By Samuel Oyadongha
YENAGOA — As the next general elections draws closer, a Yenagoa-based socio-political organisation, Jonathan Goodluck Ambassador of Nigeria, JOGAN, has advanced reasons why Nigerians should rally support for President Goodluck Jonathan to contest and stay beyond 2011.

Rising from a stakeholders meeting in Yenagoa, the group commended the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for creating the opportunity for Dr. Jonathan to contest the 2011 in spite of the clamour by a section of the country, that the issue of zoning be maintained by the party.

JOGAN through Messrs Francis Francis and Fiezibe Osain, President and Secretary respectively in a statement after the meeting, said that since Dr. Jonathan’s elevation as President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, he has worked diligently to ensure availability of petroleum products in the country at the approved pump price as against the past where Nigerians queued endlessly at filling stations as well as improve electricity supply in the country.

The group further explained, in demonstration of President Jonathan to conduct free and credible poll where one man, one vote counts, he appointed a seasoned activist/administrator and patriot in the person of Prof Attahiru Jega as chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

It also recalled the high humility and matured leadership quality exhibited by Dr Jonathan in ensuring stability in the polity during the trying moment for the country when late President Umaru Yar’Adua was ill and incapacitated.

According to the group, “Jonathan’s rapid response to issue of insecurity especially kidnapping and implementation of the amnesty programme has brought peace, stability and sustainable growth with the country now enjoying positive image among comity of nations as well as the delisting of Nigeria from the United States terrorist watch list.”

The group noted that in paving the way for Jonathan to contest for the presidential polls, the PDP leadership not only consulted widely but also based its judgment on his credibility and expressed the hope that his emergence as president in 2011 would bring about the desired change in the country.

The group argued that “Jonathan’s presidency beyond 2011 would mark the beginning of a new dawn of young, vibrant and pragmatic leader who will take Nigeria to the next level” adding that President who is poised to continue with his predecessor’s vision of the institutionalization of rule of law in the country, the future of democracy would be guaranteed.