….Vows to empower youth against violence
BY DANIEL IDONOR
President Goodluck Jonathan Sunday declared that with his victory, Nigeria is now on the march towards greatness and urged stakeholders to join the government to rebuild Nigeria, saying that Nigeria shall be great again.
Despite the ugly violence in the aftermath of the presidential election, the President admonished the citizenry to put behind them the incident and corporate with his government in other to make the next four years the best moment in Nigeria’s socio-economic and political regeneration.
Speaking at a historic reception ceremony in his honour by Otuoke community, on his victory at the presidential poll, at the Dame Patience Jonathan Square, Otuoke, Bayelsa state, President Jonathan said “ordinarily today should have been a day that people should have danced and danced but for the tragic incidents that took place after the elections”.
The president said “this is the time to build and rebuild, time to support, we must join hands to build this country so that we will be respected in the country and outside this country”.
While observing a minute of silence for those who lost their lives during the violence, especially members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, the president said the government will do all within its powers to ensure that youths are no longer used as canon folders during violence.
He however expressed satisfaction in the election so far conducted and noted that despite the protest “we are indeed happy for the outcome of the election. Nigerians and the international community are happy over the outcome of the election”.
While expressing thanks to all Nigerians, especially his kinsmen for the show of love and support before and after the presidential election, the president assured that “we will work so hard that this type of protests won’t happen again. We will work hard to change the trend so that youths won’t be used as cannon folders for future violence”.
In an earlier remarks, Timipre Sylva, governor of Bayelsa State, said though the people were mindful of the loss of lives as a result of the post election violence in some parts of the country, “we will like to thank all Nigerians for the overwhelming support and show of solidarity during and after the election”.
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