TheCable

More than 17 million Nigerians have endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan for a second term in office, signatures collected by the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), a non-governmental organisation, have shown.

Anyim Pius Anyim, the secretary to the government of the federation, disclosed this at the final rally of TAN in Abuja on Saturday.

He said the signatures endorsing the president for a reelection in 2015 were collected from Nigerians across the country.

Responding to the gesture, the president who was represented by his deputy, Namadi Sambo, promised to respond to the call of Nigerians soon.

“This initiative is in line with the tenets of democracy worldwide. It is another testimony that our democracy has taken firm root. TAN has not only succeeded in sensitising the Nigerians, but also has been able to collect over 17 million signatures urging the president to contest for the 2015 presidential election,” he said.

“The signatures so far collected have not only confirmed the popularity of the president, but have also demonstrated his acceptability across the country and beyond.

“Let me assure you that the signatures so far collected would be presented to the president and I assure you it will receive adequate response in no distant future.”

Speaking at the event, Godswill Akpabio, the governor of Akwa Ibom state, declared that Jonathan had risen above the storm in spite of all distractions.

He argued that the president deserved a second term in office because he had performed well despite antics by detractors to pull him down.