Even as President Goodluck Jonathan has not publicly thrown his hat into the ring, those in his column are firing on all fronts for his second term, and sketching plans for his ratification at the convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in November.
Sule Lamido
The big ticket at the convention is supposed to be the primaries in which Jonathan would make his pitch for the job in Aso Rock in a slug with other aspirants, prominent among them Governors Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu (Niger).
However, feelers indicate that the party may not allow anyone to challenge Jonathan, despite denial by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, who dismissed the report as misinformation floated by Jonathan’s opponents.
However, the talk has gained ground, particularly in the North, where a source in Kaduna, who did not want his name in print, insisted that the PDP leadership has concluded plans to present Jonathan as the sole candidate.
North alleges gag plot
He alleged that the plot is to ensure that no other PDP member, especially from the North, makes public his presidential ambition.
“They are doing everything to gag the potential presidential materials from the North from coming out. The plot is targeted at creating the false impression that at the end of the day, no other party member shows interest in the race for the PDP presidential ticket,” he said.
“But the plot is not going to work as I know of a number of Northern political heavyweights waiting for the appropriate time to make their intention public.”
The man posited that if Northern aspirants are shut out of the PDP they may defect to other parties, recalling how the then National Party of Nigeria (NPN) filibustered Moshood Abiola in 1993 which made him to seek his presidential ticket in another party.
“Nigerian politicians don’t learn anything from history. In 1993 when the late Moshood Abiola wanted to vie for the presidential election on the platform of now defunct NPN, he was shut out by the likes of Umaru Dikko, who told him that the presidency of Nigeria was not for sale.
“Abiola realised that he was not wanted in the party since Northerners had cornered the big job and wanted it for keeps. He called it quits.
“This is the scenario that will likely play out if the PDP leaders come up with this plot which they regard as their joker,” the source warned.
PDP governors looking elsewhere
The man disclosed that some Northern governors in the PDP are planning to dump the party once they confirm the plot being hatched against them by the leadership.
His claim echoed the views of Sokoto State Governor, Aliyu Wamako, who told journalists in Kaduna penultimate week that three of his colleagues in the PDP – two from the North, one from the South – plan to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Wamako did not disclose their names.
The aggrieved governors may announce their decision at a meeting of the Progressives Governors on Monday, September 1.
A national officer of the APC denied knowledge of it, but explained that it is not in the political interest of the governors if their identities are disclosed before they defect.
Dismissing the convention plot altogether, Metu said it is misinformation as no candidate in PDP gets a ticket without a vote.
He added: “Yes there is going to be a meeting of National Executive Council (NEC) members early next month; they are the one to call for a national conference or convention.
“What I also can tell you is that the election of PDP National Chairman, Adamu Mua’zu, and National Secretary, Oladipo Wale, should be rectified by the NEC.
“Even if the party comes out with a single candidate, its primaries must be carried out, monitored by the INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission) with the complete voting process of thump printing of yes or no answer and beamed nationwide.
“It will not be a secret ballot and the INEC will keep their record of the materials.”
Jonathan loyalists spread wings
However, Jonathan loyalists continue to multiply, especially in Abuja where they bombard media houses with statements urging him to declare his run.
One group, known as Former Guber Candidates Forum of Nigeria For Goodluck/Sambo 2015, has adopted him for the election.
The group, comprising former gubernatorial candidates across the 36 states, chaired by Kenneth Gbalikuna, issued a statement backing Jonathan.
He said Jonathan has performed well and deserves a second term to continue his good work to take Nigeria and Nigerians to the promised land.
Gbalikuna, former Bayelsa State governorship candidate, cited the establishment of nine federal universities in two years, several Almajiri and Nomadic schools, construction of rail tracks and hundreds of kilometres of roads, among others.
He appealed to all Nigerians to support the re-election of Jonathan, saying the group has stepped up plans to campaign for him, using posters, billboards, leaflets, radio and television jingles, newspaper advertisements, and press conferences.
The statement said based on the achievements of the Jonathan administration, his “humility and other special qualities” such as “fairness, even handedness, the part of the country where he is coming from, where no one has ever ruled Nigeria and as a destabilised Nigerian,” he ought to be given a second shot.
Gbalikuna spoke of plans for nationwide voter education to ensure a high turn-out in the elections next year, using platforms such as rallies and consultation with political big wigs.
Campaign in the Villa
The Presidency has also challenged the supporters of Jonathan at home and in the Diaspora to use social media to talk about his achievements.
His Political Affairs Assistant, Rufa’i Alkali, who spoke at the inauguration of Friends Of Goodluck (FOG) in Abuja, said he wants more friends of Jonathan to promote him in social media.
“When we go to social media we hardly see the responses of Friends of Goodluck, what are we doing? Again Friends of Goodluck should talk more positively about Nigeria because Nigeria is our country and we have to defend it,” he canvassed.
Presidential Assistant on Ethics and Value, Sarah Jubril, said the name of the organisation connotes that Nigerians who believe in the dream of the present administration will always support Jonathan.
FOG board of trustees Chairman, Theophilus Bamigboye, expressed confidence that Jonathan will be re-elected, echoed by FOG Director General, Tom Itua.
Itua said FOG has put in place structures in all the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, including all the 109 senatorial districts, 774 councils, and 8,809 registration areas.