Vote for me in February and I would give you an airport, Jonathan tells Zamfara people

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday promised to build an airport in Zamfara state if he is re-elected at next month’s presidential election.

Speaking at the presidential campaign rally of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gusau, capital of Zamfara state, Jonathan said he had taken note of complaints about the absence of an airport in the north-western state, and he would attend to them once re-elected.

“Aisha spoke about the airport, the national chairman spoke about the airport. If you look at us, you see that all the PDP states around here have airports,” he said.

“Jigawa, Gombe, Kebbi, they have airports. All you have to do is to vote for PDP, and I would work with Shinkafi to give you an airport.”

Earlier, Jonathan sent the crowd into a frenzy when he told policemen trying to control the crow not to “worry” them.

“Police, don’t worry them. They are my people. They are here for me. They will not harm me. I like them. I want it,” he said.

“I thank you; thank you. I would just rush through so we can go for prayer. Let me just rush through so we can go for prayers. I appreciate you; I appreciate all the people of Zamfara state, and the reasons are obvious. Whenever I come to Zamfara sate, you know I am one of you and you take me as your own and I take you as my own.

“I am a part of you, and one thing unique about Zamfara state and my own state Bayelsa is that both states were created the same day, first October 1996, by late Abacha. So these two states have the same challenges, challenges of infrastructure, youth unemployment, challenges of improving agriculture and fisheries. And that is why, whenever I come to Zamfara state, I feel very much at home.

“So please, I would work with you, my good friends from Zamfara state, with your incoming governor, Shinkafi, to develop the state. I promise you that I would work with your state. I would work with your governor, I would work with your minister, the minister of finance, the minister of defence and others, to make sure that we develop this state.”

Jonathan added that we was prioritising agriculture, which Zamfara state is known for, as well as fix the Bakolori Dam and irrigation project for farmers.

“We would work with you to explore the solid minerals in this state, to create jobs for the young people, the young men and the young women,” he continued.

“We will work with you to improve education and that is why, of all the universities we created, we established a university in Zamfara state, so that the young people like you would be like us. Tomorrow, I want one of you to stand where I am standing, to talk to Nigerians; that is why we are emphasising on the Almajiri education and we are establishing universities.

“We would make sure that we step up agriculture; of course, that’s why we also have a silo here… We would do everything, everything to create jobs for you. We would do everything to make sure that you are educated.

“We would do everything to improve on micro, small and medium scale enterprises. We want industrialists in Zamfara state and we would work with you to develop this state. I thank you all.”