Jonathan: We Must Create Jobs or Risk Revolution

Goodluck Jonathan,
The Nigerian President

Jonathan: We Must Create Jobs or Risk Revolution

The Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday admonished public office holders to bring smiles to the faces of Nigerians or risk what he called possible youth revolt in the country.

He said: “In the coming years, youths will revolt against any president or state government if we do not come up with policies that will create jobs.”

Jonathan gave the admonition in Lokoja, Kogi State in northern Nigeria at the grand finale of the rally organised by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the governorship election taking place in the state on Saturday.

Challenge

The president challenged public office holders at all levels of government to ensure that policies that would multiply jobs for the youths were implemented.
He said: “There are a number of things that must be done to make our economy multiply.” 

He also said that paramount among such things, “is to create jobs for the teeming youths”, failure of which he said, the youths could embark on revolution against governments at all levels.

He added that his government at the federal level was hoping to work with those he had appointed to facilitate the transformation agenda, especially provision of jobs for youths, even at the state level, saying: "We do not want selfish leaders".

Hope in PDP

The president, however, expressed optimism that the governorship candidate of the PDP, Mr. Idris Wada, and his running mate, Mr. Yomi Awoniyi, would translate the Nigerian Government's development programmes in the state.

He noted that Awoniyi was one of the 16 persons engaged by his government to highlight the needs of the states and as such, would be able to narrow such down to Kogi State to ensure rapid development.

Assurance on steel industry

In a parley with Kogi State government officials, Jonathan vowed to resuscitate the Ajaokuta Steel industry as no viable economy could grow without a functional steel industry.

He said the place of steel in the realisation of the Vision 20:20 could not be over-emphasised, especially as the country plans to go into production of goods.

Jonathan said “Our dream of Vision 20:20 will be an illusion if we do not develop our steel sector. We are totally committed to the Ajaokuta Steel Project. It is not a project for Kogi alone. It is a project for all Nigerians, which just happens to be in Kogi.”

He assured them that he would explore every viable option to achieve the goal of rebuilding the economy, creating jobs and wealth as well as improving the living standards of the people.

NP/Adekusibe