Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential running mate and Bayelsa Governor, Goodluck Jonathan, has suggested urgent industrialisation as a means of stemming the tide of hostage- taking in Niger Delta.
Jonathan said this yesterday in Abeokuta, during electioneering campaign before the party’s presidential campaign train moved to neighbouring Oyo State.
Fielding questions from newsmen at the Presidential Villa, Ibara, the candidate said “the Niger Delta issues we have been talking
about is not something I can tell you in a few minutes.
“Only yesterday, I had a meeting with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), as part of steps towards curbing the menace. I think what we must do is to industrialise the Niger Delta. Subsidiaries of oil companies operating in the region must manufacture some of their needs within the region, so that jobs could be created,” he said.
According to him, when you create jobs, you are reducing restiveness among the youth who are idle.
“There are some criminal elements in the Niger Delta, just like armed robbers are elsewhere. When you create job opportunities, then you’ve prepared the carrots for the decent young men and women who will live a decent life and earn a decent living. So you must create jobs,” Jonathan said.
On the level of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s preparedness for the April general elections, Jonathan said the PDP had no doubt that the body was fully prepared for the conduct of the elections.
“They (INEC) have been preparing for the elections since four years ago, and of course we are satisfied with their level of
preparedness.
Mar92007