The Leaders of the Fulani group which procured the All Progressives Congress’ Expression of Interest and Nomination form for former President Goodluck Jonathan, Ibrahim Abdullahi, has given reasons why he should return to power.
Abdulahi who described himself as a representative of nomadic pastoralist and the Almajiri communities, said that Jonathan must return to continue his good work as President.
He said that Jonathan remains the first Nigerian President since independence to show compassion on the Almajiri to the extent of coming up with a comprehensive educational policy for them.
He said that Almajiri education Programme would have produced graduates in various professions and ensure their integration into the society if not for the fact that it was abandoned as soon as he left Government.
When asked if Jonathan was in the APC, Abdulahi answered in the affirmative though his position is subject to confirmation by the former President.
He also said that former President set aside N60 billion in the coffer of the Central Bank of Nigeria for the Development livestocks in Nigeria.
He stressed that if the Programme had continued, the nation would have achieved so much in livestock production and exportation.
Read the full text of his comments below:
“My name is Ibrahim Abdullahi, I represent two of the most vulnerable communities in our country. The nomadic pasturalist and the almajari communities who have decided to purchase this form for our former President, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, to come back and rule this country and continue with the good work he has started.
“You may recall ladies and gentlemen of the press that during Goodluck Jonathan’s era he was the first President since the independence of Nigeria who has found it expedient, who was magnanimous enough to some of us to remember the almajari community.
“He brought a comprehensive policy of reformation and intergretion of the almajari into the mainstream educational system in Nigeria.
“It was the dream and the vision of President Goodluck Jonathan that if that program had continued it would one day produce from the Almajiri system of education; Doctors, engineers.
“Unfortunately, that program was kept aside as soon as he left. Other parts of the community ( the vulnerable community) that Goodluck Jonathan wanted to really give a sense of belonging was the fulani community, the nomadic pastoralists.
“He set aside 60billions naira in the coffer of the Central Bank of Nigeria which was to be used to develop livestocks in Nigeria. I believe if government had continued with that program, today, we will have been the Denmark, the Sweden, the Holland of the entire Africa in terms of livestock, in terms of beef and so on.
“Looking at this situation,?and of course the problems Nigeria today is facing, we believe that only a leader with that kind of patriotism, a leader with that kind of fairness who is ready to give every Nigerian sense of belonging can be able to rule this country and that leader is Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
“As you may have heard, alot of interest groups have been coming out to urge him to contest but we felt that because this is the deadline that was given whether he agrees or not we need to purchase this form.
“Goodluck Jonathan is for all Nigeria. As a Nigerian we believe he has interest of this country at heart, he will accept us. You can see that we are almost late to buy these forms, we have been trying with the Almajiri and the Fulani’s selling our cows. We were able to raise this cow just yesterday and we decided to come and purchase these forms.
“Let Nigerians support this project. If you are talking about Goodluck Jonathan, I don’t think there is any aspirant so far that we have seen that can be compared in any way with Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. Unless if Nigerians are not serious, unless if we don’t want to integrate and unite in this country, unless if you want to continue playing the politics of religion, tribalism.
“ You see I’m a Fulani man, coming from the far north but I tell there is no Nigerian today that I can cast my vote for, campaign vote except Jonathan. For me Jonathan is best amongst all the aspirants, irrespective of where he comes from, religion.
“Goodluck Jonathan is the best President for Nigeria and I hope with this purchase of forms today, I call on all the aspirants if the are really patriotic, if they want Nigeria’s unity, if they want sense of belonging, if they want a president for all, if they want a president that has come out to say his ambition does not worth the blood of any Nigerian no matter how lowly or highly placed such a Nigerian is and he lived to that word when the chips were down, I think it is time for Nigerians to tell that man to come back and lead us.
Question: Is Jonathan a member of APC?
Yes, he is.