THE presumptive nominee of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, President Goodluck Jonathan fresh from his adoption by the leadership of his party, last Thursday, moved out from the comfort and cheers of the elitist hangers on in Abuja to meet real Nigerians in a campaign rally that was couched in the form of a sensitisation rally of the party. Two hours after the rally and six kilometres away from the PDP rally which took place at the Tafawa Balewa Square, an enduring political foe of the president and the leading presidential aspirant in the All Progressives Congress, APC, Atiku Abubakar was himself ensconced in a strategic meeting with youths drawn from different sectors of the society. Atiku had drawn attention to the meeting on his facebook page last Thursday when he invited youths not selected for the meeting to post questions to him through facebook on issues facing the society. Campaign officials Why and at what point Atiku scheduled his meeting with the youths and online bloggers was a matter that Vanguard was unable to draw from campaign officials of the former vice-president at the weekend. But whether Team Atiku scheduled the intellectually stimulating meeting of last Saturday as a counterpoise to Team Jonathan’s boisterous affair remains in the realm of speculations. The aura of invincibility was almost around the president last Saturday as the president deplaned in Lagos, which is at the moment the engine of the opposition. Remarkably, the opposition leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, chieftain of the APC had returned to his Lagos base last week following a cantankerous exchange between his surrogates and his mortal enemies in the state chapter of the PDP over his state of health.  The PDP in Lagos had accused the APC in Lagos of collaborating with the Lagos state administration of twisting what it claimed to be facts on the state of health of the former governor alleging that Tinubu was gravely sick of an unknown ailment. It was an accusation that was seriously rebutted by the Tinubu camp which released last week released a picture of the opposition leader in a hearty and healthy state deplaning on his return. Pix From Left; Chief Oladode George, Arc Namadi Sambo, Vice President of Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan, During the South West Sensitization/ Unity Rally by Peoples Democatic Party, On Saturday 20-9-2014, At Tafawa Balewa Square, Onikan Lagos. PHOTO; Kehinde Gbadamosi Tinubu’s return and Atiku’s extended stay in Lagos raised issues among some concerned sections in the polity over the alleged rapprochement between the two political gladiators who fell out more than six years ago. Party sources claim that Atiku made up with Asiwaju once he entered into the party and had also played crucial roles in the provision of logistics in the running of the opposition party. The prospects of the two political heavyweights knitting to barricade the Jonathan bandwagon was of little bother to Jonathan and his associates at the Tafawa Balewa Square last Saturday as Jonathan expressed a confidence that betrayed the troubles the country is presently facing in some sections. Jonathan in Lagos The rally themed ‘South West sensitization and unity rally’ was flooded by serving Ministers from the South west, party leaders, elders, members and supporters, who defied the rain to show presence. It was especially an opportunity for the many gubernatorial in Lagos State to sell themselves to supporters ahead of the party’s primaries. They took turns hounding the opposition and throwing support for the adoption of the president as the party’s sole presidential candidate. Aspirants from other states in the Southwest were also represented but were not as vocal as the agents of the 15 gubernatorial aspirants in Lagos. Firing the first salvo, the minister of State for the FCT, Mrs Olajumoke Akinjide, who spoke on behalf of the body of Southwest ministers, assured Jonathan of their unalloyed loyalty and further promised to mobilise for him (Jonathan) when the campaign gathers steam. Akinjide, accompanied by Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, Dr Akinwunmi Adeshina, Mrs Omobola Johnson and Alhaji Jeilili Adesiyan, said “your ministers are here to testify because we work with you everyday. We are here to say that you have shown love to the Southwest.” That assurance follows earlier trepidation from the ministers and Team Jonathan of the hostility from the Southwest PDP on account of what party members had in the past complained as the failure of the president to appoint party members in the region to high positions in the administration. Besides, the rally was also an opportunity to reassure the president that the historical internal battles that had been the bane of the party in the region was now over. That assurance was delivered by a member of the PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Bode George who said “we want to reassure you that all is well in the South west PDP.” We’ll deliver for Jonathan — Fayose Speaking on behalf of the South west, Ekiti State Governor-elect, Mr Ayodele Fayose assured the president of the region’s commitment in securing their votes in next year’s polls. Fayose said “your adoption is all you need to win a second term and it will come with ease. We expect your name to bring good luck to Nigeria. We want to assure you we will deliver the south west the help of our people. I also want to assure you that results from the South west will be shocking in 2015 “. Jonathan deserves second term — Obanikoro Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro explained that the President has done well and therefore deserves a second term to continue with his Transformation Agenda. Obanikoro said the party in the west has resolved to “work for the re-election of President Jonathan and we are committed in working for him so that he can continue with the good works he has started not only in the south west but in the country. With all the good things he has done, he deserves a second term.” We’ll recapture South west — Mu’azu In his remarks, the PDP national chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu expressed the party’s readiness to take over the South west. I won’t disappoint you — Jonathan But Jonathan expressed gratitude to the members of the PDP in the region for giving him the right of first refusal to as the party’s sole candidate for next year’s presidential polls. Jonathan said “Let me sincerely thank the leaders of our party; from the chairman, committee members, our governors, our National Assembly members, our Board of Trustees members, and all members of the party for giving me the right of first refusal of the presidential ticket.” “When the party leaders endorsed me, by that endorsement I have the right of first refusal. That is what is done in advanced democracies,” the president said as he mouthed the same words that his agents had two years back echoed in pushing for his unanimous adoption. “There are no dictators in the PDP. There is no one that is so powerful to determine who becomes councillor, local government chairman, State House of Assembly member, House of