PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan said on Thursday that winners of political contests must represent their entire constituencies to the best of their abilities and use the available resources for the benefit of all.
The president made the remarks while hosting a delegation of elders from Zamfara State, led by the state Governor Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari at the State House.
“After elections, rulers represent everybody, regardless of whether they voted for you or not, so all citizens should be beneficiaries of national or state resources”, he stated.
According to the president, “the duty of any government is to spread development, and this is not a favour,” he said, adding that the Administration would continue to do the best for all citizens within the limits of available resources.
Mr. Jonathan described Zamfara as a “potentially rich state, with solid minerals and the capacity to produce enough rice to feed the country.” He encouraged the proper management of the environmental challenges associated with mining minerals.
The president said he was pleased that the state appreciated the citing of a university in Zamfara, along with the release of N837.5m to check lead poisoning in the State.
In his remarks, Governor Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari described Jonathan as ‘a national leader who treats all Nigerians equally, regardless of party affiliation’, referring to the federal university as a ‘dream come true’ for all Zamfara citizens.
Governor Yari noted that the government and people of Zamfara State are particularly happy that the President promised, during election campaigns, to set up the university, and had kept his promise.
He thanked the President for other projects in the State, and assured him of the support of the people of Zamfara State in his efforts to develop the country.