Governance in Nigeria: President Goodluck Jonathan Speaks and I Quote!

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I thank those patriotic Nigerians and friends of Nigeria who participated in this event and projected to the International Community that Nigeria has had free, fair & credible elections. Now that some of the elections are over, I need to repeat what I said during the campaigns-There are only two types of people in Nigeria-good or bad-not Northerners or Southerners. Let us work towards bringing out the good in us.

- GEJ

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I thank Nigerians for coming out to vote. Of major importance however, is peace. Very little can be done in an atmosphere of strife. There is need to allow the rule of law operate unhindered, to stop pointing fingers at each other and point instead in the direction of progress. We need to begin with the end in mind and start from our family, then our community and make peace and then peace will make progress.

- GEJ.

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May Day Greetings to the Nigerian Worker

Dear Nigerian Worker,

We have made an investment into our future by voting in leaders at all levels over the past month. Now let us make a further investment in belief.  The team I will put together  will work for Nigeria, but for Nigeria to work at her optimal best there is need for everyone of us to believe in Nigeria and work as a team because irrespective of the outcome of last month's elections, my outlook has and shall continue to be that in a contest amongst brothers there will be no victor and no vanquished. We must all make a paradigm shift to a win/win mentality. When we do, we will of necessity change the conversation from-how will President Goodluck Jonathan change Nigeria-to-how will I the Nigerian worker (I specifically want you to insert you name here) change Nigeria?

I intend that every promise I made on the campaign trail must be actualised over the next four years and I ask that you and the government work as a team to achieve this.

Let no one be in doubt, there is work ahead of us. It is not going to be a party, rather it will be a case of rolling up our sleeves and getting to work so it is most auspicious that May Day is coming almost immediately after the elections to remind all those who have been elected of the task that awaits them.

Some of you may recall that in the conversations I have been having with you on this page over the last year, I did say that one of my desires for Nigeria is that the growth of our economy should be driven by the production of our people and this will only happen when we make a substantial investment in the Nigerian people by way of increasing access to and the quality of education, working with the Private Sector to improve on electricity generation and distribution and motivating our workers by ensuring that the New Minimum Wage as enshrined in the Minimum Wage Act is implemented throughout the length and breadth of Nigeria.

On this May Day 2011, I want to again assure Nigerian workers that having signed the Minimum Wage Act, I will not be slack to implement it at the Federal level and work synergistically with other tiers of government as well as the Private Sector to ensure that not only do we do right by our workers on the matter of wages, but we take every care within available resources to lift up their conditions of service and ensure that the dignity of labour is not just enhanced  in Nigeria but becomes a pride because therein lies the key to the growth of Nigeria's economy which key is (to paraphrase our National Anthem)-the labour of our workers present.

So today, I salute the Nigerian worker and organised labour and thank you for your part in making the just concluded elections a success and to let you know that you have a partner in progress in the administration that I lead.

God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

- GEJ
May Day Greetings to the Nigerian Worker | Facebook.

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The Nation Remembers a Leader That Served

A year ago, I lost a friend and brother, and although I suffered a great personal loss, it was nothing compared to that suffered by Nigeria. My late great leader, Umaru Musa Yar'adua died a year ago today and though he went too soon, he left an indelible record of service and modelled the expected behaviour of that type of statesman Africa needs to get from where she is to where she ought to be.

Today, I, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan,  pray for the repose of the soul of our late leader and again express Nigeria's appreciation to the family he left behind for the selfless leadership he provided this great nation. May God bless his soul and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

-GEJ
The Nation Remembers a Leader That Served | Facebook

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To all who participated in last month's elections, remember this-In a contest amongst brothers there are no winners or losers. My message therefore to the leaders who emerged is this-We are to lead all in our jurisdiction whether they voted for us or not, like lady justice, our eyes must be blindfolded when it comes to rendering services to the governed.

- GEJ

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I must commend the electorate in Imo state for their patience while complications arising from their gubernatorial elections were democratically put to rest. We have again seen the triumph of one man one vote, one woman one vote and one youth one vote. Henceforth, only the people may determine their leaders. I congratulate Owelle Rochas Okorocha and the people of Imo state who voted him in.

- GEJ

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Enhancing Our Oneness

The elections are over and as I said, everybody won so there is no need for despair. Yes, there is a need for celebration by all in Nigeria but this must come with a closing of the ranks.  And how do we close ranks? Well for one, do not think that you performed your sole democratic responsibility when you voted. No. That was only the first step in the process of democracy. We have to be conscious that democracy is not a zero sum game. Democracy means that the majority enthrones a leadership that must still work with the cooperation of that majority to take care of EVERYBODY's interest and move the country forward. In Nigeria under my leadership no voter shall be left behind irrespective of how he/she voted.

So, what do we do now? It is now up to us to willingly work together to enhance our oneness until there are none amongst us who do not see themselves as part of that one and the only way this can be achieved is by the practice of tolerance which inevitably means that we must not just preach 'no winner, no loser'  but must also practice what we preach and I give my word that that practice will begin with me and I urge all elected leaders and all those who voted during last month's election to also tow this line.

- GEJ
Enhancing Our Oneness | Facebook.

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The elections are over but I intend to build trust between the government and the governed by keeping commitments I made.  Recall that I had a refrain during the campaigns-Promise less, Deliver more. It remains a principle this administration intends to live by and the Vice President and I are acutely aware of the needs of Nigerians having visited ALL states during the campaigns.

Read more: http://www.theinfostride.com/forum/index.php?topic=14915.0

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During the campaigns, one of the things I noticed in my tours all over Nigeria is the income disparity amongst the geo-political zones. I am not comfortable with disparity and I am committed to use every means possible to change the situation.

Read more: Growing our GDP by Investing in Citizens - Goodluck Jonathan :: TheInfoStride.com

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(19th May, 2011) - Some of you may recall that on the 20th of April, 2010, the National Economic Council under my leadership approved the setting up of a National Sovereign Wealth Fund to secure Nigeria's future growth. It was further approved that $1 billion be set aside for the fund as seed money.

Read more: Sowing Into the Future, By President Goodluck Jonathan :: TheInfoStride.com.