Wednesday, 23 May 2012
Inauguration Address By Goodluck Jonathan
Inauguration Address by , President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR
On the Occasion of His Swearing-in as President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria On Sunday, 29th May, 2011
PROTOCOL
1. My Dear Compatriots, I stand in humble gratitude to you, this day, having just sworn to the oath of office as President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of our great nation.
2. I thank you all, fellow citizens, for the trust and confidence, which you have demonstrated through the power of your vote. I want to assure you, that I will do my utmost at all times, to continue to deserve your trust.
3. I would like to specially acknowledge the presence in our midst today, of Brother Heads of State and Government, who have come to share this joyous moment with us. Your Excellencies, I thank you for your solidarity. I also wish to express my gratitude, to the Representatives of Heads of State and Government who are here with us. My appreciation also goes to the chairperson of the African Union and other world leaders, our development partners, and all our distinguished guests.
4. I want to specially thank all Nigerians for staying the course in our collective commitment to build a democratic nation. To members of the PDP family and members of other political parties, who have demonstrated faith in our democratic enterprise, I salute you.
5. At this juncture, let me acknowledge and salute my friend and brother, Vice-President Namadi Sambo; and my dear wife, Patience, who has been a strong pillar of support.
6. I thank her for galvanizing and mobilizing Nigerian women for the cause of democracy. In the same vein, I owe a debt of gratitude to my mother and late father. I cannot thank them enough.
7. I cannot but pay tribute to our late President, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, with whom we won the Presidential election four years ago, when I contested as his running mate. May God bless his soul.
8. I also wish to pay tribute to our founding fathers, whose enduring sacrifices and abiding faith in the unity and greatness of our country, laid the foundation for the nation. We take enormous pride in their contributions. The pivotal task of this generation, is to lift our fatherland to the summit of greatness.
9. Your Excellencies, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, earlier this year, over seventy-three million eligible Nigerians endured all manner of inconvenience just to secure their voters cards, in order to exercise the right to choose those that will govern them.
10. At the polls, we saw the most dramatic expressions of the hunger for democracy. Stories of courage and patriotism were repeated in many ways, including how fellow citizens helped physically challenged voters into polling stations to enable them exercise their franchise. The inspiring story of the one hundred and three year-old man, and many like him across the country, who struggled against the physical limitations of age to cast their vote, is noteworthy.
11. Such determination derives from the typical Nigerian spirit of resilience in the face of the greatest of odds. That spirit has, over the years, stirred our hopes, doused our fears, and encouraged us to gather ourselves to build a strong nation even when others doubted our capacity.
12. Today, our unity is firm, and our purpose is strong. Our determination unshakable. Together, we will unite our nation and improve the living standards of all our peoples whether in the North or in the South; in the East or in the West. Our decade of development has begun. The march is on. The day of transformation begins today. We will not allow anyone exploit differences in creed or tongue, to set us one against another. Let me at this point congratulate the elected Governors, Senators, members of the House of Representatives and those of the States Houses of Assembly for their victories at the polls.
13. I am mindful that I represent the shared aspiration of all our people to forge a united Nigeria: a land of justice, opportunity and plenty. Confident that a people that are truly committed to a noble ideal, cannot be denied the realization of their vision, I assure you that this dream of Nigeria, that is so deeply felt by millions, will indeed come to reality.
14. A decade ago, it would have been a mere daydream to think that a citizen from a minority ethnic group could galvanize national support, on an unprecedented scale, to discard ancient prejudices, and win the people’s mandate as President of our beloved country. That result emanated from the toil and sacrifice of innumerable individuals and institutions, many of whom may never get to receive public appreciation for their effort.
15. Only a couple of days ago, I received an entry on my Facebook page. It was sent by Mr. Babajide Orevba. He wrote to inform me that I had lost
a great fan. That fan was his father, Mr. Emmanuel Bamidele Orevba. The deceased, the son told me, was no politician, but had campaigned enthusiastically for my ticket. Tragically, overwhelmed by the joy of our victory, he collapsed, and passed on three days later. I pray God Almighty to grant his soul eternal rest.
