I speak on three fundamental
issues; insecurity, unemployment and corruption
because they are the main challenges bedevilling
the country. So, I am using this opportunity to call
on you, particularly the youth, to make sure you
obtain your voter cards to enable you vote for us
to assist you. All these noise will not help matters
if you fail to come out and vote for the APC during
the forthcoming elections in the country,
‘’ I am appealing to you; the damage done to this
country is great. The level of unemployment, level
of insecurity is intolerable. The journey has
Buhari: Our situation must change!
begun. It will take time, it will take patience, it will
take support from you to make sure that we
succeed. My administration will serve the people
of this country judiciously, through improved
healthcare delivery system, and quality education,
to enable the citizens enjoy the dividends of
democracy.’’
KADUNA: Protect your votes and shun violence
The rally in Kaduna was an avenue to re-echo his
calls on his supporters to ensure that their votes
are protected.
‘’We are calling on you, on February 14, pick your
voters’ cards, vote, protect your votes, escort your
votes and wait. Anywhere I go, I speak about three
things that are major challenges to us as a nation
since the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) came to
power 16 years ago
‘’If we vote APC, we are helping ourselves. We will
renovate and equip our schools and employ
teachers. We will renovate our hospitals, equip
them and supply them with drugs. We will
rehabilitate the entire bad roads. By the grace of
God, within two years into my administration, if
elected, Nigerians will see a remarkable difference.
We believe in democracy, and that is why in spite
of the fact that we were short changed in 2003,
2007 and 20011, we did not ask anybody to go
and kill or slaughter anybody, we went to the
courts.’’