President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday evening promised to eradicate corruption in the nation’s oil sector in the next four years if re-elected during the Saturday’s Presidential election.
Jonathan made the promise in Lagos at a youth event tagged “An unimaginable feat in sports” meant to showcase his administration’s achievements in the sports sector.
The event which ended in the early hours of Monday attracted sports men and women, young professionals as well as beneficiaries of the Federal Government’s scholarship schemes among others.
While answering question from one of the participants during an interactive session of the event, the President promised to end the stigmatisation of Nigerians in the international community because of corruption.
He said his administration had succeeded in using technology to tackle corruption in many areas such as fertilizer distribution, procurement and salary payment among others and will do the same in the oil industry.
He said, “We are going into oil sector. People talk about the oil industry because that is an industry with a lot of people and a lot of money is involved.
“But I promise you that in the next four years, we will sanitise the oil sector.”
Jonathan regretted that the issue of corruption is being over-celebrated in a manner that makes it look as if the whole of the country is corrupt.
He said all Nigerians must work together to ensure that the stigmatisation of Nigerians is cleared.
The President also promise to work with the young people because of his conviction that parents who do not encourage young ones are preparing their families for extinction.
Specifically, he promised that he will give more youths under the age of 40 years more opportunities to serve as ministers and heads of government parastatals.
He said, “Before he left to go and participate in election as deputy governorship candidate in Jigawa State, Nurudeen (former Minister of State, Foreign Affairs) was a minister and he is below 40.
“Last week, we swore in the youngest female minister. She is also about 40 years old.
“Apart from cabinet positions for under 40s, we are also appointing young people as heads of parastatals.
“We want to continue to encourage those in youth-dominated sectors such as business, sports and entertainment industries too.
“I can assure you that we shall not go below what we are currently doing. I know you want more, vote for us and you will get it.”
Answering a question on poverty rate in the country, Jonathan puts it at 33.1 percent as against the over 60 percent that he said some people were brandishing.
He however added that the issue is not about the percentage but about the desire of his government to impact more on the lives of the people.
On the health sector, Jonathan highlighted the feats being achieved by some tertiary health institutions in the country in the areas of kidney transplant and heart surgeries.
He also mentioned the successes recorded in the fight against the Ebola Virus Disease, guinea worm as well as polio.
He promised to do more for the sector if re-elected.
Jonathan also reiterated his promise to institute special funds to assist sports men and women if re-elected.
Overall, he said better days were ahead for the country under his leadership.
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