As the 2015 elections draws closer, Nigerians in Washington, United States of America, held a rally to support President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term bid.
They were said to have trooped out in the freezing snow on Monday, to hold a rally at the St Regis Lawn.
The rally was held in anticipation of a meeting of the Corporate Council on Africa, which was to feature President Jonathan and General Muhammadu Buhari, though it was cancelled, Nigerian Tribune reports.
The freezing snow described by New York’s mayor, Mr De Blasio as the worst in history did not deter the crowd, who sang and expressed their support for President Jonathan.
A Nigerian, John Egbuchiri, who works at the U.S. cable communications giant, Xfinity, said: “our mission today is to stand in the rain, stand in the snow, stand tall and stay here for however long it takes in support of President Jonathan.”
According Ibidapo, who served in the U.S. Navy in the 90’s as a systems specialist, Jonathan’s accomplishments were under-reported, especially in the Nigerian and foreign media.
Dr Toyin Ibidapo, a member of the local American Legion post, who participated in the rally, said she did so because she felt “a strong responsibility to honour the president, considering the many challenges he has faced in his first term. I thought the general would be here for us to tell him our piece of mind.”
Another Nigerian in Washington, Shola Aromashodun, a 40-year-old attorney in North-East, DC said: “I have come out this morning because the only thing that can now make any difference to our country is to unite together and support the president. This is a chance we do not want to miss at any cost.
“President Jonathan did us a solid. Now it is time for us to return the favour. I just returned from Nigeria; some people think they are owners of Nigeria. They want you to be discouraged and afraid. Most of these powerful few around the country hope that you spend your day and time doing anything other than the one thing they desperately don’t want you to do, which is choosing who you want to be your president.”
The Executive Director of the Diaspora Campaign Network, Mr Franklin Ekechukwu, urged Nigerians to vote wisely during the February polls.
The governor of Niger state, Babangida Aliyu had some days back asked Nigerians to give President Goodluck Jonathan a second chance, saying the call for change was unnecessary.
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