Reactions trail Jonathan’s re-election moves

Posted by admin | 9 years ago | 4,087 times



The coast now seems finally clear for President Goodluck Jonathan to declare his interest in contesting for re-election come 2015, and preparations are afoot for him to do just that. He may indeed pick his nomination form from the party’s secretariat in Abuja, the country’s capital before the middle of next week, as Factnewsonline scooped.

He has already set up a committee for his declaration and inquests on the development showed a lot of mixed reactions amongst Nigerians. While his admirers, mainly members of his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were in upbeat mood, and hailed the move, a section of Nigerians expressed opposition to it.

The reason for the current heightened political activities in the PDP camp, Factnewsonline have learnt was the belief in the Presidency and PDP camp that many issues, which hitherto constituted clogs in the wheel of Jonathan’s 2015 re-election progress have whittled down considerably.  

The President on his part was said to have gained enough confidence that all would be well as they believe the activities of Boko Haram would soon be a thing of the past.  There is also belief that the endorsement by the party’s governors, as well as the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), were part of it. Also, a recent judgment in favour of the President on a suit instituted against his candidature was another of the motivations that emboldened him into making the move.

When Factnewsonline took the opportunity to sample the views of Nigerians, together with PDP members, a great majority expressed total support for him. For instance, Ogbuka Kalu, a chieftain of the party in Abia State, considered the team Jonathan had assembled as a star-studded one, which he believed would definitely present another term for the President come 2015. “The list is a good one, and we are looking forward to the re-election of Mr. President” he said.

“I also know that President Jonathan’s decision is a done deal. It is a done deal because of his sound judgment, his natural appeal, and the things he has achieved this past four years” added.

Going further, he said he was particularly excited because his Governor, Theodore Orji, was in the committee. “I am also excited that my governor, his excellence Ochendo 1, is that committee, knowing what he can do; his strategic analyses ability, I know that committee will deliver”.

He felt however that Stella Oduah, former minister of aviation, should have been included in the team, describing her as a consummate former aviation minister who worked hard for the President’s election four years ago. “Maybe she has a political ambition to pursue; otherwise the same woman that was largely responsible for neighbour to neighbour campaign in 2011 should have bee in that list.

Sylvester Okonkwo, a former governorship aspirant in Anambra State hailed the committee, describing it as “fit and proper”, and a step in the right direction. He said in a Presidential System and a huge democracy like that of Nigeria that the President has the right of first refusal to run, and that having made his intention known that it behooves all members support him.

His words: “As he has made his intention known, it is fit and proper for him to set up this committee. The committee, as you can see, is made up of very seasoned democrats, loyal party members who understand what it takes to prepare a president for election, and I think generally speaking it is a move in the right direction.” 

But for Balarabe Musa, former governor of old Kaduna State and Chairman of Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), a coalition of opposition political parties, he saw the President’s move as a huge joke taken too far.

He failed to see any reason for Jonathan to contemplate running again because according to him, the President has failed on all counts. “what is he coming to do?’ he queried “he was brought in the first time to correct all the things that were wrong and to lay foundation for a new Nigeria. He has not done that for four years, so what is he coming to do?”

Among the committee that the President set up to be chaired by Dr. Bello Halliru Mohammed ( Kebbi State); the members include Senator Ken Nnamani, Deputy Chairman (Enugu); Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Secretary (Ebonyi); Professor Rufa’i Ahmed Alkali  (Gombe), Julius Imagwe, Senior Special Assistant – Youth (Edo State); and Dr. Baraka Sani (Kano).

There was also in the committee, representatives drawn from the National Assembly that included Senator Hosea Agboola (Oyo); Senator Ahmed Makarfi (Kaduna); Bitrus Kaze, House of Representatives (Plateau); as well as Salmas Badru, House of Representatives (Ogun).

Some governors in the committee to represent their geo-political zones were Liyel Imoke, Cross River State (South South); Theodore Orji, Abia State (South East); Olusegun Mimiko, Ondo State (South West), Dr. Mua’zu Babangida Aliyu, Niger State (North Central), Ibrahim Shema, Katsina State (North West); and Ibrahim Dankwambo, Gombe State (North East).

Members representing the Federal Executive Council include; Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Dieziani Allison-Madueke  (Bayelsa State): Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Abduljelili Adesiyan (Osun State), Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Zainab Maina (Adamawa State); Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed (Bauchi State).

Representatives of the PDP in the committee include: Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus  (Rivers), Chairman, PDP Benue State, Chief Emmanuel Agbo, (Benue) National Women Leader,  Kema Chikwe (Imo) and North West Zonal Chairman, Amb. Ibrahim Kazaure (Jigawa).

 Other members are Senator Stella Omu (Delta), Senator Walid Jibirn (BOT Secretary, (Nasarawa), Ibrahim Bunu (Borno), Rev. Jolly Nyame (Taraba), Senator Aniette Okon (Akwa Ibom), Peter Obi (Anambra), Remi Adiuku Bakare (Lagos), and Gen. A. B. Mamman (PDP National Youth Leader) – FCT.

There were those appointed to the committee at the discretion of the President, and they were Barr. Halima Alfa (Kogi), Nigeria Ambassador to Netherland, Dr. (Mrs.) Nimota Nihinlola Akanbi (Kwara), FCT ALGON Chairman, Hon. Micah Yohanna Jiba  (FCT) and Hon. Sam Ikon (Akwa Ibom).


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