The Nation Newspaper

Tag: 2015 poll

  • 2015: ‘8,000 groups rooting for Jonathan’

    2015: ‘8,000 groups rooting for Jonathan’

    No fewer than 8, 000 support groups across the country have registered their willingness to enlist in the ongoing campaign for President Goodluck Jonathan to seek re-election in 2015.

    The President’s Political Adviser, Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali, stated this Monday while briefing reporters on the activities of the groups which are being coordinated by his office.

    The groups, under the umbrella of the Goodluck Support Group (GSG) are apparently waiting to be mobilsed with funding from official and other sources.

    While submitting its report, a 10-man special committee set up by Alkali to restructure and streamline the activities of the support groups, stated that more groups would still be joining the bandwagon in the days ahead.

    The Chairman of the Committee, Gen. Adamu Ibrahim (rtd) observed that opposition to President Jonathan’s 2015 ambition would be stiffer than what obtained in the 2011 presidential election.

    He enjoined the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Presidency to come up with campaign strategy strong enough to ensure Jonathan’s victory in 2015.

    Alkali assured the various groups of official support, irrespective of their sizes, saying that they would all be carried along in the scheme of things.

  • APC, PDP, Accord flex muscle in Oyo over 2015 poll

    APC, PDP, Accord flex muscle in Oyo over 2015 poll

    The three major political parties in Oyo State have started flexing muscles over 2015 general elections, with each vowing that it would emerge victorious.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Congress (APC) and Accord yesterday told The Nation in separate interviews that nothing would stop each of them from taking over control of Agodi Government House in the February the election.

    Speaking for the Accord, its Publicity Secretary, Dr. Nureni Adeniran, said the fact that the PDP and APC won in Ekiti and Osun states showed that voters in Southwest place more premium on candidates rather than parties.

    Adeniran, who faulted suggestions that only the PDP and the APC were the main parties and that the battle looks squarely positioned between them, said:  “PDP won in Ekiti and APC won in Osun. Accord is going to win in Oyo State. Those thinking that the battle is squarely between APC and PDP should know that Southwest is not homogeneous as they are thinking because it is not the same set of voters that  will vote and it is not the same thing that is happening in all the states. “Most of them in Ekiti knew from the onset that Fayose was going to win in Ekiti and I can tell you that we knew that Aregebesola was going to win in Osun State. So, we can say that Accord will win in Oyo State.”

    Adeniran said those who think that Accord would be pushed to the background were living in illusion, pointing out that Oyo State voters are asking its governorship hopeful, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, to come back as governor.

    Also, a chieftain of the PDP and the senator representing Oyo North Senatorial District, Hosea Agbooola, said the voters were tired of the APC government.

    He assured that the PDP would replace the former after the next year election.

    His words: “You are a living witness to what happened in Osun State. But Oyo State politics is different from that of Osun State. I am assuring you that the people of Oyo State are tired of APC government. They are tired of taking directives from Lagos State. So, I am assuring you that come 2015, PDP will emerge as the governor.”

    But the state Chairman of the APC, Chief Akin Oke, rubbished their claims.

    He wondered the basis on which either the PDP or Accord would return to power, having squandered the state’s resources and inflicted violence and brigandage on residents during their eight-year reign between 2003 and 2011.

    Oke said: “PDP or Senator Ladoja winning election in Oyo State again? On what basis? Our government outperformed both of them within our three years in office when compared with their eight years in office combined. Is it in the area of security, infrastructural development, urban renewal or what? As far as we are concerned, based on Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s performance, Senator Ladoja’s performance in four years was nil. So was Otunba Alao-Akala, who inflicted violence and gangsterism on the state, among others, in his four-year reign.

    “I base my own position on valid yardsticks. PDP is even worse at federal level now so much that they cannot go out and ask for people’s votes based on the performance of the party. What they are now doing is to hide under the name of President Goodluck Jonathan, believing that they can get some sympathy.

    “Surely by 2015, we are not just going to contest, but we are going to win the election.”

  • 2015: Ekwueme, Anyim, Nnamani for pro Jonathan rally

    2015: Ekwueme, Anyim, Nnamani for pro Jonathan rally

    Former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim and former President of the Senate, Chief Ken Nnamani, are some of the dignitaries expected to join a rally in support of President Goodluck Jonathan’s 2015 re-election bid.

    The rally, which is being organised by a pro Jonathan campaign group, the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) is slated to hold in Awka, the Anambra State capital on Saturday.

