President Jonathan warns PDP demands loyalty to Agenda

President Goodluck Jonathan has called on members of his PDP to eliminate corruption to serve their constituencies better. He told delegates at the party convention in Abuja: “We must seize this opportunity and moment to stamp out corruption” for the sake of “millions of Nigerians who voted for us and who are short-changed each time” […]

President Goodluck Jonathan has called on members of his PDP to eliminate corruption to serve their constituencies better.

He told delegates at the party convention in Abuja: “We must seize this opportunity and moment to stamp out corruption” for the sake of “millions of Nigerians who voted for us and who are short-changed each time” contracts go awry.

His comments came in address read by Vice president Namadi Sambo after President Jonathan left Eagle Square.

The president had pressing engagement outside the country, Sambo explained before reading his speech.

In minutes the speech lasted, the presidency talked about security challenges and economic reforms, many of which have been controversial since the start of the year—and specifically as they fit into the Transformation Agenda of the Jonathan administration.

At least 10,000 security personnel were slated for deployment around the convention venue. Interior minister Abba Mora said later in the day the figure was 15,000.

“We have had challenges with threats to national security,” the government admitted.

“The war against terror is global and we are determined to guarantee the “sanctity of human life.”

In obvious reference to the petroleum reforms which saw the removal of subsidies this January that pushed pump price to N97, Sambo the decisions had not been easy but would soon show results.

“Very soon tangible results will begin to come in to make Nigerians appreciate some of the tough decisions we have had to make.”

He noted nearly half of some 4,000 applications received last year in the economic empowerment programme YouWin have been screened, and would help create as much as 10,000 through entrepreneurship.

Sambo added that international credit rating agencies continued to rate Nigeria favourably on account of its economic reforms.

He noted that what the nation expected from the PDP was “enhanced capacity for national transformation,” spelling out an obligation for PDP members.

“Party members, wherever they may be, must be seen to be supportive of our government and transformation agenda,” he observed.

In the same breath he demanded to see “a party that is a melting pot of ideas in between elections” instead of focussed on winning the polls of the moment.