The Nation Newspaper

Tag: President

  • NANS president bags traditional title

    NANS president bags traditional title

    The Attah of Igala Michael Oboni II has honoured the president of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Tijani Usman Shehu, with a, traditional title. Ogah Ochonia Agah 1 title on last Friday for his bravery in an event witnessed by his friends and students from various campuses.

    Tijani said the honour was a call to service, promising to do his best to contribute to the development of Igala tradition. He thanked students, who made it to the occasion, saying: “I sincerely thank all those present here today for coming to show love and support for me. May God Almighty continue to bless you abundantly and protect you back to your various campuses.”

  • President and priest

    When religion is mixed with politics, the result is what was offered by the Chaplain to President Goodluck Jonathan, Ven. Obioma Onwuzurumba. On Easter Sunday, after it was clear that Jonathan’s reelection dream had died, Onwuzurumba delivered a sermon at Aso Villa Chapel titled “Christ is risen indeed.”

    According to an account, the priest said:  ”This Jonathan they did not want, they will look for him. This Jonathan they despised, they will look for him. They will seek his advice. He is not Jesus but he is like Jesus. I am not here to praise him. The disciples did not have the confidence that Jesus who did many things in their lives and that of the people was the messiah and if indeed he would resurrect again.”

    It is puzzling what Onwuzurumba meant by “I am not here to praise him.”  If what he said during the church service did not amount to praise for Jonathan, then he would need to redefine what he means by praise.

    Of course, there is nothing wrong with singing the praise of Jonathan, particularly if he deserves praise. But even deserved praise must be restrained lest it sounds like designed praise.  In this case, likening Jonathan to Jesus not only sounded far-fetched, it also had the sound of nonsense.

    As regards the implication that Jonathan “did many things” in the lives “of the people”, it is worth considering whether Jonathan could be said to have done the right things, or more specifically, whether the things he is said to have done were the right things.

    Jonathan’s implied messianic importance is even more intriguing, especially because a priest suggested it; never mind that Onwuzurumba sounded like a partisan.  It is demonstrable that Jonathan has not governed like a messiah. The state of the nation today, politically, socially and economically, certainly doesn’t reflect any messianic intervention. Or what was Onwuzurumba talking about?

    Interestingly, the cleric used the narrative of the resurrection of Jesus to imply Jonathan’s political comeback.  One question:  If the electorate had wanted him back, would he have been voted out of power in the first place?  But to be fair, his recent electoral rejection doesn’t necessarily eliminate the possibility that he may be wanted back in the future.

    Now, why did Onwuzurumba sound so politically predictable? The truth, which he recognised, must be that he also was most likely on his way out.  An account said that at a point during the service, against the background of soul-lifting songs by “guest singers and the chapel’s choristers,” Onwuzurumba “looked straight at the President and said, “Mr. President, we will miss this choir ooo.”

    The priest probably didn’t say the whole truth. Much more than the choir, both president and priest would surely miss power. When religion is in a romance with politics, it may be too much to expect a man of God to say the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

  • Constitution amendments: President may veto bill from N’Assembly

    There were strong indications that the presidency may veto the bill on amendments to 1999 Constitution, which was sent to President Goodluck Jonathan by the National Assembly.

    The presidency was said to have spotted “awkward recommendations” in some of the amendments passed by the two chambers of the National Assembly.

    According to a top source in the presidency, the government discovered that the amendments did not satisfy the conditions for the alteration of the 1999 Constitution.

    Also, the Presidency picked holes in certain amendments, especially on life pension for the Senate President, Deputy Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and his deputy; and the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the each of the 36 State Houses of Assembly.

    A top presidency source said: “Based on some contradictions in the amendments and awkward recommendations, the President may veto amendments to the 1999 Constitution.

    “For instance, the National Assembly ought not to pass the amendments through voice vote, but they defied the required constitutional procedures. The presidency cannot be part of illegality. The amendments must substantially comply with the law.

