Jonathan performing despite sectarian violence –PDP

President Goodluck Jonathan

The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party has said that President Goodluck Jonathan is still performing despite the sectarian violence in some sections of the country.

The party said that after taking stock of the achievements so far recorded by the Jonathan-led administration, it was proud of the performance of the President in the past two years and 10 months he had been at the helm of affairs.

The PDP said it was particularly impressed with the President for embarking on what it described as landmark projects, which  it said had impacted positively on  the economy and social life in Nigeria in “spite of the sectarian violence that threatens to destabilise the nation and shut down the economy.”

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, in a statement on Tuesday, said the party was happy with Jonathan for “his determination and commitment towards the commencement of work on the Second Niger Bridge, which, when completed, will boost commercial and social activities while broadening the horizon for business partnerships to promote massive job and wealth creation in the country.

He said the decision by the President to construct the Second Niger Bridge during his tenure and his resolve to ensure its completion in record time  showed Jonathan’s commitment to the unity of the nation, knowing that the bridge was  the major link between the South-East and other parts of the country.

This, he said, was in addition to the upgrading of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu.

Metuh said, “The Lagos- Ibadan, Benin-Ore-Shagamu, Lokoja-Benin-Auchi, Abuja-Abaji-Lokoja roads, repair of the Lagos Third Mainland Bridge and a host of other road projects as well as the rehabilitation and reconstruction of major inter-state roads across the country are all testimonies to this.

“This is in addition to the resuscitation of the inland waterways and the railway system which have been abandoned for years.

“Rail trucks now run across the West between Lagos, Abeokuta, Ibadan and Ilorin among other cities.

“The dredging of the River Escavos and the Niger from Warri to Baro in Niger State and the inland city ports in Onitsha have been completed.

“We are also highly impressed by the landmark projects in the housing sector, especially the establishment of the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company, a first of its kind in the country, which is tailored to deliver 75,000 houses every year for Nigerians in addition to 300,000 direct and close to half a million indirect jobs incidental to the projects.”