    Addressing reporters in Abuja on Thursday, the group’s Director of Public Communications and Strategy, Dr. Udenta Udenta, confirmed that the three prominent politicians had accepted to attend the rally.

    Udenta added that the rally would be held in the six geopolitical zones, to be rounded off with a grand finale in Abuja on September 30.

    Udenta said: “The rally, scheduled to take place in the six geo- political zones of the country, will debut in the South-East at the popular Ekwueme Square, Akwa, Anambra State in a blaze of fun-fare.

    “Important dignitaries expected at the Akwa rally include former Vice President Dr. Alex Ekwueme, former Senate Presidents Chief Adolphus Wabara, Senator Ken Nnamani and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.”

    According to Udenta, serving members of the National Assembly and political appointees of the Southeast extraction are also expected to attend the rally.

    “At the rally, the people of the South-East zone who are already overwhelmed by the unparalleled achievements of Mr. President in varied spheres of human endeavours, including massive social and physical infrastructure, human capital development, employment generation and appointments, would place a demand on Dr. Jonathan,” Udenta stated.

    The rally is expected to move to Ibadan for the South-West edition on August 23, while that of the South-south zone will come up in Port Harcourt on August 30. The rally will then move to the remaining geopolitical zones at a weekly interval.

  • Nigeria won’t break up in 2015 – PFN

    The National President of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Dr. Felix Omobhude, on Thursday said Nigeria will not disintegrate in 2015.

    Omobhude stated this when he paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji (Dr.) Shehu Idris in his palace.

    The PFN president said he was in Zaria to thank the Emir for his fatherly role and prayer towards sustaining peace in the country.

    He also informed the monarch that the insurgency in the country will soon be a thing of the past because no rebellion lasted for ever.

    “Your Royal Highness, I have always said it that what is happening in the country is not a war against any religious group but activities of some extremists who do not even understand the dictates of their religion.

    “The only way for us to tackle this is to unite as a nation and pray to our creator to bring an end to the insurgency ravaging the country,” he said.

    In his response, the Emir said his domain has been a safe abode for all Nigerians.

    He called on the PFN president to ensure that preachers and teachers of the gospel live by example because their members see them as servants of God who they follow.

     

  • Bayelsa elders to Jonathan: Declare for second term now

    Bayelsa elders to Jonathan: Declare for second term now

    Elders and frontline politicians in Bayelsa State on Thursday asked President Goodluck Jonathan to seek reelection in 2015.

    The elders comprising former and present political office holders, henchmen of the Peoples Democratic Party and industrialists advised Jonathan to stop wasting time in declaring for a second term.

    Rising from their meeting in Yenagoa, the state capital, the elders under the aegis of Bayelsa Development Forum (BDF) said Jonathan should extend his Presidency to enable him complete his transformation agenda.

    The elders who attended the meeting were BDF Chairman, Chief Thompson Okorotie; Secretary and former Speaker of the old Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr. Talford Ongolo and former political adviser, George Fente.

    Others are Chief Claudius Enegesi, Chief Lionel Jonathan-Omu, Charles Dorgu, Chief Banton Akpuruku, Mr. Bolous Indiamaowei, Senator Inatimi Spiff, Mr. Fyneman Wilson, Chief Douye Naingba and Chief Alex Ekiottene among others.

    Okorotie, who addressed the maiden press conference of BDF, said President Jonathan had achieved unprecedented landmark despite security challenges in the country.

    He mentioned electricity, agriculture, rail transportation, housing and airport remodeling as sectors where Jonathan had left his footprints.

    He also praised the commitment of the present administration of Governor Seriake Dickson to the development of different sectors of the economy.

    He said Dickson’s administration had shown uncommon passion to develop the state.

    “BDF observed that Bayelsa State has experienced stagnation and very slow pace of development over the years to the chagrin of the people.

    “We believe the time is ripe for our state to catch up with the rest of our country and even go beyond and excel,” he said.

     

  • 2015 poll: Jonathan camp splits on VP slot ahead of declaration

    2015 poll: Jonathan camp splits on VP slot ahead of declaration

    •First Lady insists on Shema, Dickson adamant on Sambo

    Ahead of the declaration of President Goodluck Jonathan for second term, there is a split in the President’s camp over the Vice-President slot.

    The choice has been narrowed down to either the retention of Vice President Namadi Sambo or Governor Ibrahim Shema.

    The President is however expected to break the ice when he declares for second term in office.

    Investigation by our correspondent revealed that in spite of repeated moves to suppress the division within the Jonathan camp on the VP slot, it is still a major hurdle to cross.