    “The amendments will be returned to the National Assembly. If the lawmakers can effect corrections before the 7th Assembly ends, the president may assent to the alteration. Otherwise, the 8th National Assembly may complete the process.

    “The details of the observations of the presidency will be made available to the President of the Senate, David Mark, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal.”

    Another source in the presidency said: “Some of the amendments are landlines for the president-elect and we do not want him to start with any constitutional crisis.

    “These lawmakers virtually stripped the president of some Executive functions. For instance, they recommended that the National Judicial Council should now appoint the Attorney-General of the Federation.

    “The NJC is only mandated to appoint judicial officers and the AGF is not a judicial officer.

    “Also, public opinion is against pension-for-life for some principal officers of the legislature as captured in some of these amendments. There is no way a reasonable president will run against public opinion. The economy cannot sustain such a huge out of office perks.”

  • Ex-NUJ President Zorro cries out over ‘PDP’s stockpiling of arms’

    Ex-NUJ President Zorro cries out over ‘PDP’s stockpiling of arms’

    •Petitions IGP 

    A former President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mallam Sani Zorro, yesterday petitioned Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Suleiman Abba over alleged stockpiling of arms by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Jigawa State, ahead of the elections on Saturday.

    Zorro, the head of Public Communication and Strategy Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said there were plans to “unleash mayhem and disrupt voting at select polling units.”

    He asked the IGP to reduce tension and avert bloodshed.

    The petition reads: “I am constrained to alert you as Nigeria’s chief law enforcement officer of plans being hatched by the PDP in Jigawa State to cause chaos and mayhem at select polling units with a view to sabotaging the last lap of the general elections scheduled for April 11.

    “Specifically, I wish to draw your attention to the following: That under the watch of incumbent Governor Sule Lamido, PDP leaders in Jigawa State have stockpiled weapons, such as cutlasses, machetes, daggers, knives, bows and arrows, sticks, etc, with which to unleash mayhem and  disrupt voting processes at select polling units, statewide.

    “ Their devilish plans also include attacks on targeted party leaders and candidates of the APC to kill them or inflict injuries on them, including my humble self as the House of Representatives candidate for Gumel/Gagarawa/Mai Gatari/SuleTankarkar Federal Constituency.

    “Take note, however, that we of the APC have no plans to engage in violence despite our superiority in numbers, political will and capacity over our desperate rivals in the PDP.

    “Therefore, we will like to rely on your assurances for the protection of our teeming and law-abiding members as they prepare to exercise their civic rights to vote freely and peacefully for the candidates of their choice in compliance with the laws of the land.”

    Zorro said the alleged unguarded statement of Governor Lamido was fuelling tension.

    He added: “Clearly on the throes of political extinction, our rivals also plan to induce voters with money and/or deploy traditional ward heads (Bulamai) and heads of Fulani hamlets (Ardawa), to intimidate voters at polling units.

    “Most worrisome, however, is the continued unguarded statement(s) of the Governor, who has allegedly given assurances to his supporters that he is working hand-in-hand with the Inspector-General of Police – as the latter is an indigene of Jigawa State, and from the same senatorial district as the former.

    “Although we have so far refused to believe this narrative, it is of utmost importance on the part of the Inspector-General of Police to take steps, to dissociate himself from the grave allegation.”

    Zorro asked the IGP to avert bloodshed by seizing the deadly weapons.

    He said: “We want an immediate visit to Jigawa State to help de-escalate tension, order for the seizure of the deadly weapons from our opponents and restore confidence in the election.

    “While we pledge to cooperate with the security and intelligence personnel for the maintenance of law and order, we, however, will not stand-by and watch our leaders and supporters killed by thugs on the orders of “do or die” politicians faced with imminent defeat and political irrelevance.”

  • Memo to in-coming President

    On May 29 2015, Your Excellency will be sworn in as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the most populous and most vibrant black nation in the world. Congratulations! There is no doubt that Nigerians survive on hope, but please give us renewed hope for a better tomorrow.