16. The success of the 2011 elections and the widespread acclaim which the exercise received was due to the uncommon patriotism and diligence exhibited by many Nigerians, including members of the Armed Forces, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and others. Unfortunately, despite the free, fair and transparent manner the elections were conducted, a senseless wave of violence in some parts of the country led to the death of ten members of the NYSC and others. These brave men and women paid the supreme sacrifice in the service of our fatherland. They are heroes of our democracy. We offer our heartfelt prayers and condolences in respect of all those who lost their lives.
17. In the days ahead, those of us that you have elected to serve must show that we are men and women with the patriotism and passion, to match the hopes and aspirations of you, the great people of this country. We must demonstrate the leadership, statesmanship, vision, capacity, and sacrifice, to transform our nation. We must strengthen common grounds, develop new areas of understanding and collaboration, and seek fresh ideas, that will enrich our national consensus.
18. It is the supreme task of this generation to give
hope to the hopeless, strength to the weak and protection to the defenceless.
19. Fellow citizens, the leadership we have pledged is decidedly transformative. The transformation will be achieved in all the critical sectors,
by harnessing the creative energies of our people.
20. We must grow the economy, create jobs, and generate enduring happiness for our people. I have great confidence in the ability of Nigerians to transform this country. The urgent task of my administration is to provide a suitable environment, for productive activities to flourish. I therefore call on the good people of Nigeria, to enlist as agents of this great transformation.
21. My dear countrymen and women, being a Nigerian is a blessing. It is also a great responsibility. We must make a vow that, together, we will make the Nigerian Enterprise thrive.
22. The leadership and the followership must strive to convert our vast human and natural resources into the force that leads to a greater Nigeria. The Nigeria of our dreams must be built on hard work and not on short cuts. Let me salute the Nigerian workers who build our communities, cities and country. They deserve fair rewards, and so do the women that raise our children, and the rural dwellers that grow our food.
23. The moment is right. The signs are heart-warming. We are ready to take off on the path of sustained growth and economic development. In our economic strategy, there will be appropriate policy support to the real sector of the economy, so that Small and Medium Enterprises may thrive. Nigeria is blessed with enormous natural wealth, and my Administration will continue to encourage locally owned enterprises to take advantage of our resources in growing the domestic economy. A robust private sector is vital to providing jobs for our rapidly expanding population. But this must be a collaborative effort.
24. We must form technical and financial partnerships with global businesses and organizations. We live in an age where no country can survive on its own; countries depend on each other for economic well-being. Nigeria is no different. Returns on investment in Nigeria remain among the highest in the world. We will continue to welcome sustainable investment in our economy.
25. We will push programs and policies that will benefit both local and foreign businesses, but we must emphasize mutual benefits and win-win relationships. The overall ongoing reforms in the banking and financial sectors are therefore designed to support the real sector of the economy.
26. To drive our overall economic vision, the power sector reform is at the heart of our industrialization strategy. I call on all stakeholders, to cooperate with my administration, to ensure the success of the reforms.
27. Over the next four years, attention will be focused on rebuilding our infrastructure. We will create greater access to quality education and improved health care delivery. We will pay special attention to the agricultural sector, to enable it play its role of ensuring food security and massive job creation for our people.
28. The creation of the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority will immensely contribute to strengthening our fiscal framework, by institutionalizing savings of our commodity-related revenues. With this mechanism in place, we will avoid the boom and bust cycles, and mitigate our exposure to oil price volatility.
29. The lesson we have learnt is that the resolution of
the Niger Delta issue is crucial for the health of the nation’s economy. In the interest of justice, equity and national unity, we shall actively promote
the development of the region. I believe that peace is a necessary condition for development.
30. Fellow citizens, in every decision, I shall always place the common good before all else. The bane of corruption shall be met by the overwhelming force of our collective determination, to rid our nation of this scourge. The fight against corruption is a war in which we must all enlist, so that the limited resources of this nation will be used for the growth of our common wealth.