    Findings by our correspondent showed that some stakeholders loyal to the First Lady and some ministers are pushing for Shema as the next Vice President, but Governor Henry Seriake Dickson and other stakeholders from Bayelsa State have pitched their tents with Sambo as Jonathan’s running mate for second term.

    Some ministers were also said to be supporting Sambo underneath since they do not know the mindset of the President.

    A few ministers are however in favour of Shema as the next VP, based on their reading of some loyalists of the First Lady.

    One of the anti-Sambo ministers is said to be lousy and eyeing a governorship seat in 2015.

    The recent victory of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State has also buoyed the rating of Sambo for the slot because he coordinated the campaign for the Governor-elect, Mr. Ayo Fayose.

    A reliable source, who spoke in confidence, said: “As the President prepares to declare, there is still a crack in his camp on the VP slot.

    “Some forces in the presidency are still pushing for a change. They are making a case for Shema, who is gradually getting the ears of the President again after initial dust over the jostle for VP ticket in 2015.

    “In fact, the President recently conceded the office of the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) to Shema where his godfather heads the board of the agency.

    The source added that UBEC is one of the agencies planned to be used as war chest for the 2015 poll. The Almajiri project being handled by Sambo is also under the management of UBEC.

    He continued: “The same forces encouraged the President to visit Katsina State to have first hand information on the achievements of Shema and why he is being recommended.”

    But the Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, is uncomfortable with moves to upstage Sambo.

    “Dickson has made his position known to those who matter in the Presidency why Sambo should be retained for his loyalty, patience and stabilization of the Presidency.

    “To demonstrate his commitment, the governor has led a delegation of stakeholders from Bayelsa State thrice to Sambo on solidarity visits.

    “During one of the visits, the governor went with traditional rulers and all members of the National Assembly from the state.

    “The successful privatisation of the power sector is a major argument the backers of Sambo have been advancing for his retention.

    “The recent political mileage of Sambo in Kebbi, Sokoto, Kano and Kaduna was said to have also encouraged Sambo’s adherents like Dickson.

    “To prove that he has got the right political rhythm, Sambo also went to Lagos with about 100 Northern leaders and politicians for the commissioning of new coaches for the Nigerian Railway Corporation.”

    The source further revealed that some pro-Sambo leaders in the cabinet and PDP are also warning against the danger of dropping the VP; the implication being that the President will be admitting that he has no competent assistant.

    “This can be politically fatal to his success at the poll in 2015,” he said.

  • No temporary voters’ cards for 2015 poll – INEC

    No temporary voters’ cards for 2015 poll – INEC

    … For Osun, Ekiti guber elections too

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said the Temporary Voter Cards will not be used for the upcoming governorship elections as well as the 2015 general election.

    The commission also announced that it has issued over one million Permanent Voter Cards to registered voters in Ekiti and Osun ahead of the upcoming governorship elections in the states.

    Besides, INEC said it has also registered 227, 964 new voters in the just concluded Continous Voters’ Registration in Ekiti and Osu.

    According to the breakdown, 347, 741 PVC were issued in Ekiti while 697,574 were allocated in Osun.

    A statement issued by Mr. Kayode Idowu, Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, stated that, “For avoidance of doubt, Temporary Voter Cards that were issued in 2011 will not be used for the upcoming governorship elections as well as the 2015 general election.”

    For Ekiti and Osun, Idowu said all unclaimed cards were taken to local government offices of INEC for onward issuance ahead of the upcoming elections.

    He explained that collections can only be made by legitimate holders as INEC rules forbid collection by proxy.

     

  • Yuguda blasts ACF, Afenifere, Ohanaeze

    Yuguda blasts ACF, Afenifere, Ohanaeze

    . . . Alleges divisive comments by groups on confab, 2015 poll

    Bauchi State Governor, Mallam Isa Yuguda, has taken a swipe at the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), the Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and other ethnic nationality groups in the country for what he described as their divisive tendencies.

    Yuguda accused the regional socio-cultural cum political interest groups of fanning the embers of disunity among the Nigerian people with their inflammatory statements about the polity and the nation’s leaders.

    The governor is particular miffed by the apparently combative posture of the groups on the upcoming National Conference and their parochial views on the Presidency in the run up to the 2015 general elections.

    Speaking with reporters in Bauchi at the weekend, Governor Yuguda cautioned the groups against setting the stage for political violence that could arise from their unguarded utterances.

    He said, “Some of these people who are old men of about 90 years appear to have lost focus. They are busy abusing one another and abusing leaders from different sections of the country.