    Nigerians appreciate that there are numerous problems confronting our country but the most essential ingredient for citizenship engagement is sincerity of purpose. So, it will be good to see you adopt an open system of administration. The experience of the past 16 years of democratic dispensation has shown clearly that a Nigerian voice is evolving, albeit slowly, and that any serious minded politician or political leader must rethink if he intends to go far.

    Most Nigerians can tell you how not to rule this nation. Nigerians are now, more than ever before, very protective of the integrity of their fatherland and would not appreciate a President that does not pay attention to and invest in creating a positive image for our homeland.  The good people of Nigeria want to walk tall wherever they go and with whomever they interact. Indeed, they want to be recognised for all the good things: in academia, sports, entertainment, industry, technology, healthcare, education and now, more than ever before, good governance. Still on corruption, Nigerians feel sad when stolen monies are stashed abroad and the economy suffers as a result.

    Mr. President, there is no gainsaying that our youth groan under the yoke of unemployment and under-employment and they frown when economic policies and over-bloated budgets do not translate to employment for them. It is painful that Nigerian graduates roam the streets looking for jobs, unappreciated for upwards of five years and without any support system. For instance, Nigeria needs to keep a databank of these unemployed youth which could then be a basis for prioritising employment interventions and ensuring that the economy benefits.

    Infrastructural development must be given utmost priority. Your Excellency, citizens dislike a fire brigade approach to infrastructural development and worse still, when developments are undertaken solely for political reasons or when cosmetic works are ventured into to potentially hoodwink citizens, the populace get tuned off. The President should adopt a zero tolerance for abandoned projects and the presidency must foster effective collaboration with states on developmental issues.

    Though tribe and tongues may differ, Nigerians celebrate their diversity and do not take kindly to a president who rules according to ethnic and religious divides. You can be rest assured that when presidents tow the line of division, cronyism and nepotism, they will be serving the interests of very few people to the detriment of the whole country and this approach will inevitably backfire. Nigerians love federal institutions established to foster unity such as the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Unity schools, federal universities, polytechnics amongst others but would appreciate a review of our quota system policies in line with modern trends. For instance, would it not be better to enthrone meritocracy in these institutions by making admissions into them 70 per cent merit and 30 per cent quota so that Nigerians can be better benefitted.

    It may be important to have a role for the President’s wife, but please be assertive so as not to allow such roles to distract government from its business so as not to allow frivolity get in the way of good governance with unsolicited gender comments on sensitive national issues. Also, if it is possible, make sure that whatever role the President’s wife is given that it is not funded by taxpayers’ money. Nigerians love their women and the motherly role they play, but not at the expense of the citizenry.

    Your Excellency, you will definitely earn the trust of your citizens if you can sincerely commit to providing stable electricity for the country as people feel distressed that this is one product that Nigerians may have the money to afford but cannot find in the market. Citizens are yearning for genuine commitment to privatisation of the power sector; for example, questions have been asked in some quarters as to why very few players with the capacity for huge capital outlay are allowed into the market and that this might be a factor in those granted opportunities to form oligopolies, effectively holding this nation to ransom.

    Mr. President, the people of Nigeria cherish exemplary leadership and as you would understand, this is why you have been voted into this incredibly important position. As Shakespeare wrote in his play; ‘Henry IV Part II’: “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown” and for this reason, it is important that Nigerian citizens do not feel betrayed should ministers and top officials not be answerable to the people. Nigerians expect that you frown at, and call to task, erring officials as a sign that you fully understand the reasons they have been voted into or appointed to public office. Nigerians are now quick to point out that public office is not the sole preserve or birth right of any class or group of people.