Representatives member, senator, governor, and even president, in the PDP. The decision is by the people, for the people, and that is why the PDP will continue to do new things and give right leadership”, he said. Atiku storms Lagos  The scene at Eko Hotel and Suites, a few kilometres away, was a far cry from the shovelling and screaming that attended the PDP rally. Looking energetic, Atiku walked into the African-Asian Hall of the hotel at 7:28 pm amid standing ovation from guests. •Atiku: In warm handsakes with bloggers in Lagos Deviating from the pattern in the country, where VIPs walk majestically to their seats, the former Vice President, who appeared spirited on a black short sleeves native attire, had a hand shake with every one present as he walked to the podium. The gesture signalled that the interaction would take place in an atmosphere of simplicity and unpretentiousness. Originally scheduled to commence at 7: pm, the event kicked off 35 minutes behind schedule as a result of the late arrival of Atiku. With an audience of predominantly youths, the host, Miss Mercy Abang of the Nigeria Newsdesk, introduced the former number two man to the House. Sounding apologetic Atiku regretted his late arrival, attributing it to the perennial traffic gridlock in Lagos. “I have to apologise to you and everyone in the society for coming in late. You all know the traffic situation in Lagos. I promise to make it up to you,’’ he said amid approval from the audience. On that note, what turned out to be a robust intellectual parley commenced with rapt attention from everyone around. The session which was very participatory and engaging, saw the presidential aspirant, being drilled by Abang on probing issues. The questions which came in a no holds barred manner, centred on politics/governance, economy, security, education among others. The audience also had opportunity of quizzing Atiku, who appeared at peace with every question. Perennial aspirant Asked why he appears to have become a perennial presidential aspirant, Atiku said: “There is so much fixing to be done in this country. Essentially I think I owe this country service. Unlike all of you, no one paid for me to go to school. I was freely educated from primary up to the university level. In fact I was paid to go to school then. That is the greatest thing this country has done for me. And I don’t think I will ever pay back enough. There is the urge to continue to serve until I can serve no more. There is the urge to continue to pay back until I can pay back no more. So I am not driven by naked ambition, I am driven by the urge to give back to the nation.’’ Dismissing doubts that his defection to the APC was propelled by the relentless desire for the party’s presidential ticket, Atiku said, the APC remains the only viable alternative for the country. Expatiating he said, “APC for me is the last bus stop. I have always believed in a two party system for this country. You need to understand how we came about to establish the PDP. When we fought the military to quit governance and democracy was allowed to return, most politicians from both sides of the divide decided to form a very big party.’’ My last bust stop “The intention was to form a big party that would withstand the military in the event they decided to come back, because we were not convinced that they would not come back. I knew it was going to be a matter of time before our various political inclinations begin to divide us. PDP was not respecting internal democracy while impunity was the order of the day. Of course you knew my legal battles in the PDP. I was pushed out.’’ ‘’We now established the AC. The PDP came back to me that they were going to ensure internal democracy, I came back only to discover that it was the same PDP. Then came the formation of APC. They visited me in my house and I went round consulting with my political associates whether joining the APC was something we should do. The result was an overwhelming decision to join the APC. My return to APC is final.” From Abang, came another poser, suggesting that Atiku ought to have concentrated on creating wealth than contesting for the presidency again. But an Atiku, who seemed at home with the question, responded thus: ‘’I don’t think forgetting about the presidency and focusing on my business alone is right. The right attitude is to create more businesses and more jobs for Nigerians. My businesses are being run without me. I have created no fewer than 50, 000 jobs in Nigeria. And we have also created jobs in Angola. Recently we have also done same in Mozambique. So, we are also doing very well continentally.’’ Asked what would happen if he does not get his party’s ticket, given speculations that APC had concluded on fielding Gen Mohammadu Buhari (rtd), he said, “I will definitely support whoever emerges as the APC candidate if I don’t emerge. I want to see APC succeed.” North will not vote for PDP Specifically, he said it would be disservice to Nigerians for anyone to advocate an automatic ticket for Buhari. “Asking me to not contest is asking me to give up on Nigeria. The North will not vote for the PDP because the party has failed everybody. This period presents an opportunity for change. Before now the PDP was big and the absence of a viable opposition then allowed the party to become monstrous. But now with the APC there is choice. There is no way Nigerians can vote for the PDP in 2015,” he added. Continuing, he expressed doubt at the ability of the Independent Electoral Commission of Nigeria, INEC, to conduct a free and fair election. On why he has allegedly avoided visiting the United States said: ‘’I used to visit the United States when my family was there. My family is no longer there. I visit any country if there is reason for it. Last year I was given a visa to visit the US but I did not make the trip.” We ‘ll crush insecurity in one month Queried on the manner the war on terror is being persecuted, the former Vice-President gave a vote of no confidence on the presidency. He said: “A number of reasons have been adduced as responsible for insurgency. Some said the region was the most backward region in the country, with widespread poverty and illiteracy. But these are not reasons why people should take arms and start killing innocent Nigerians. There is poverty everywhere in this country. There is unemployment everywhere.  •From Left; Chief Olabode George, Arc Namadi Sambo, Vice President of Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan, and Dr Adamu Mu’azu, National Chairman of Peoples Democatic Party, [left] during the South West rally I want to recall that a similar situation arose in Yobe State while we where in office. And it did not take us more than a month to crush that insurgency. I think the mistake we made after crushing the insurgency, was not going back to the people to know why they took up arms against the country. We failed to listen to them and provide solution to whichever grievance they had. Today, there is a recurrence. There is failure of leadership in the war against terrorism in terms of capacity.”
Posted on: Mon, 22 Sep 2014 06:22:18 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015