Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji,believes the South East has benefitted from the Presidency of Goodluck Jonathan and wants the zone to give him more support in the 2015 ballot, which may be a head to head between him and the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Theodore Orji
Orji urged Ndigbo to trust Jonathan to provide more democracy dividends in his second tenure, given his performance and record of delivering on promise.
He enthused that the support Jonathan will receive in 2015 will be more massive because he has shown that he can be trusted.
“He is one that fulfils promises made and that is the hallmark of a great leader.’’
Orji said the South East has every good reason to support Jonathan again because “we have benefits that we can flaunt for our support for him. Of course all political animals, and by extension the people, are usually insatiable.
“But when you compare what Jonathan has done for the South East and what others before him had done for the zone, you will see that Jonathan is a man to be trusted.
“He gives you a promise and ensures he fulfils it. In terms of appointments, we are better off than what it used to be. In terms of projects, we have benefitted from some landmark projects.
“It is under him that we realised the Akanu Ibiam Airport as an international airport. It had been a local airport all along.”
Orji said the Onitsha-Owerri road is now a smooth ride and work is in progress on the Enugu-Port Harcourt road.
“What of the second Niger bridge? These are some of the visible things we can be happy about. Jonathan has kept his promises for us and I know he will do more for us by the time we give him another massive support.”
What if Jonathan fails to win a second term, would that not put the South East at a disadvantage? Orji was asked.
He replied that there is nothing to fear as Jonathan is loved by Nigerians and will be the candidate to beat if he decides to run for a second term.
“We don’t want to hear in the event of him not making it. He will make it and his making it is the best option for us and Nigeria. I am confident he will get the party’s ticket.”
Orji expressed hope that the South East will produce the president at the right time.
“We know we will be president, there is no doubt that a president of Igbo extraction will emerge one day but it is good for us to go when the time is right.”
He said those accusing Jonathan of signing a one-term agreement failed to produce the evidence, and the issue is whether Jonathan has a constitutional right to contest.
Orji insisted that detractors only quoteJonathan as havingpledged to serve one term, but there is no written document as proof.
He urged the electorate to forget what people are saying and claiming that Jonathan said and base their decision on whether he is constitutionally qualified. The answer is yes, Orji reiterated.