    Your Excellency, as soon as you are sworn-in, and given your demonstrated capacity, Nigerians look forward to your assuming the position of President and Commander-in-Chief of Nigeria rather than that of your party. Nigerians understand that your party may wish to drag you down the route of sectional politics but, as President, you are father of all and as such should put your foot down! Also, as you would be more than aware, as President, your duty is to the entire nation and not only those that have voted for you or against some perceived enemies.  One thing Nigerians would want to see going forward in our fragile democratic journey is non-interference with other arms of government as this is an essential ingredient of good governance.

    The judiciary and legislature will look up to your office for orderliness, rule of law, probity, accountability and selflessness. If you can do it, they will not have a reason not to. This also applies to the issue of the huge wage bill and irrational allowances incurred by public office holders at the expense of the people they are supposed to be serving.

    Kindly be more magnanimous in constituting your cabinet by including possibly, some members of opposition with impeccable character and excellent track record of performance and avoid recycling very old and redundant hands who are not relevant to the vision of Nigeria in the 21st century. There are very many excellent, world class, selfless and patriotic Nigerians. Pease, take time to look for them to help move our fatherland forward. You can even be more magnanimous by encouraging a shadow cabinet, as this is healthy for any meaningful development where people with contrary views are not perceived as enemies.

    Mr. President, our institutions are weak and collapsing, so as a matter of urgency, your office should endeavour to strengthen government agencies and parastatals to ensure they can deliver on their statutory duties. Where possible, please avoid bringing public officers, especially police and the military into partisan politics. Security of lives and property is also one area in which Nigerians want to heave a sigh of relief urgently. Many Nigerians do not believe they are living in the Nigeria of their dreams with the spate of killings and kidnappings across the country. Part of creating an enabling environment for domestic and international business and good governance is security and, children particularly want to feel safe and proud that the government is in-charge.

    Your Excellency, the term ‘dividends of democracy’ is tokenistic to the people and it is certainly a military phobia sentiment. Therefore, after 16 years of continuous democratic dispensation, Nigerians deserve the dividends of good governance. As a Nigerian citizen, I have full hopes that this country will be great and I feel I have in my own small way performed my civic duty and contributed to the future that many Nigerians yearn for.

    Thank you and Long live Nigeria!

    • Mogaji, a development communications expert wrote in from Lagos

  • Congrats, Mr. President-elect

    SIR: I want to congratulate the newly elected president for scaling through the hurdles of election thereby emerging as the people’s choice in the end. I pray that his tenure will accomplish great things for our great nation.

    Also, I want to charge the president not to represent only his political party but all other parties too; and that he should not turn his back on the people that elected him. In addition, I want to plead with the president to fulfill all his promises because the country is counting on him. However, the president should try as much as possible to make his tenure peaceful, stable and purpose driven so as to take this nation to greater heights.

     

    • Aroyehun Jesutosin peace

    Masscommunication Department

    Kwara State University, Malete

     

  • The making of a President

    Each time one had to give example of doggedness and persistence, the name that readily came to mind was American President Abraham Lincoln. He was determined and kept striving to serve his people. He worked, he would not give up until he obtained the prize.

    Now, we have another example in the president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari. He had been a military leader. In 20 months, he was sent packing by his Chief of Staff, General Ibrahim Babangida. At the time, it appeared all over for him. He simply faded away. He got involved in the political arena shortly after the return to civil rule in 1999, He attempted the presidential race for the first time in 2003 on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party,. He lost to the incumbent President Olusegun Obasanjo. That was not enough to deter him. He was again the party’s flag-bearer four years later. But, with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate of the Action Congress, Buhari lost to the candidate of the ruling party. His performance however earned him national attention as a politician of note and promise. By out-performing Atiku, he proved that the future could be brighter.

    All attempts to come up with a coalition of forces with Buhari as the symbol and candidate failed. He went his way and emerged the presidential candidate of a party that lacked structure, soul and character. The Congress for Progressive Change could only win the governorship in one state- Nassarawa. He cried foul. He yelled and shrieked. But the harm had been done. It was either he overestimated his worth or simply did not give as much thought to harvesting the votes as he gave to soliciting. But, again, he was second.