31. I am confident that we have every reason to look to the future with hope. We owe ourselves and posterity the duty of making this country respectable in the comity of nations. Nigeria, as a responsible member of the international community, will remain committed to the maintenance of global peace and security. We will
continue to play an active role in the United Nations. Our role in the African Union, ECOWAS, and the Gulf of Guinea will be enhanced to ensure greater human and energy security.
32. Your Excellencies, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, this is a new dawn for Africa. We fought for decolonization. We will now fight for democratization.
Nigeria, in partnership with the African Union, will lead the process for democracy and development in Africa. In particular, we will support the consolidation of democracy, good governance and human rights in
the continent. Africa must develop its vast resources to tackle poverty and under-development.
33. Conscious of the negative effect of insecurity on growth and development, my Administration will seek collaboration at bilateral and multilateral levels, to improve our capability in combating trans-border crimes. In this regard, we will intensify our advocacy against the illicit trades in small arms and light weapons, which have become the catalyst for conflicts on the African continent. All Nigerian diplomatic missions abroad are to accord this vision of defending the dignity of humanity the highest priority.
34. My fellow countrymen and women, Nigeria is not just a land of promise; it shall be a nation where positive change will continue to take place, for the good of our people. The time for lamentation is over. This is the era of transformation. This is the time for action. But Nigeria can only be transformed if we all play our parts with commitment and sincerity. Cynicism and skepticism will not help our journey to greatness. Let us all believe in a new Nigeria. Let us work together to build a great country that we will all be proud of. This, is our hour.
35. Fellow Compatriots, lift your gaze towards the horizon. Look ahead, and you will see a great future, that we can secure with unity, hard work and collective sacrifice.
36. Join me now as we begin the journey of transforming Nigeria.
• I will continue to fight, for your future, because I am one of you.
• I will continue to fight, for improved medical care for all our citizens.
• I will continue to fight for all citizens to have access to first class education.
• I will continue to fight for electricity to be available to all our citizens.
• I will continue to fight for an efficient and affordable public transport system for all our people.
• I will continue to fight for jobs to be created through productive partnerships.
37. You have trusted me with your mandate, and I will never, never let you down.
38. I know your pain, because I have been there. Look beyond the hardship you have endured. See a new beginning; a new direction; a new spirit.
39. Nigerians, I want you to start to dream again. What you see in your dreams, we can achieve together. I call upon all the Presidential candidates who contested with me to join hands with us as we begin the transformation of our country.
40. Let us work together; let us build together; let us bequeath a greater Nigeria to the generations to come.
41. I thank you! God bless you all! And God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Good speech there. But how
Good speech there. But how many have you achieved from all your promises you made during the innuguration. Have you taken any step to start one at all? Nigerian are watching and are expecting what you will do for the masses that voted you in to power.I expected you to be visiting this your speech everyday and look on how to achieve them one by one .This shuld even guide you instead of appointing numerous adviser that are advising you on term elongation.
Congratulation
Mr.president,Goodluck Ebele A Jonathan,we Nigerians
in Moscow Russia are very very impressed by your speeches promises to the great nation Nigeria and we
re so much believed in your Government to make a serious change to the face of the Country and the world,we need fast action and changes,May God be with you.(Mr.President.Goodluck)Okwu..Russia
A very nice speech but.......................
Your highness!Mr.President.
I can't doupt that your administration will not be good but I formarly want to call your attention to the fact that on the 8th June,2011. police arrested almost two (2) thounsand people here in Abuja and I was one among.they took us to SARS, we were there till the next day without food. that is on the 9th,they took us to Court where the Judge said we are guilty according to section 35 of 1997 constitution.by staying in an uncompleted building.therefore, we must pay the fined of two thousand naira or we will go two weeks in prison.
Mr.President, if I may figure out, you did not sleep and wake up to be our President.you start building from the foundation.that is to say, you start from the lowest to the highest.
Mr. President, Sir, the word is enough for the wise.
A very nice speech but.......................
Your highness!Mr.President.
