President Goodluck Jonathan has officially kicked off the campaign to secure a second term in the office, in Lagos, south-west Nigeria.

Thousands of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supporters converged at the Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos for the event.

Big wigs in the party including Vice President Namadi Sambo, governors: Emmanuel Uduaghan, Ayo Fayose, Godswill Akpabio, Olusegun Mimiko as well as Femi Fani-Kayode, Bode George and several others expressed support for the president and made promises to help him secure votes in the different regions.

The imminent return of President Jonathan for four more years is inevitable. The Yoruba people will return The president -Gov Ayo Fayose, noted.

Also, footballer, Joseph Yobo, who represented youths supporting the president, approved Jonathan for a second term. “Goodluck Jonathan has given us hope”, he said.

Speaking earlier in the day on Sunrise Daily, Former Commissioner of Information and Strategy in Ondo State and member, of the Jonathan Campaign Organisation, Eddy Olafeso, defended the choice of Lagos as kick off point, noting that it is the third largest mega city in the world and the largest city in Nigeria.

He said “it’s about time to speak up and that’s the reason for the excitement in Lagos”, adding that, “I think there are times for you to work and there are moments you have to express and let the world know what you have been able to do”.

“The fact remains we are on course and from now on, Nigerians will be hearing more of what Mr. President will have to do in addition to what he has done to move Nigeria forward”, Olafeso said.

President Jonathan used the opportunity to apologise to federal civil servants whose salaries were not paid early enough in December, blaming the delay on a corruption-fighting measure.

“I believe that for you to fight corruption you must take some measures, establish and strengthen institutions”, insisting that “you don’t just wake up and go into the streets arrest someone and lock up and show on television and say you are fighting corruption”, he said.

The president also spoke of various ways his administration has been fighting corruption.

Former military Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari, is the candidate of the main opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the polls that will be keenly contested.

Buhari will face President Goodluck Jonathan in the February 14 vote.