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Nasarawa State
joined other states in promising to support Goodluck Jonathan should he
decide to run for president in the 2011 elections after a 30-man
delegation led by the state’s governor, Aliyu Akwe Doma, and the
minister of state for information, Labaran Maku, visited the president
yesterday to convey the message.

“We wish to state
that should you decide to answer the clarion calls on you from
different parts of the country to contest the 2011 Presidential
Election, we, the people of Nasarawa State are resolved to give you our
total support and commitment,” Mr Doma, said.

The governor, who
spoke with journalists after meeting with the president, said the
decision was taken “because I am confident and believe in his capacity
to lead this country”.

Welcoming the
promise of support, Mr. Jonathan said he was greatly encouraged by the
delegation’s visit and its appreciation of his administration’s
achievements in the time it has had in office.

Mr. Jonathan said he will draw on the pledged support should he decide to contest next year.

Making votes count

During the visit,
the President reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that every vote
counts in next year’s general elections, saying he will not compromise
his commitment to credible elections.

“We will not shift
an inch away from it. Public office holders must truly enter office
with the mandate of the people. If votes do not count, then public
office holders cannot be compelled to do the right thing. Ensuring that
all votes count is therefore the best way of ensuring that our
democracy stabilizes and our people reap its positive dividends,” Mr
Jonathan told the delegation.

Plea for better roads

The Nasarawa
delegation requested that the dualisation of the Abuja -Keffi road be
extended to Akwanga and Lafia, and onward to Makurdi and Enugu.

To this Mr Jonathan
said it was his belief that all the arterial roads into Federal Capital
should be expressways to facilitate easy movement in and out of the
city.

“We must factor it
into our long-term national planning,” he said, adding that his
administration is committed to strengthening institutional structures
to enhance proper long-term planning and continuity in project delivery.

The delegation
included the Nasarawa State Deputy Governor, Michael Abdul; former
governor Abdullahi Adamu; the Speaker of the State House of Assembly,
Musa Mohammed; the Emir of Lafia and Chairman of the State Council of
Chiefs, Mustapha Agwai; senators, Abubakar Sodangi and Walid Jibrin and
Yunana Iliya .

Others in the delegation were Yusuf Agade Ayitogo; PDP National Vice
Chairman, North Central Zone, Hussaini Akwanga; Joseph Umaru, Hassan
Mohammed Agwai; the Emir of Nasarawa, Hassan Ahmed; the Andoma of Doma,
Ahmadu Onawo; the Eus Karu, Luka Panya Baba and several community
leaders.