Mr Ibrahim Amodu is the President, PDP North West Youth Vanguard. In this interview with Lola Idahosa, he spoke extensively about the chances of Jonathan in 2015, the success of the PDP primaries at the presidential level as well as the projects of Governor Yero in Kaduna. Excerpts:
How would you compare the level of work done by President Goodluck Jonathan with the records of APC aspirant former Head of State General Muhamadu Buhari?
Permit me to use this opportunity to glorify the Almighty Allah for giving us the strength to hold the PDP primaries successfully making that day an unforgettable day. If you are going to compare Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari there are a lot of differences in terms of human development and infrastructural development that make Nigeria one, that make Nigeria great and united in all ramifications. In the power sector ,you can see the tremendous changes, in agriculture you can also see there are changes and development compared to Muhammadu Buhari who spent only one year and some months in office whereas President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has spent six years in office already .So this is incomparable….
After the primaries of the All Progressive Congress, Buhari who emerged the flag bearer promised to stamp out corruption and make public the income generated by NNPC, these are some issues President Jonathan is still battling with. What is your take on this?
Well the issue of corruption has highly diminished from 85% to 35% .this is because Jonathan has fought corruption to a certain level.It is during the administration of Goodluck Jonathan that oil sector has improved. If Nigerians will be honest Mr. President has really fought corruption. The issue of NNPC is also well pronounced and publicized through the able leadership of Mrs Diezani Alison Madukwe the Petroleum Minister. It is well known in the internet and other media. So the issue of General Buhari coming to tell Nigerians where NNPC money is, is nothing to write home about.
What is your take on the choice of Namadi as Jonathan’s running mate?
Permit me to use this medium to salute the qualities and qualifications of Mr. President for picking Sambo because I know Sambo for over fifteen years, and I can tell you people take advantage of lambasting him because he does not like engaging in empty discussions with politicians. But I can tell you he is a silent achiever, he was a commissioner in this state and later became a governor in Kaduna State. Permit me to use this medium to tell you that we are in PDP because of Sambo. He is a democrat, he is a man who has a strong feeling for Nigerians most especially the Northern people. Under Sambo’s leadership with Jonathan Nigerians have witnessed tremendous transformation. The combination is a unique one and well-articulated because having a doctor as a President and an erchitect as a vice president is what Nigerians need and with this ,you can see a greater level of commitment.
Honorable, I hope you are aware that Sambo lost the presidential elections in his state in 2011 General elections?
Sambo did not lose the election in Kaduna. The percentage needed in Kaduna was 25 percentage which Sambo delivered.. The issue of Sambo losing Kaduna is a political blackmail not putting into consideration the amount of voters that other parties had. The most important thing is that twenty five percent was needed and he provided it. Permit me to hail the Organizing secretary Alhaji Abubakar Mustapher, permit me to give kudos to the primaries that were held in Nigeria because Alhaji Abubakar Mustapher has demonstrated a strong level of commitment and hard work and we the youth of North West zone are saying thank you. We know he is a man of his words, so we are not surprised
How do you weigh the chances of the PDP under the leadership of His Excellency Alhaji Dr. Mukhtar Ramalan Yero in 2015?
Kaduna state has been under the leadership of the PDP since 1999. I think with the achievements recorded under the Governor Alhaji Dr. Mukhtar Ramalan Yero it will pave way for the people of Kaduna state to vote him into power because in two years of his stay in office he has done so much to touch the lives of the citizens of Kaduna State especially in Security challenges. Kaduna State has spent over 800million for overseas scholarships to the people of Kaduna State. Yero has made available grants for distribution to the less privileged in the State. Yero has massively provided jobs for the youths through the ministry of Poverty Alleviation, he has ensured that agricultural sector in Kaduna State thrived. He also shared 163 million to religious groups to ensure true religion devoid of crisis and has also used SURE-P to empower the people of Kaduna State. He has also decided to empower the youths also as evidenced in his government, because most of his commissioners are youths and he is also a youth.