I can't doupt that your administration will not be good but I formarly want to call your attention to the fact that on the 8th June,2011. police arrested almost two (2) thounsand people here in Abuja and I was one among.they took us to SARS, we were there till the next day without food. that is on the 9th,they took us to Court where the Judge said we are guilty according to section 35 of 1997 constitution.by staying in an uncompleted building.therefore, we must pay the fined of two thousand naira or we will go two weeks in prison.
Mr.President, if I may figure out, you did not sleep and wake up to be our President.you start building from the foundation.that is to say, you start from the lowest to the highest.
Mr. President, Sir, the word is enough for the wise.
congrats
Pls pple,let's jus be happy n hop GEJ provid all he has promised.
congrats
Pls pple,let's jus be happy n hop GEJ provid all he has promised.
sweet speech
it will be sweeter only if you impliment all u ve mentioned.we ve heard this over and over again but at the end of the day,they decided to enrich their bank accounts and never carried out a single project.the most important is to creat job to all levels of education most especially young graduates who are roaming about the steets in Nigeria.i know the president will perform cos Nigerians gave him their mandates.
One Nigeria.
We will succeed together as a true nation.
Re:GEJ' Innagural Address
Let Nigerians continually pray to God to lead GEJ so that he can do the bidden of God to move Nigeria forward. There is power in the tongue, let us speak well of our country and pray that our leaders do well.
Criticism is good but always remember skills and qualifications of any man is not enough to get nation of men to promise land; it takes absolute divine wisdom to manage complexities that characterized governance.
Let us analyze critically but don't be critical about Nigerian situation. All shall be well in
Jesus' name.Amen.
GEJ should not "nigerian-politicalize" his 4yrs term but should step on toes and also buldoze any thing on the way to make Nigeria great.
MASSOB members killed for attending a rally
MASSOB members on their way to a rally in Owerri, who were unarmed and just attending a rally to mark the 44th anniversary of the declaration of Biafra on 27th May were killed by a trespassing jihadist murderer police officer who should not be posted to Biafraland since no Biafran origin officers are posted in the north. No one has arrested or charged him for this mass murder.
When evil police men are prosecuted for murdering innocent civillians on the streets and when such murders stop happening then you can tell me about dreams to create a civillized society. When you can run a factory without spending millions on a generator while still paying your electric bills, all is useless talk. Till then, all we hear is useless talk.
Not Interested
I am not interested because its full of lies. OBJ, Yaradua etc said almost the same thing, what do they do. If GEJ cannot turn the furtune of the state he govern around, Nigeria as a whole is too big for him. wait till four years time.
Sad,the way some Nigerians reason.
It's a pity that @ this stage,some Nigerians still think & talk of seperation of our great nation.I wish to advice here that such who belong to this pathetic school of thought should wake up from their slumber & let's all build our great country together.God Almighty who has kept us as one to this very point is faithful & will keep us united come what may.GOD bless each & every Nigerian,GOD bless the Federal Republic Of Nigeria!
ECONOMY
Make good and enabling laws to grow and expand the economy. Fight corruption and all its ramification and above listen to and work with Lamidi Sanusi the governor of the Cental Bank of Nigeria and people like him. Make good laws that will encourge international and local companies to build refinneries in Nigeria, so that all products exported from Nigeria will be finished petroleum products, instead of exporting crude oil and gas. This singular acts will make Nigeria maximise all the crude lifted from Nigeria. It will create wealth for nigeria and Nigerians and creat a lot of good paying jobs, for our teaming able bodied unemployed people.
Rejoinder @ Umu Ariri - - - from Umu Oke, -Germany
My brother Umu Ariri, you seem to forget, we're two brothers in the same deep hole, dug many years ago by spade works of IBB and GEJ.At that time, both men were evils that did evil thing against Ndiigbo. Today, the scales are falling, their eyes are opening and they are awake to common sense realities. But while one is still asleep, pretending dreaming of "One Nigeria " like a Yakubu Gowon did fourty yrs ago, the other is pointing fingers a truely better perspective that ansers the cries of the people. IBB is therefore pointing the way to SNC, to a Confederation and to a Separation, if SNC fails to fix fiscal federation or a confederal state. I am glad IBB has come to his senses. Please, I need facts not insults. Tnx. Umu Oke,-Germany
I believe Nigeria will be great
Dear President Goodluck Jonathan
I congratulate you on your victory as the leader of our country. I feel inspired by your speech especially your recognition of the plight of the average Nigerian youth. I strongly support you with my prayers and believe strongly that if you co-operate with God He will use you to transform our country.