    For most people, that would have been enough to retire him from the race, but not the Daura-born leader of men. He chose, at about 72, to give it another shot. This time on the platform of a broad coalition that has tested political generals. Atiku worked for him. Bola Tinubu was at hand to lend the move his support; Governors Rabiu Kwankwaso, Aliyu Wamakko, Al Makura, the South West governors, Edo State’s Adams Oshiomhole, Rochas Okorocha and the dashing Rotimi Amaechi worked assiduously for him. He is now President-elect.

    It is my hope that the experience gathered along the line would serve him well. He was not a reluctant or accidental President. In 1999, Obasanjo merely saw power drop on his laps; in 2007, Umaru Yar’Adua was good enough for the office just because he was anointed by the incumbent. And, the death of Yar’Adua was the reason Dr. Goodluck Jonathan emerged President in 2011. None worked for it. None had developed a vision and mission to lift Nigeria out of the woods. None was known to the political scene as a political general. Therefore, none of the former Presidents had a pact with the people. They failed. If we go further down the road, in 1979, Alhaji Shehu Shagari’s modest ambition was to be a Senator-it was the infamous Kaduna mafia that fished him out and enthroned him. He had been investitured before he realised the enormity of the task at hand. In the First Republic, Sir Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa would have been content with being a minister had Sir Ahmadu Bello not resisted the move to be dragged away from the North where he was premier. So, none of our leaders was ready-made and it showed in their dismal performance in office.

    Buhari now has the chance to show that he has not been merely hungry for power. He cannot afford to disappoint the millions of Nigerians who bought his message. I love his short acceptance speech after collecting the certificate of return from INEC. He said he would fight corruption and that, with the cooperation of all Nigerians, it would be defeated. I hope he realised the enormity of the task. Corruption has eaten so deep into the fabric of the society; it is so entrenched that only a determined president who has the right team could tame the monster. In NNPC, Sports, the civil service, the cabinet and even the political parties, the monster has taken position and is ready to fight back. But, a President Buhari would have one weapon to fight the battle-a popular mandate.

    The new President would also be confronted with the burden of breaking the backbone of terrorism. This should not be too difficult with the support of Chad, Niger and Cameroon. Our military, too, seems to have realised the need to rise to the occasion. General Buhari has the reputation of being a patriotic officer. He once warded off an attempted incursion by Chad Republic. As GOC of the Jos-based Armoured Corps, he chased the marauders into the Chadian territory and great was the cry of agony in that Army. Would he repeat that feat against Boko Haram as he has promised?

    My admiration for the General is because he is Spartan. He does not appear to worship at the shrine of mammon as most politicians do. It remains to be seen how he would convince or fight his colleagues to join in the crusade. If Buhari succeeds in achieving his objective, he would have solved a major problem. He would have saved Nigeria trillions of Naira pillaged from the country yearly through over-invoiced contracts, by ghost workers and to service godfathers. We are watching.

    I join millions of the President’s well-wishers in urging him to write his name in god by doing the will of God and wiping tears from the faces of the 70 per cent of his compatriots who fall below the poverty line.

  • The defeat of President Jonathan

    SIR: Few months ago, President Goodluck Jonathan had a fairly good reason to believe he will have a blowout. The opposition at the time seemed to lack proper coordination. There was no threat on the horizon, so the president falsely believed. He was sure the polls would mimic a birthday bash:  Everybody would wish him more years.

    But that was then. The climate has since changed. And so has the prospects of a sustainable Umbrella. Today, Jonathan is an endangered candidate. The hysteria in his camp reflects awareness of his vulnerable condition. It accounts for the rich marvel of this season. Trenchantly surreal, it looks like a drama around a swap of traits: The life long civilian pleads election allergy while his main rival, has managed to tap into the frustration of the alienated majority. With one word offer of CHANGE, the All Progressives Congress (APC) opposition party has provoked a Pavlovian hunger for a new reality in the populace.

