President Goodluck
Jonathan took his campaign for support in the April election to the
Igbo living in the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory
(FCT) yesterday.
Mr Jonathan, who
was represented by the Niger Delta Affairs Minister, Godsday Orubebe,
at a ceremony in Rockview Hotel, Abuja, said their support will be
vital to his victory at the poll.
Igbo people living in the North, it is believed, constitute more than 30 per cent of the registered voters in the region.
Mr Orubebe told
the Igbo leaders, under the aegis of Igbo Delegate Assembly (IDA) that
Mr Jonathan will not discriminate against anyone during his
Administration.
“You don’t need to
be born in a particular place, religion or class before you can be part
of my government. My government will be based on merit,” he said.
He said that he
has no enemy to fight, adding that his candidature symbolizes the
Nigerian spirit. A former member of the House of Representatives, Jerry
Ugokwe, who spoke at the forum, noted that if all the Igbo living in
the 19 northern states and the FCT vote for the PDP presidential
candidate, his (Jonathan) victory will be assured.
“The entire South
East has no candidate except Goodluck,” Mr Ugokwe said. “When you get
back to your various destinations, tell others that the candidate is
Jonathan.”
Others present at the forum were Tunde Ogbeha; the director of
Research of the PDP Campaign Council, Mike Omeri and coordinator,
Door-to-Door campaign for Jonathan/Sambo, Stella Oguanwonyi.