IBB IS DEVIL
Iam sad that Umu Oke is making reference to IBB the devil in nigerial my brother u are trully a son of the RAT---UMU OKE. IAM NOT SURPRISE.
Our Ancestor's burial-ground in Ijaw / Ogoni............
Ogoni is my fatherland, my Ancestors were burried there. My mother died of poisonous pollutant in 1999, my father was shot dead by JTF soldiers in 1997. My wife is an Ijaw, her parents are of Ijaw stock with a rented house in Port Harcourt but none in Ijaw. The creeks where Ancestors were laid to rest, 've been confiscated and shared by occupation troops. My wife's ancestral home is given to a General as part of compensation to keep Nigeria one. Our fatherlands became Oil-Blocks, shared to victors, as booty. We're Conquered Indegenes with no Rights over our fatherlands and its resources ! We are a property of the Victors. Wars are relative, but does relativity theory apply in all things like wars ? Germans, lost 1st and 2nd world wars but retained their Human Rights to control and manage resources of their fatherland, rivers and sea. Why ? It wasn't a Jihad.
Umu Oke,-Germany.
PRIORITIES
I salute the President on his speech of courage. I will like the him to concentrate more on three major areas which if achieved during his tenure, other economic activities will key into: 1) Security - let there be maximum security of lives and property nationwide where citizens can go about their daily business activities without molestation from any quarters, 2) Power Generation - Immediate ban on generator importation. All importers should harness their resources to build IPPs nationwide. 3) Corruption eradication - This should be fought from all angles and reduced to bearest minimum.
Umaru yar'adua + Goodluck jonathan = 7points agenda
Mr Goodluck jonathan you took over from late umar yar'adua, some of the works that late umaru yar'adua put on progress you stop it, you have not done any thing, we still up to today go to market no change, you don't know how much is bang of rice/fertilizer/cement in the market, becareful with this your written speeches.
After elections,killings, kidnappings, bombings, assassination..
Is President GEJ correct to tell the world in his inurgural speech that the time of lamentation in Nigeria is over , when Kidnapping, extra-judicial killings, armed robbery, intimidation and assassination are still rampant, going on, in all parts of Nigeria. In Warshaw-Poland, recently,President B.Oboma said;" democracy is not necessarily conducting a free and fair election as some claim to have done, it means many things". Maybe he was refering to Nigeria whose leaders do not listen to public cries. Maybe not and definitly, not to Poland. But a good lession is embedded in that remark made after Nigerian elections are over. I have always said; Nigerian democracy is a mere sham because Nigeria lacks solid basis required for democracy to germinate flourish and grow. Ethnic groups are not united, religious groups are not united,political groups are at war with each other.With due respect for GEJ, his Nigeria practices Mafiacracy ,not democracy. Umu oke,-Germany.
The cry of the people is getting louder. .......
It is rediculous to say " Our unity is firm" when we are more disunited than ever before.It is sheer foolishness to say," the time of lamentation is over" when bombs are still exploding daily killing Chritians in beer shops,parlours and hotels at Kaduna, Bauchi, Zaria, FCT, Borno and Maiduguri.
In today's Daily Trust IBB reminded President GEJ and his government of incessant crying for a sovereign national conference to restructure the imbalance in Nigerian System, a Confideration or a separetion. This crying begun in 1966, and is louder nowadays with riots, violence, bombings and killingss - showing indomitable determination of Muslim groups to resist Christian leadership, yet, President GEJ is telling a tall tale from Aso Rock saying "our unity is firm".What a FoooooooL !