    “Most of them were privileged individuals during their prime, but they have now turned around sowing divisions among the various groups in the country. It is high time they stopped instigating the peace loving people of the country against one another.”

    The governor called on the youth population to shun the divisive tendencies of the groups and challenged them to work towards bridging the gaping developmental gap in all facets of the economy.

    The youths, he said, must strive hard to harness the nation’s abundant human and material resources and to forge unity among the diverse groups for the progress of the country.

    Yuguda blamed what he termed the mercantile approach to power by some members of the political class, saying their actions were responsible for some of the woes besetting the country.

    According to him, “these politicians are busy competing for power just for the oil money. They see politics as an enterprise, with the sole purpose of making profit.

    “Instead of focusing on how best to serve their people and develop the economy, they see political power as a means of making money for their children, their grandchildren and their generation unborn.

    “It is high time they changed their perception if we want our country to grow and the media have a vital role to play in this self discovery campaign.”

     

  • New PDP to Jonathan: Don’t run in 2015

    The Abubakar Baraje led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on President Goodluck Jonathan not to seek re-election in 2015.

    The faction said it decided to advise Jonathan after reviewing the state of the nation and the pulse of Nigerians on his ambition to contest the poll, saying doing so would be against the interest of the country and its people.

    In a statement issued on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Chukwuemeka Eze, the party noted that the President has given enough clue of his intention to run, even although he has not declared it openly.

    “The latest of such clues came on Sunday in New York, United States. Speaking at a luncheon with Nigerian professionals in the U.S, President Jonathan insisted that he is eligible to contest in 2015 as we have a constitution that makes a provision for a maximum of eight years for anyone who wants to become a president or a governor,” the faction said.

    Baraje observed that the President had made a similar statement in April 2012, in an affidavit in response to a suit instituted at an Abuja High Court by a PDP chieftain, Cyriacus Njoku, seeking to stop him from contesting the 2015 presidential election.

    “We are worried that Mr. President is intent on running despite his earlier promise not to do so and in spite of the wise counsel of well-meaning Nigerians, including respected elder statesmen.

    The faction reminded Jonathan of a statement he made in Ankara, Turkey in February 2011, during an interactive session with Nigerians and diplomats working in the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the African Union (AU).

    The statement quoted Jonathan thus: “I would have loved that the Nigerians in Diaspora vote this year (2011) but to be frank with you, that is going to be difficult now. Presently, the law does not allow the voting outside Nigeria and so this year Nigerians in Diaspora will not vote but I will work towards it by 2015 even though I will not be running for election.”

    It also quoted the President to have said further, “Four years is enough for anyone in power to make significant improvement and if I can’t improve on power within this period, it then means I cannot do anything even if I am there for the next four years.”

    The faction said there was no way the President could deny his own statements at this point in time, since he failed to deny the statements over the past two years.

    “How does Mr. President want Nigerians and the entire world to see him for this volte face? Why can’t he keep his words as a man of honour instead of allowing himself to be misled by selfish advisers to go back on his words, thereby overheating the polity,” the statement added.

     

  • Anenih to Jonathan: Declare your intention on 2015

    Anenih to Jonathan: Declare your intention on 2015

    The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tony Anenih, on Sunday night challenged President Goodluck Jonathan to make his intention towards the 2015 presidential election known to Nigerians on or before the end of next month.

    Speaking during the PDP post- convention dinner, which was held at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja, Anenih said that taking such a decision is necessary in order to give the party a proper direction.

    The dinner earlier scheduled to hold immediately after the special convention of the party was postponed because of the crisis rocking the party.

    It would be recalled that seven governors – Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Abdulafatah Ahmed (Kwara), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Aliyu Wammako (Sokoto), and Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) left the venue of the convention with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to form a parallel executive for the “new PDP.”

    Before the new group named its executive including the National Chairman, Kawu Baraje, National Secretary, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Sam Jaja, the aggrieved governors had demanded the sack of Bamanga Tukur, citing lack of internal democracy in the party.

    The Sunday night dinner party was attended by those loyal to the Tukur -led PDP faction as none of the aggrieved governors attended the dinner.

    Also, some of the elders mediating in the crisis rocking the party like former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida were conspicuously absent at the dinner.

    Anenih said, “I will appeal to our leader, the President of this country that at the end of September or as we enter October, we should not tell anybody that the time is not right, I think the time is right. It is good that we tell our people where we going to, what our journey will be like.”

    Referring to the on-going reconciliatory efforts in the party, he said that even though the task ahead is enormous, “we must be seen as a team and not as a group.”