The North-East Zonal rally of the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), which was held on Saturday, in Gombe State, was turned into a prayer session by the mammoth crowd, just as dignitaries at the event urged President Goodluck Jonathan to continue his good works.
Yesterday’s events in Gombe, which was also used to donate relief materials to victims of insurgency, proved bookmakers wrong as the event attracted powerbrokers in the six North-East states of Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe, Taraba and Borno. By 11.30 a.m, contingents from the six states had gathered at the Gombe Township Stadium, venue of the event. Despite the dignitaries which comprised governors and their deputies, ministers, members of the National Assemblies, state government officials the event also attracted a surging crowd.
The dignitaries included the host governor, His Excellency Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed, the Acting Governor of Adamawa State, Alhaji. Armed Umaru Fintri, the Acting Governor of Taraba State, Garba Umar, the Deputy Governor of Bauchi State who represented the governor.
Despite the fact that TAN changed the strategic programming of the rally to a prayer and peace rally to coincide with the World Peace Day coming up on Monday September 22, using the occasion to pray for peace in the zone and Nigeria, the North East people demonstrated their love for President Goodluck Jonathan by presenting 1.19million signatures urging him to run for the 2015 presidential election. Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, was on hand to receive the registers of signatures.
Speaker after speaker, dignitaries at the event spoke about President Jonathan’s achievements in the zone including the Mambilla Hydro Dam, the dredging of the River Benue, the resuscitation of the railway in the North East and appointment of the sons and daughters to sensitive positions in government. They urged the zone to support President Jonathan because if Allah had not enthroned him, he would not have emerged Nigeria’s President.
Most of the speakers also stressed the need to strengthen and continue the political partnership between the North East and the South South dating back to the time of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, first Prime Minister of Nigeria. The event was a huge success. Tribune
