A pro-Jonathan rally organized by the Enugu State government ahead of the 2015 general elections on Thursday grounded all other activities in the state capital, as a mammoth crowd converged at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium to grace the event put together to mobilize support for the President Jonathan’s second term bid.
To ensure massive attendance, the State Government had declared a public holiday which shut down public schools, banks, markets and other business activities in the state.
Speaking at the rally anchored by the Enugu State Movement for the Re-election of the President (EMJ), President Goodluck Jonathan announced approval for the establishment of a Coal Power Plant that will generate 1,000 megawatts of electricity in Enugu.
The President who spoke through the Vice President, Arc. Namadi Sambo, said the plant would complement other electricity projects being executed by the Federal Government and private investors in the area and ensure that Enugu and the rest of the South-east region enjoyed improved electricity supply.
Addressing the crowd of supporters, Sambo said he was impressed with the level of transformation that Governor Sullivan Chime has brought to Enugu state in all sectors of the economy in the last seven years, adding that his efforts had helped to turn Enugu State into a choice destination for both public and private industrial and other ventures.
He commended the Governor for building a Heliport for the Nigerian Police, pointing out that “the heliport is indeed a magnificent milestone by the State government in the fight against crimes of all sorts.
“I commend the Governor of Enugu States for this laudable project which is the first by any state in the country. I urge other states in the federation to emulate the Enugu State Government by investing in such projects that assist the Nigerian Police in the security of lives and property of our people,” he said.
The Vice President thanked the people of Enugu State for their overwhelming support for his re-election as testified to by their massive turnout for the rally.
Also speaking at the event former Senate President and Grand patron of the (EMJ), Senator Ken Nnamani lauded the exemplary performance of Governor Chime adding that Enugu people wholeheartedly embraced the Governor’s support for President Jonathan.
He stressed that the massive turn out of people at the rally clearly demonstrated the peoples’ support for the President adding that any other effort in that regard by any other group in the State would be like “someone crying in the rain because the tears will not be seen”.
In his speech, Governor Sullivan Chime said the rally was a platform to showcase the total support of Enugu people for the re-election of the President urging him to forget about campaigning in Enugu State.
He recalled that no other Presidential candidate had the courage to campaign in Enugu in the 2011 elections adding that the situation would even be worse in 2015.
“If the President has a programme to campaign in 2015, please count Enugu State out of it, save your time for other states. Enugu is 100% Jonathan, Enugu State is 100% PDP. I can assure you that at the end of the votes in 2015, any vote that you find that have been given to another candidate must have been cast in error,” he said.
Other speakers at the event included Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, Minister of Power, Professor Nebo, Chief Arthur Eze, former Governors of old Anambra and Enugu States, Senator Jim Nwobodo and Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo and others whom spoke glowingly of President Jonathan’s achievements in the south east and of the desire of Enugu people to ensure that the President was re-elected.