    The dread of staring defeat drove President Jonathan to experimentation in costly antics. He decrees a six-week postponement through the instrumentality of the military. He moves house to house, under the cover of darkness, pitching the abominable idea of an interim national government to cajole powerful citizens. He inspires the agitation against the deployment of smart card reader for voter accreditation.

    He sponsors the demonization of Attahiru Jega, Chairman of Independent National Election Commission, as a prelude to supplanting the umpire with a puppet. He embarks on a bribing blitz; dumping dollars everywhere he needs affection. Quite simply, Jonathan has been signaling, erroneously, that he is desperate enough to explore any possibility that might help him retain his grip on power!

    President Jonathan’s last-ditch efforts have proven insufficient to save his doomed campaign. His establishment and resourcing of the Hate Buhari Cottage Industry has not won him more lovers. His tokens of appeasement – especially that masterstroke of a 50 percent reduction in darkness tariff – have not assuaged voter discontent.  But the optimist in Jonathan is not ready for his imminent defeat. He still hopes against hope that he will clinch a second term last March 28.

    Unlike General Muhammadu Buhari, a veteran of three failed presidential quests, President Goodluck Jonathan is a virgin at losing. Jonathan has won every election he has participated in as a contestant since 1999. His 16-year-long winning streak and a name that is widely promoted as the talisman behind his many quantum leaps, from a shoeless pupil to the pinnacle of power, have consolidated the myth of his own invincibility in his mind. But the news of a defeat will shake the foundation of Jonathan’s sense of personal identity. It will devastate him mentally and emotionally. And the wounded loser and his reflexes, at that level, will generate chaos.

    President Jonathan has a docile demeanor; but he is not known to be a man of depth or erudition. His discretion, as a rule, selects consequential options from the extreme end of impropriety. There is a likelihood that, in the potentially volatile hours after the announcement of a Buhari victory, a shell-shocked Jonathan would let an impolitic utterance slip out of him. He may make a panicky move that telegraphs dismissal of the outcome. And any of these is guaranteed to turn one man’s job loss into a national tragedy.

    But President Jonathan has a record of going for broke whenever he senses that the outcome of a democratic process would disadvantage him. Jonathan split the Nigerian Governor’s Forum when his proxy lost a free and fair chairmanship contest to his gadfly, Rotimi Amaechi. President Jonathan recently overran Ekiti State because he needed a crucial foothold in the Southwest. A soldier released a tape that implicated the ruling party.

    President Jonathan has to take a responsible posture. He has to urgently transmit an instruction forbidding any of his allies from making any post-result reaction that doesn’t follow his lead. His followers will be inclined to resist his defeat. They will interpret his defeat as the end of their access to waivers and free meals. Jonathan needs to communicate to them, ahead of time, in the clearest terms, that he will concede. This footnote, which Jonathan can tag on to his narrative, may temper his legacy of a bungled presidency. It is the only way he can win in defeat.

     

    • Emmanuel Uchenna Ugwu

     immaugwu@gmail.com

  • President vows to end graft in oil sector in four years

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday night vowed to sanitise and end corruption in the nation’s oil sector in the next four years, if re-elected.

    He spoke at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos during an interactive session with young professionals in Nigeria and abroad.

    The event, tagged: “An unimaginable feat in sports”, showcased President Jonathan’s achievements in the sports sector.

    Among those who attended the event, which ended in the early hours of yesterday, were young professionals, sports men and women, and beneficiaries of the Federal Government’s scholarship programmes.

    The president said his administration had succeeded in using technology to reduce corruption in many areas, including fertiliser distribution and procurement, contract inflation and salary payment.

    According to him, he will do the same in the oil industry.

    He said: “We are going into the oil sector. People talk about the oil industry because that is an industry with a lot of people and a lot of money is involved.

