ATD endorses Goodluck Jonathan ahead of 2011 poll

ATD endorses Goodluck Jonathan ahead of 2011 poll Ayodele Samuel,Lagos With few weeks ahead of the presidential election the Agenda for Transparent Democracy (ATD) has endorses the candidacy of President Goodluck Jonathan as the best option for Nigeria at this crucial moment in history. The group in a statement sign by its National Coordinator Babalola Medayedupin said “Following close monitoring of the electoral process so far, ATD unequivocally submits that the merits in President Jonathan’s candidature far outweigh, by all standards, whatever arguments that may be proffered to the contrary.” ATD added that the 2011 Presidential election is unique and critical to democratic consolidation. “this is not just another periodic election but an opportunity for Nigerian to demonstrate love for our dear country by speaking out clearly, with our votes, in support of one, united, indivisible Nigeria. 2011 Presidential election is a golden opportunity to reassert our collective desire to move the country ahead over and above primordial differences, political revisionism and divisive ambitions.” Medayedupin said ATD as a group firmly believes that the choice of leadership is vital to the growth of democracy in any society. “ATD wishes to draw the attention of Nigerians to our peculiar democratic journey since the restoration of civil rule in 1999. It is important to again reassert that the track record of President Jonathan speaks volume of the experiences he has garnered in the last twelve years of our democratic experiment. For a man who has been Deputy Governor, Governor, Vice President and President, there is no doubt that President Jonathan clearly towers over and above his opponents in the April 2011 Presidential election.” The group said that President Jonathan has learnt “the rope; weather the storm of power; and mastered the art of governance with so much trepidation and assiduity.” It would therefore be in the interest of Nigeria and indeed a great honour to our collective history as a people to vote massively for Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and return him as President on 29th May, 2011. The group said that President Jonathan has demonstrated through his team of campaigners, that he understands the chemistry of nation-building through effective mobilisation of citizens across ethnic, social, economic and political barriers to propagate a national agenda. “This key attribute of patriotic zeal manifests largely from the array of entertainment professionals, students/youth, leaders of thoughts, civil society actors, businessmen, labour, women, artisans and several others who have been rallied to propagate Goodluck Jonathan’s message of restoration and national rebirth.”