Owerri PDP Rally: Jonathan Pledges More Empowerment For Youths

President Goodluck Jonathan says his second term in office will be to
empower and encourage more youths to be great leaders through
youth-oriented programmes.

Jonathan made the promise at the campaign of the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) held at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri on Saturday.

He said his administration recognised the creative ability of the
youths, especially in sports and the entertainment industry, which
must be encouraged and appreciated.

"We recognise the creative attributes of our young people which must
be appreciated through grants and other supports.

"The YouWIN and agricultural programmes of this administration are all
geared towards making our talented youths young millionaires", he
said.

He said his administration also recognised the value of education in
preparing the youths for the future hence had established 12
conventional and two specialised universities in the last six years.

"Our aim is to prepare the young people for their future roles as
leaders in sports, education, and in the entertainment industry", he
said.

The President said his government would continue to carry Nigerian
women along and ensure that they were projected to the outside world.

He promised to do this by boosting the office of the first lady and
giving more support to women empowerment programmes.

"It is not enough to just give ministerial appointments; my
administration is focused now on projecting Nigerian women to the
international limelight", he said.

Jonathan said through TETFund and Sure-P, his administration had
initiated and completed major projects in Imo.

He called on Imo sons and daughters to vote massively for PDP in all
the political positions.

National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, stressed the
commitment of the party to youth development.

Muazu noted that Jonathan's administration was result-oriented and
called on all Imo residents to support the party in the senatorial,
representatives, gubernatorial and presidential elections.

The Director General of the Presidential Campaign organisation, Sen.
Ahmadu Ali, urged Imo people to collect their Permanent Voter Cards
and support the party in the upcoming elections.

Gov. Theodore Orji of Abia and the South East Zonal campaign
coordinator of the presidential campaign, commended the Imo people for
coming out in their numbers to honour the president.

He urged them to vote massively for the party and for Jonathan who he
said had interest of the Igbo's at heart.

Chief Emeka Ihedioha, the Deputy Speaker of the House of
Representatives and PDP governorship candidate in Imo, said the state
had complete faith in the party and would continue to support it.

He promised to reinstate the displaced beneficiaries of the 10,000
jobs created by the former Governor of the state, Chief Ikedi Ohakim,
if elected.

Ihedioha held that a great number of the youths had been rendered
jobless with the cancellation of the scheme.

He also promised to revive vocational schools in the state to
encourage youths self-employment.

The gubernatorial candidate said his administration would give
qualitative and free education in collaboration with the Universal
Basic Education programme of the Federal Government.

Ihedioha also promised to improve the health sector in the state,
promising free health care for pregnant women.

He thanked the president for dualisation of the Owerri/Aba Road and
prayed for its completion as soon as possible.

National Woman Leader of the party, Mrs Kema Chikwe called on Imo
women to support the PDP as it had always recognised and appreciated
the contributions of women to national development.

The highlight of the event was the presentation of the party's flag to
the gubernatorial candidate of the party, Ihedioha.

Also present at the rally were former Super Eagles star, Mr Kanu
Nwankwo and Mr Joseph Yobo, who added colour to the rally as well as
other PDP political big wigs.
--(NAN)