Akwa Ibom Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, has re-echoed the call on President Goodluck Jonathan by the South-East Governors to contest the 2015 elections to enable him complete and commission the Second Niger Bridge.

Akpabio, who is also Chairman, PDP Governors Forum, was speaking at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Unity Rally in Enugu. He re-echoed the sentiments of the South/East Governors on the President to consider re-election in 2015, thanking the Governors for their collective contribution in making the unity rally a huge success.

According to him, “The PDP Governors whispered to my ears that the reason they want you to re-contest election in 2015 is because they want you to commission the second Niger Bridge that you are building for them. The first Azikiwe built the first Niger Bridge and another Azikiwe in Jonathan is building the Second Niger Bridge for the South East people.

“They said they don’t want another person to commission the bridge that you have started for them. That is why they are saying Mr. President even if this is a unity rally, a continuity rally and not a political rally, you must re-contest in 2015.

“The second observation, Mr. President, is that as we were coming, we saw the newly completed international airport here in Enugu, the coal city. The coal city is the headquarters of all the South East Region, and the development here in your administration is unprecedented- total transformation.

“The South East people are worried and are saying if you don’t accept their request to re-contest in 2015, who will commission all the massive projects going on in the region? Today in Enugu, Ethiopian Airlines are all fully booked until June. We tried to get a seat but couldn’t secure even one because it takes off right here from Enugu. You have opened the South East to the international community and everyone around the world is making the South East their destination.

“We are proud of you, Mr. President, for all these development projects, and we your foot-soldiers in the states, we assure you of our total support from the South East to other regions. The only state that is left in the South East, we are sure that by 2015 we will reclaim it.”

In his speech, President Jonathan said: “I want all Nigerians and in particular, the South East, to remember that my government is an all-inclusive one and this will always remain so. Nigerians want me to re-contest the 2015 presidential poll and here today you are also saying the same thing. Let me say that when the right time comes, I will declare whether to re-contest or not.

“Today, we are here for our unity rally and not a political rally. I am happy at the performance of all the PDP Governors across the country. I want to specifically thank the Chairman of the PDP Governors, Governor Godswill Akpabio, for all the successes recorded by our governors. His leadership quality is indeed great.”

The unity rally which was well attended by the party stakeholders, had in attendance, the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, the party National Chairman, Alhaji Ahmed Mu’azu, Senate President, Senator David Mark, Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and South East PDP Governors and party faithful.

•Photo shows Governor Godswill Akpabio (right), in another function, addressing PDP members in the state, after the Town Hall meetings, while the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Elder Samuel Ikon, and the leader, Uyo Federal Constituency, Obong Uwem Ita Etuk, listen.

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