TheCable

President Goodluck Jonathan has formally declared his intention to contest the 2015 presidential election, vowing to end insurgency and create “at least 2 million jobs a year”, which translates to eight million jobs by 2019 should he emerge winner of the election.

“Our efforts to create an enabling environment for job creation in different sectors of the economy including the MSME sector, agriculture, housing and manufacturing have yielded results,” he said at the Eagle Square, Abuja, venue of the declaration.

“Between the third quarter of 2012, when we started tracking jobs created and the end of 2013, 1.9 million jobs were created. To deepen our success in this area, I have created a Presidential Jobs Creation Board headed by the Vice President with the mandate to create at least two million jobs a year.”

Jonathan said his decision to contest was the result of a long consultation process.

“After seeking the face of God and quiet reflection with my family, and after listening to the calls of our people, I Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, have accepted to present myself on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for president of the federal republic of Nigeria,”  he said.

The president, who opened his speech with a condolence message to the parents of the pupils killed in a bomb blast in Potiskum, Yobe state on Monday, stated that he would everything “humanly possible” to halt the insecurity challenges in the country.

He assured Nigerians that the war against terror would be won and the abducted Chibok girls rescued.

The president restated his commitment to working with all Nigerians to build a united and prosperous Nigeria.

“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, our stewardship has not been without challenges. We have had to deal with the wave of insurgency that has swept through some parts of our dear country. Only yesterday, Government Science Secondary School in Yobe State was bombed by insurgents, killing our promising young children who were seeking education to build the country and support their parents,” he said.

“Many Nigerians have lost their lives and property to these mindless killings. Let me crave the indulgence of all present here to stand up to observe a minute’s silence in honour of these young lads who lost their lives. Clearly, this has cast a dark cloud on our Nation but we will surely win the war against terror. A number of young men and women have been kidnapped by these criminal elements including our daughters from Chibok. We will free our daughters and defeat terrorism.”

To combat insecurity, the president explained that his government was equipping the army and deploying special forces to engage the terrorists.

“We are equipping the armed forces and deploying special forces to engage the terrorist and end this senseless war. We must protect our country. We must save our people. I will do everything humanly possible to end this criminal violence in our nation,” he declared.

“To ensure the long-term stability and development of the affected areas, government has launched three programmes: the Presidential Initiative for the Northeast, the Victim Support Fund and the Safe School Initiative.

“The Presidential Initiative for the Northeast is focused on improving infrastructure and economic growth in the region. The Safe School Initiative is centred on creating a safe environment to encourage our children in the communities to acquire education. The Victim Support Fund, a partnership with the Private Sector, has raised about N60 billion, which will help to empower and rehabilitate victims of terror. I promise the victims of these dastardly acts that we will continue to stand with you.”