    “But I promise you that in the next four years, we will sanitise the oil sector.”

    Jonathan promised to end the stigmatisation of Nigerians in the international community as a result of corruption.

    He noted that the issue of corruption was being over-celebrated in a way that showed that the whole country was corrupt.

    He harped on the need for the citizenry to work together to end the stigmatisation.

    The president promised to work with the youth because of his conviction that parents who did not encourage the young ones were preparing their families for extinction.

    He said that he would give more youths under the age of 40 years more opportunities to serve as ministers and heads of government parastatals, if re-elected.

    He noted that the former Minister of State II, Foreign Affairs, Nuhu Mohammed, before going to contest as deputy governor in Jigawa State was appointed below 40 years of age.

    On Mohammed’s replacement, he said: “Last week, we swore in the youngest female minister. She is also about 40 years old.

    “Apart from cabinet positions for under 40s, we are also appointing young people as heads of parastatals.

    “We want to continue to encourage those in youth-dominated sectors such as business, sports and entertainment industries too.

    “I can assure you that we shall not go below what we are currently doing. I know you want more, vote for us and you will get it.”

    Jonathan said the country’s poverty rate was 33.1 per cent and not over 60 per cent that was reported.

    He noted that the issue was not about the percentage, but about the commitment of his government to impact more on the lives of the people.

    Recalling the successes recorded against Ebola Virus Disease and in other aspects of the health sector, he promised to do more, if re-elected.

  • President mounts pressure on North’s leaders, Emirs

    President mounts pressure on North’s leaders, Emirs

    President Goodluck Jonathan has been paying nocturnal visits to the North’s leaders, Emirs and groups ahead of Saturday’s election.

    Dr. Jonathan’s biggest challenger, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is from the North.

    The President and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are worried about their prospects in Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, Adamawa, Kebbi, Niger, Bauchi, Kano, Borno, Yobe, Kwara, Zamfara and others.

    This, said a source, is why the President has turned to the Southwest as the “real battleground”.

    Jonathan has visited more than 50 key leaders in the North, urging them for support  to sway votes in his favour.

    A top source said: “Apart from the few visits captured by the media, the President has in the last six weeks met with more than 50 key Northern leaders, Emirs and groups to come to his rescue. His message has been reassuring that he will not disappoint the North.

    “Jonathan made most of the trips nocturnal to protect the image of the leaders and Emirs, who are described as match-makers in the region.

    “Some of the leaders Jonathan has lobbied are ex-President Ibrahim Babangida; ex-Minister of Defence Lt.-Gen. Theophilus Danjuma;  former Minister of Defence Mallam Adamu Ciroma; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Amb. Maiatama Sule; and Alh. Tanko Yakasai, among others.

    “He believes these leaders and Emirs can turn the table against Gen. Muhammadu Buhari,” the source said, adding:

    “It has, however, not been easy penetrating the North because of the perceived marginalisation of the region by his administration.

    “It has reached a frustrating level that in some states, the President and the PDP are only striving at securing at least 25 per cent of the votes.

    “The President panics because while he is sure of above 80 per cent of the votes in 11 states in the South-South and South-East, the North has been a hard nut to crack. Only Taraba, Plateau, Benue, Kogi and Gombe have given some ray of hope.

    “As I am talking to you, there is a fresh plan for the President to visit Adamawa State for the third time to meet with some PDP stalwarts who defected to the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

    “The President wants to prevail on these defectors to dump their ambitions and return to the PDP to ensure the victory of the ruling party.”

    Vice President Namadi Sambo is said to be under pressure to deliver the region.

    The problem, said the source, is compounded by the fact that most of the ministers from the North have not been embarking on direct campaigns for votes because of the likely backlash.

    “None of the ministers has been outstanding in mounting the soap box for Jonathan because the North is volatile. Instead, the ministers only appeared at the presidential campaign and zonal rallies before receding into the background,” he said.