Former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, and the Minister of State for Finance, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda, yesterday held an interactive meeting over dinner in Dubai with Nigerians resident in the Emirate.

Speaking at the event, Amb. Yuguda, who happened to be the first Nigerian Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, said the visit was to share with Nigerians in UAE the good things happening in Nigeria and to take questions on all aspects of development at home.

Yuguda described President Goodluck Jonathan as one Nigerian leader who is genuinely committed to the development of the country. He said that under his government, Nigeria has been witnessing tremendous development in all sectors: Aviation, commerce, road construction, power, diversification of the economy, improvement on agriculture. Yuguda said that in the next three years, Nigeria would stop the importation of rice.

Answering questions from Nigerians, Obi, who is the Deputy Director General of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Campaign Council, explained what President Jonathan is doing to make Nigeria a better place. Obi said that considering the strategic importance of the South-South in the country, Nigerians should see the wisdom of supporting the region to govern for the next four years. He noted that four years is nothing in the life of a country.

Assuring Nigerians of Jonathan’s abiding goodwill, Obi said that the President has done a lot in all areas. His words: “On corruption, Jonathan is doing a lot to control it through institutional means. An example is the institutionalisation of the method of getting fertilizer to the people and that reduced by over 97% the corruption in that sector. In the area of aviation, a lot has been done; besides remodeling of 22 old airports, Jonathan is building five new international terminals in five airports simultaneously. In the area of power, with the unbundling of PHCN, the revolution that we witnessed in telecom will soon been witnessed in the power sector. In education, Jonathan had recorded more progress with the building of 14 new universities in the country.”

Calling on Nigerians to support and vote for Jonathan during the March 28 presidential election, Obi said the alternative is not better in any way. He said among those contesting that it is only Jonathan that has the advantage of age, virtue of humility and patience, and the national quality of seeing the entire country as one and working becoming lay towards a better Nigeria.

•Photo shows Peter Obi (right) and Amb. Bashir Yuguda during the dinner with Nigerians in Dubai.

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