Bayelsa elders canvass support for Jonathan

PROMINENT indigenes of Bayelsa State have expressed readiness to canvass support for President Goodluck Jonathan despite the rising criticism against his administration.The group urged Nigerians to resist attempts to make Jonathan look like the most criticised president of the country.The spokesperson for the Bayelsa Elders , Chief Mark Boy, said the indigenes of Bayelsa are worried over the spate of unwarranted criticisms against the person of President Jonathan.Boy who is the Pere Odoh VI, Peretrugbene in Ekeremor Council, Bayelsa, in a chat with The Guardian in Yenagoa, said the Jonathan administration had noble programmes and policies aimed at turning around the fortunes of the country.According to him, some forces are all out to make the president the most criticised leader in the history of the country.He said: 'Jonathan detractors are opposed to everything about him in spite of his determination to pull the country out of the woods. The Boko Haram menace is one of the tools being used to frustrate the Jonathan presidency just because he is from the minority Niger Delta, an action that they are not prepared for the continued existence of Nigeria.'Urging Nigerians to realise that there was a purpose God allowed Jonathan at this point to rule the country, Boy said: 'God has a reason for projecting Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to lead this country to right the wrongs of the past given his minority background. Nigerians should note that Otuoke community where Mr. President hails from is part of the popular Oloibiri oil field in the Niger Delta region, which has been neglected for over 56 years, and God deliberately brought Jonathan to lead Nigeria and develop the region.'He continued: 'Oloibiri oil field where crude oil was first discovered in commercial quantity is today a metaphor of neglect. The people were neglect even though they produced the crude oil, the mainstay of Nigeria's economy. God saw the plight of the people and brought President Jonathan to turn around things for good for them. But some people are now opposed to his rule, why' If God decides to bring someone from this neglected area to rule the country it is only proper for us to support him.'Pointing to the fact that previous administration failed to develop the Niger Delta region where the major source of the nations wealth comes, Boy said: 'Successive administrations in Nigeria have not been able to develop this important area, which is one of the major sources of revenue for the country in the last five decades. We should also know that President Jonathan is God-sent.'It is sad that there have been orchestrated opposition to his presidency since 2011 by those who are bent on derailing his vision for the country,' he said.To him, history would vindicate Jonathan's government, 'Jonathan will turn out to be Nigeria's best leader at the end of the day in spite of the opposition against his government.
Click here to read full news..