Umu Oke,-Germany
@UMU OKE. Are you really a
@UMU OKE. Are you really a Nigerian? cus if you don't like GEJ`s dreams just make it quick, chose a suicide mission cus you already have my approval.
lets give him a chance
I read with dismay d negative utterances of people i expected to be patriotic nigerians. Like few mentioned. GEJ has only been instaLled barely a day. I dnt think any man on earth is above the exingencies of flaws. Lets give him a chance. Whether he is a tomboy or errand boy. Time will tell. Gr8t nigerians! This is d era of sporadic democracy, lets welcome it
Your uncordinated english
Your uncordinated english shows you must be a very dumb student at school. The GEJ you have no respect for has a PHD not honourary degree, without politics he has plotted his life to be a great man. Develope yourself first and stop insulting people who you are not fit to buckle the sandals, stupid unpatrotic nobody
Swearing in speach of Mr president
As you have taken oath of allegience and addressed us with a lengthy speach i am hoping you try and see that you fulfill the promises you made in the speach and those you made duaring your campaings.
UMU OKE, ALWAYS CHECK UR FACTS
You are right to be angry with the lob-sided situation in Nigeria where some people from a particular section arrogate to themselves the right to rule perpetually. That, however, does not excuse your abysmal ignorance. Lt. Gen.Aziza(rtd) is not a Hausa-Fulani man. The last time I checked, he was still from the South-South(Niger Delta) Region. In any case, much as some of the Hausa-Fulani might be nauseating with their arrogant attitude, it is not every one of them who deserves your venom. Above all, always check ur facts for accuracy.Let's give the PRESIDENT time. He has only just been sworn into office and cannot perform wonders overnight.
Only a fool does not know President Jonathan is.......
Only a fool does not know, Jonathan is a Marionette President, a puppet, a Stooge and Hausa-Fulani Neo-colonial agent. He has read what his masters wrote. He has dreamt dreams they want him to dream. His aspirations mirrors dialectical materialism which makes Hausa-Fulanis cling to their dominance in one Nigeria and resist fiscal federalism or separation. Jonathan's dreams are not my dreams. He did not dream for the Middle-Belters on Jos Plateau, TVs have different dreams. They want freedom to rule themselves. People is East,West and South of Nigeria want land use decree revolked/abolished and fiscal federalism or separation. Ijaws and Ogonis dream of freedom to navigate their future ,control their resources, clean their pollutants and develop their land by themselves. Of all the Ijaws, only Jonathan is dreaming of one united Nigeria. Umu Oke - Germany.
President Jonathan is awake from dreaming..............
President Jonathan is awake from dreams, he has dreamt for every himself, not for ethnis groups, South os river Niger and Benue. Jonathan's dreams and asperations - forging and maintaing a united Nigeria, not through SNC but by using Police and Military Forces, cost it, what it may.These are Hausa - Fulani shared dreams and aspirations as represented by a core Northerner, rtd Lt. Gen. Andrew Owoye Azazi,-Jonathan's National Security Adviser. Fools do not know,Jonathan is a Puppet President, a Northen Stooge and an Agent of Hausa -Fulani Neo-Colonialism.See, his anceatral land and water had been confiscated as war booty and shared into oil blocks among the victors while he was asleep dreaming a deep, tall dreams which are unsymmetrical with dreams and aspoirations of Middle-Belt on Jos Plateau, Ijaws on the creeks, Igbos , Effiks, Ibibios, Anangs, Ogonis, Edos and Yorubas, who are daily yarning for freedom from Hausa-Fulani neo-colonialism and dominance.
Congratulations-Jonathan
With the fourth swearing-in of President in Nigeria.We are ripe for Democracy to have a foot-hold in our country.I extend heart-felt gratitude to all Nigerians for allowing good to triumph in our system.May I say God will guide our nation and our President to navigate to a noble height.
Nigerians youths and graduate are waiting for him to improve our lot by creating employment to stem the tide of restiveness.
Long Live Nigeria.
Long Live the President
Long Live Nigerian Youths.
about his comment
Hey guy you are a lier, a great lier, how can you said over 22million nigerians watch the inaguration of that useless president? Are you from Niger Delta area? Please stop that nonse.

