Why Jonathan will Beat Buhari in the North -By Chuks Okocha

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday gave more reasons why its Presidential flag-bearer, President Goodluck Jonathan, will beat the APC candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, fairly and squarely in the north, come February 14, 2015.  The party said with President Jonathan’s soaring popularity among  the voting population across the country, it would win more than  two-third of the total votes cast as well as the required 25 percent in  all the states of the federation.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, in a statement on Saturday,  said Jonathan will beat Buhari in the north not only because  the PDP controls 12 out of the 19 states of the region but also because  the citizens are pleased with the numerous development projects he  executed in the region.  The party said the various projects and appointments in the north have  placed President Jonathan ahead of Buhari especially following the fact  that the APC presidential candidate never executed any in the region  when he was head of state and has so far failed to articulate an  acceptable blue-print for development.  “Indeed, Nigerians in the north are eager to re-elect President Goodluck  Jonathan come February 14, 2015. Voters in the region appreciate the  direct positive impact of the numerous development projects executed by  the Jonathan administration in all sectors of life.

“They appreciate the fact that recognizing that agriculture is the  mainstay of the northern economy, President Jonathan ensured that out of  the 2.7 million direct farm jobs achieved by his administration, over 2  million are in the north.  “They appreciate the fact that President Jonathan established the  e-wallet system, which eliminated the corruption in the distribution of  fertilizer and other farmputs, making the products directly accessible  to millions of farmers in the region thereby boosting their  productivity. They appreciate the fact that silos are brimming and food  pyramids are returning in the north.  “In education, President Jonathan’s imprint in the north remains  indelible.

Today, the once relegated Almajiri boys can now go to school  following the establishment of the Almajiri System of Education, the  first of its kind, with over 150 special schools already built, while  others are nearing completion, a noble idea, General Buhari never  thought of when he was head of state.  “Also, out of the 14 new universities established by President Jonathan,  9 are located in the northern states thereby ensuring that all states of  the region have a federal university. This is in addition to the  establishment of new secondary schools and training of teachers for  quality education in the region.”