Nigeria will soon produce a woman president, says Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday expressed the hope of a woman becoming Nigeria’s president in his life time.
Jonathan, who said this at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential rally in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, noted that women in the country were intelligent and hard working.
He insisted that women should be encouraged to participate in governance, especially politics.
“My hope is that a female will one day occupy the position of the president of this country. I will also like to see Nigerian women who have distinguished themselves in their various fields make more global impact,’’ he said.
Jonathan, who commended women for supporting PDP, solicited their support by voting for him in the February 14 presidential poll.
First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, who addressed women at the campaign, urged them to vote for the president as “one of their own”.
“Nigerian women, you cannot exchange your own for another. You must belong to a place or group where you are accorded full recognition. And PDP is that place; we have no other party,” she said.
Meanwhile, traditional rulers in Abia State have endorsed Jonathan’s re-election bid.
The monarchs expressed their support and commitment during a meeting with the President in Umuahia on Friday.
The Chairman, Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Eberechi Dick, said that having considered the accomplishments of President Jonathan, the council would give him its unalloyed support.
“In 2011, we gave 75 per cent of the votes. In the coming elections, we want you to be rest assured that we will give you 100 per cent of the votes”, Dick said.
He said every member of the council was interested in supporting candidates that would bring increased development and peace.
Dick said that the traditional rulers were hopeful that “the FG will rewards Abia with more dividends of democracy.’’
Jonathan told them that he was willing to work with the traditional rulers to take development to the grassroots.
“We are willing to come up with policies that will boost commerce and industry in Abia.
“We are aiming for increased entrepreneurial activities in the state as well as the nation at large.
“We also hope that you will encourage your subjects to show their support to the continuity of the Jonathan-led administration.’’