The 2015 mobilisation for President Goodluck Jonathan by the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) has taken off on a successful note, with political heavyweights in the South-East announcing the support of the geo-political zone for the re-election ambition of Jonathan.

The event, the first leg of a planned nationwide campaign by TAN led by the owner of Capital Oil, Chief Ifeanyi Uba, was held at the Ekwueme Square in Awka yesterday.

Gates to the Dr Alex Ekwueme Park venue of the rally were thrown open at about 7am, with the Abia contingents in no fewer than 30 buses being the first to grace the venue, followed by Enugu, Ebonyi and Imo states.

It was a gathering of influential and affluent personalities who believe in President Jonathan.

Despite the newness of the TAN group in Nigeria, 1.6m people have already appended their signatures to be part of the group and help carry the crusade of promoting Jonathan for 2015 presidential elections. This was disclosed by Mr. Kunle Fagbemi, a director in TAN.

In his speech at the occasion, the Deputy Speaker of House of Reps, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, said that the 43 senators from the South-East and over 170 members of the House of Reps have decided to work with TAN towards the realisation of a second term of four years for President Jonathan.

He observed that Ndigbo can now fly from the airports in their locality based on the President’s restructuring of the airports in the zone, adding that it was a feat no other administration could achieve.

Echoing the words of Ihedioha, the Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, said that the President has performed better in the various sectors of administration in the country than any of his predecessors in their first tenure.

He reeled out Jonathan’s achievements to include improved power, construction of roads, construction of the Second Niger Bridge and railways, etc., saying that the achievements have contributed immensely to the transformation of the lives of Nigerians.

Prof Nebo further said: “The Midas touch of Dr Jonathan is not limited to the power sector as all other sectors of the economy have been positively touched.”

On his part, Secretary to the Federal Government, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, who came to the podium brandishing the register of 1.6m signatories of people urging Jonathan to go for a second term, said that Jonathan was the only President that had the interest of the Igbos at heart, adding that the works he has already done speak for him.

The SGF said he was proud of his people for blazing the trail in the demand for Dr. Jonathan’s re-run. He expressed optimism that the President would heed the clarion call and seek the renewal of his mandate so that he can deepen the good work he has been doing for the nation.

Anyim said: “The President loves the Igbo people and can never do anything that will jeopardise their growth. If he could do all that he did just in first tenure, then you can imagine how his second term will be.

“I’m highly impressed with I saw today and I will take the message to Mr. President. I urge Ndi Igbo to support this cause started by TAN and support Jonathan for a better Nigeria.”

Other eminent personalities such as oil magnet, Prince Arthur Eze, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyawu, Mr. Peter Obi and many others also spoke on the need for Jonathan to heed the call of Igbos to go for a second tenure.

The Secretary to Anambra State Government, Hon. Oseloka Obaze, who represented the state governor at the occasion, expressed the preparedness of the state to galvanise other states of the federation to rally support for the President to seek re-election.

Similarly, the chairman of the South-East Governors forum, Chief Theodore Orji, the Abia State Governor, stressed that there is no alternative to Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.

He recalled that Ndigbo were united behind Jonathan during the 2011 presidential election and that nothing has really changed to warrant a change since there is no need to change a winning team.

The rally drew a mammoth crowd, including members of the palm wine club of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. A number of people who spoke with journalists at the venue of the rally commended Chief Ifeanyi Uba, for his vision in founding TAN.

Coordinator of G7 Patriots International, Mr. Zeribe Ezeanuna, said his group is partnering with TAN to ensure that the developmental transformation agenda of the President continues. He said that they intend to achieve their goal by partnering with groups as well as voters in the state to ensure that President is re-elected.

On the defection of some APGA legislators to PDP, he said: “All of us are happy for the development because APGA is nearing collapse in Anambra State; even the former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, has resigned as the BoT Chairman of APGA, signaling his exit from that party.

“The present governor of Anambra State is a political novice, so no matter what he says, the truth of the matter is that APGA is on its way out of Anambra.”

•Photo shows TAN Founder and Chairman, Ifeanyi Uba.

Update news