transformation in all sectors of its economy and not change, which he
said the opposition All Progressives Congresses was clamouring for.
The president stated this during the Peoples Democratic Party
presidential rally held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin, the
Edo State capital.
Also present at the event were the First Lady, Mrs. Jonathan, the
Vice President, Namadi Sambo, as well as state and national leaders of
the party, including its National Chairman, Adamu Mu'azu; the Board of
Trustees Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih; and the Minister of Works, Mike
Onolememen.
The rally also drew a large crowd of supporters from neighbouring
states, who arrived at the stadium in coastal buses.
President Jonathan explained that, rather than change, which he said
occurred "if you you move from your bedroom to your sitting room, the
nation needed to be transformed into a first-world country, through
meaningful infrastructural development."
President Jonathan, who later switched to Pidgin English, said,
"Change takes place everyday. If you move from your bedroom to your
sitting room, you have made a change. But you have not transformed
yourself. If you move from your sitting room to your kitchen, you have
changed. But you have not transformed yourself.
"We will move this country forward. Singapore and Nigeria used to be
on the same level. But someone transformed Singapore from third-world
to first-world. That is the transformation we are talking about. We
are not talking about somebody turning and saying, 'I've changed," we
are talking about transformation.
He noted that, apart from road construction and developing the railway
system, his administration was also interested in developing the
talents of youths in construction industry, through establishment of
an institute of construction technology in the state.
President Jonathan noted that his administration had demonstrated than
it was youth-friendly by ensuring that 18 young Nigerians
participated at the national conference held in Abuja.
He, however, called for support for the ruling party at the
presidential election, adding that the opposition party had set out to
"deceive" Nigerians.
--PUNCH
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