President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has received kudos from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders from the North-West geo-political zone, who told him during a courtesy call: “We have come to thank you for the good job you are doing across the country.”

The delegation, led by former Defence Minister Mohammed Haliru Bello, was received at the State House, Abuja, yesterday by President Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo.

In a speech delivered by Bello, the delegation told President Jonathan that his “steadfastness and determination to put in place a solid and well thought-out transformational agenda for repositioning the country towards a better future of steady and sustainable development is very much appreciated.”

It specifically thanked the President for “the pragmatic and impactful dividends” that his “administration has provided in the North, particularly the North-west zone, through execution of several meaningful projects in all sectors of the economy.”

Continuing, Bello said: “We appreciate that about 101 of a total of 125 Almajirai schools have since been completed and commissioned, and work is progressing on the remaining 24 now at various stages of completion. This revolutionary project, never witnessed before in the nation's history, has tremendously transformed the region’s socio-economic landscape, bringing significant federal intervention to address an endemic and embarrassing social malaise peculiar to the region. This is more than enough evidence of the priority and pride of place that the entire northern states and people command in the policy planning and project implementation programmes of the Goodluck-Sambo Government.

“Your nationalistic and patriotic motivations in all your thoughts and endeavours have ensured the vigorous pursuit of these lofty goals not only in the North, but all across Nigeria. We also appreciate that of the 12 federal universities established recently, 9 of them are located in the North. These are definitely the right steps in the right direction imbalance aimed at addressing the educational permeating our polity.

“Mr. President, Nigerians are currently benefitting from the resuscitated rail services that were abandoned and left to decay for about two decades but are now running regularly again. We appreciate the pace of work on the new Kaduna-Abuja standard gauge rail line, which is currently at 70% completion, to be completed at the end of the year. This significant project will boost efforts at finding lasting solutions to the transportation problems as well as energizing the economy of the region. We are also aware of the impending extension of the Sokoto to Kaura-Namoda from line railway Birnin-Kebbi and to Niger border in Illelah. This will our up open way, small no in certainly, agricultural potentials and create wealth among our people.

“Mr. President, the Aviation industry has also witnessed positive transformation, especially with the remodelling of airports across the country and the granting of permits to international airlines such airlines. Kenyan and Emirates Turkish, as President, we are pleased to note that Turkish Airlines has commenced flight operations between Kano and Istanbul. This has expanded vistas of opportunities for trade and commerce to flourish. We also make haste to inform you that greater planned the in realized be exist to potentials construction of a befitting airport terminal in Kano, the commercial hub of the North.

“The massive road constructions and rehabilitation currently ongoing across the country are too numerous to mention but it is instructive to state that most abandoned roads have either been fully completed under your administration or about like to specifically to be completed. We would appreciate Mr. President for the newly awarded Kano Katsina dualisation road project and Dutse and spur to a Shuarin with Kano-Wudil Kwanar Huguma, Kontagora-Yauri-Jega-Tambuwal-Sokoto and Kano-Maiduguri dualisation projects that are all at various advanced stages of completion.”

The visitors also thanked the Jonathan administration for its achievements in the area of agriculture as well as efforts to arrest desertification in the zone. But that was not all.

According to Bello, “The privatization drive in the power sector embarked by your administration has been widely acclaimed by stakeholders all over the world as not only the most transparent but the most successful ever. We are proud to be associated with such landmark achievement that has also brought about appreciable improvement in the power situation across the country. We also note and commend the current efforts to revive industries in the North by the construction of the 215mw thermal power plant at Kudendan industrial area in Kaduna now at an advanced stage of completion. We should also mention the Gurara and Galma dams hydro-power projects, the 330kva transmission lines to Kano, and other related projects which we are aware of, including the Katsina wind power project, Jibiya Hydropower Project in Katsina state not to forget the rehabilitation of the Bakalori Irrigation Irrigation Auyo the and projects Hydro-power project in Jigawa State.

“Your administration’s excellent drive towards ensuring full recognition of the fundamental human rights of our citizens is unprecedented. There is a clear cut separation of powers of the three tiers of never witnessed have we and government prisoner of conscience, summary detentions or the breach of the fundamental human rights of our citizens. Democracy is thriving under administration and we are happy to let you know that, notwithstanding the defections by some of our party members, our party is having a breath of fresh air and waxing stronger in the zone.

“We also appreciate your efforts at combating the current wave of insurgency in the North. Your initial hesitance not to apply the full military option and your continuous call for dialogue with the insurgents was a demonstration of your patience and determination to find reasonable grounds for amicable resolution of the insurgency. We make haste to state that the current action being taken is in the right direction and we are confident that it will bring an end to this insurrection.”

In his response, President Jonathan thanked the delegation for the visit and assured that his administration would continue to work harder for the good of the North and all parts of the country.

•Photo courtesy State House shows President Jonathan (second right) flanked by Vice President Namadi Sambo and Delegation Leader Haliru Bello. On the left is PDP National Chairman Bamanga Tukur.

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