Patience Jonathan tells electorate to defend their votes

The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has appealed to Nigerians to guard against manipulations by opposition parties during forthcoming elections.

Jonathan made the appeal at the PDP Women Presidential Campaign in Enugu on Monday.

She said that guarding the votes would eliminate all forms of rigging and make the elections credible.

The first lady urged the electorate to vote massively for President Jonathan for the continuation of his transformation agenda.

“After voting on March 28, make sure you follow your votes till the end. Do not leave the arena until the counting ends. Vote wisely, you must vote according to your conscience.

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is a peaceful party. You cannot change what God has ordained.

“Jonathan’s government has encouraged exportation of food produce and eliminated corruption in the distribution of fertilizers.

“Nigeria is the largest in cassava production and PDP will make it to remain so. Jonathan has equipped our health care facilities and he has promised to do more,” she said.

Gov. Sullivan Chime of Enugu State promised that the state would score highest in the votes for President Jonathan.

Chime, represented by his deputy, Rev. Ralph Nwoye, said the party had delivered dividends of democracy to citizens of the state.

The Deputy President of Senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, commended the first lady for campaigning for the party in the states.

“We thank you for going round to campaign for the PDP as a whole and not only for the president,” he said.

The National Woman Leader of the PDP, Amb. Kema Chikwe, urged the women of the state to come out en masse and vote for President Goodluck Jonathan.

“Jonathan has given us and now is the time for us to give him back. He gave us the opportunity for our voices to be heard,” she said.

Others who spoke at the rally included the gubernatorial candidate in the state, Mr Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and his Deputy, Mrs Cecilia Ezeilo, the Minister of Power, Prof Chinedu Nebo and the Special Adviser to President Jonathan on NEPAD, Amb Fidelia Njeze.

NAN reports that the event was attended by National Assembly members from the state, executive council members, and women groups from the state.