Jonathan promises positive transformation

Jonathan promises positive transformation

President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday assured Nigerians that the transformative agenda of his new administration would bring “hope to the hopeless, strength to the weak and protection to the defenceless''.

The president stated this in his speech after taking the oath of office and oath of allegiance as president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Abuja.

The president said that his inauguration marked the beginning of a new dawn for Nigeria, stressing his commitment to improving the living standard of the people.

“Today our unity is firm and our purpose is strong; our determination is unshakeable; together we’ll unite our nation and improve the living standard of all our people, whether in the north or in the south in the east or in the west.

“Our decade of development has begun. The march is on. The day of transformation begins today; we will not allow anyone exploit differences in creed or tongue to set us one against another,’’ Jonathan said.

The president said that government would harness the creative energies of the people to grow the economy, create jobs and generate enduring happiness for the people.

Patriotism and power

President Jonathan expressed confidence in the ability of Nigerians to bring the necessary transformation and promised to provide a suitable environment for productive activities to flourish.

He called on Nigerians to enlist as agents of this great transformation and charged all elected political officers, particularly the state governors, to join the transformative train and forge a united Nigeria built on justice, opportunities and abundance.

The task ahead

He noted that government could not afford to fail Nigerians in the realisation of their vision of maintaining the lead in the comity of nations.

He said: “in the days ahead, those of us who are elected to serve must show that we are men and women of patriotism and passion.

The president said that the creation of the Nigeria Sovereign Wealth Investment Authority would contribute in no small measure to the nation’s fiscal responsibility.

He said the Authority would institutionalise savings of Nigeria's commodity related revenues and mitigate negative exposure to oil price volatility.

NAN/Williams