National leader of Nigeria's ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) Bamanga Tukur has confirmed the interest of President Goodluck Jonathan to seek re-election for the office of president come 2015 when the Nigeria will hold its next general elections.
Although the president has not publicly announced his interest to contest in the next presidential election, there had been agitations by opposition parties and some members of the ruling party, who claimed that his body language and political developments across the country reveal his 'real interest'. For this reason, some strong members of the ruling PDP including governors had defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nigeria's strongest opposition party, with an aim to wrest power from President Jonathan and the ruling party.
But, for the first time since the beginning of the crisis rocking the PDP, Mr. Tukur declared Thursday at a local event held in Abuja, Nigeria's capital city that the Nigerian leader has been chosen as the ruling party's presidential candidate for 2015. Urging party faithful not to be deterred by the exodus of some of its key members, the ruling party leader maintained that PDP remains insurmountable as the strongest and biggest party in Nigeria and Africa, according to Abuja-based local Leadership Newspaper on Friday.
"Don't be deterred by some people saying they are leaving the party. People leaving the party are individuals, not the party. It does not mean if they leave the party, the party leaves. No, the party remains. PDP is the only party in Nigeria that fields a candidate in every election that is held. Don't be deterred; don't be afraid, you are part of the ruling party," said the party leader who further tasked officials to play their roles wisely in making sure that Jonathan wins the 2015 election.
This declaration, may, however, evoke another round of controversy in the West African country.
Nigeria's former leader, Olusegun Obasanjo had written an acerbic 18-page letter, officially acknowledged by the presidency, to Jonathan, advising him to step down his interest in seeking re-election into office in 2015, based on a promise he (Jonathan) allegedly made in 2011 to him (Obasanjo), to governors, party stakeholders and Nigerians in general. "Up till two months ago, Mr. President, you told me that you have not told anybody that you would contest in 2015. I quickly pointed out to you that the signs and measures on the ground do not tally with your statement. You said the same to one other person who shared his observation with me. And only a fool would believe that statement you made to me judging by what is going on. I must say it is not ingenious. You may wish to pursue a more credible and more honorable path," Obasanjo wrote in his letter to Jonathan.
Just as the president continues to keep mum on his second term ambition, there seems to be no end in sight to the crises rocking Nigeria's ruling party for more than six months now. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Even though politics is an imaginable thing, but this is seem not to be possible. Tukur are you not deceiving Jonathan?
ReplyDeleteyou are very stupid by making this Comment,what is your problem? he will contest next presidential election,he has the power to contest.
ReplyDeleteU r mad & completely insane for using d word "stupid". Go to hell with ur useless president. Bunch of idiots.
ReplyDeleteFellow Nigerians,
ReplyDeleteI am induced by my conscience to ask these salient questions. Fantastic prizes await those who have memory of past events in the country.
1. Who among these people has ever planned a coup in Nigeria?
(a)Zik (b) Shagari (c) Fawehinmi (d) Obasanjo
2. Who among these conducted the most dubious elections in Nigeria?
(a)Obasanjo (b) Goodluck (C) Zik (d)Ahmadu Bello
3. Who declared the seat of an elected vice-president vacant?
(a) Shagari (b) Zik (c) Obasanjo (d) none of the above.
4. Who wrote: “dogs and journalist are not allowed" on the gate of his house?
(a) Obasanjo (b) Goodluck(c) Aguiyi-Ironsi (d) Goodluck Jonathan
5. Which leader gave away Bakassi peninsula without a national referendum or conference?
(a) Gowon (b) Babangida (c) Abacha) (d) Obasanjo
6. Which leader ordered the massacre of civilians in Zaki Biam and Odi ?
(a) Obasanjo (b) Abacha (c) Goodluck (d) Shonekan
7. Which leader looted money meant for our hospitals with his daughter?
(a) Shagari (b)Obasanjo (c) Abdulsalami (d) Goodluck
8. Which leader was accused of sleeping with his son’s wife?
(a) Goodluck (b) Buhari (c) Abdulsalami (d) Obasanjo
9. Whose administration witnessed the highest rate of political assassination, including that of an Attorney-general, several election candidates, yet nobody was held guilty?
(a)Goodluck (b)Abdulsalami (c) Shagari (d) Obasanjo
10. In whose administration did a prisoner win a senatorial seat from his prison cell?
(a)Obasanjo (b) Goodluck (c) Abacha (d) Buhari
11. In whose tenure was a serving governor kidnapped by the president’s foot-soldiers and burnt Government House and yet nothing was done? (a) Zik (b) Goodluck (c) Obasanjo (d) Yar’Adua
12. In whose tenure did we have the worst senate, when senate presidents were changed like clothes?
(a) Obasanjo (b) Goodluck (c)Shagari (d) Zik
13. Which leader sold our assets to cronies at ridiculous prices in the name of privatization?
(a) Abacha (b) Goodluck(c) all of the above (d) none of the above
14. Chinua Achebe rejected award of national honour from ……….. because he was corrupt?
(a) Goodluck (b) Shagari (c) Buhari (d) Obasanjo
15. Which former president recently accused Jonathan of being corrupt?
(a) Obasanjo (b) Gowon (c) Shagari (d) Buhari
Nigerians have refused to learn from experience. Can anyone mention to me any president or governor in Nigeria who lost an election in his bid for second term? Those interested in the leadership of Nigeria must wait for GEJ to complete his second term by 2020. If you think otherwise, get ready for war. KUDOS JONATHAN, MAJORITY OF NIGERIANS ARE BEHIND YOU. 2015 POLLS WILL SURELY CONFIRM THIS! OBJ is just envious.
ReplyDeleteWhich leader encourage corruption in Nigeria
ReplyDeleteWhich leader has no shoe but after several years in power refuse to tell us how many shoes he has now
Which leader that is a former University lecturer that allow the closure of University for such long a time
Which leader that is behaving like mumu
Which leader that was not recognize during Madiba funeral service
Which leader has Boko haram in his govt. yet he could not arrest nor charge to court
Under which leader has so many Nigerians killed yet there was no war
Which leader released armed robbers and the like from prison
Which leader pardon convicted former governors
Which leader hate others because they plan to to contest election for the post of president
Which leader has a Hipo wife
Which leader has no child except the adopted children
I will come back because there so many question to be asked than answer
Foolish man de asked question about Obasanjo is he not your party member.
Why not ask this question Which leader nominated weaklings and rig election and become weakling leaders. Animal you.
May God forgive you for calling a human being created by God hippopo & mumu. God give us leaders & we are to pray for our leaders,not calling them names. becareful before you curse urself & if u know u are very pure cast the first stone. The Good God will reward all our doings.
DeleteLet him go ahead and contest. But be rest assured he's going to be the first incumbent president to be defeated in an election! It's will be a great shame for all morons canvassing for him.
ReplyDeleteIf Nelson Mandela had been a nigerian be sure nigerians would have humiliated him thoroughly. nobody can please us. terrible!
ReplyDeleteJonathan and wife have proven that a childless couple cannot be entrusted with the destiny of our land
ReplyDeletePresident Jonathan has the right to contest the election and no amount of blackmail and political subtufage should prevent him from doing so. it is left to the voters to either elect him or elect him someone else. Let us play this game according to the rules.
ReplyDeleteWell..u guyz comment had made me laff nd feel sad about diz great nation..u guyz shuld led uz pray for diz nation nd seek for God intervention..
ReplyDeletemy first comment on this post was terrible that was what provoked the person to called mumu etc. obasanjo's government was still far better than Jonathan's government. Jonathan is just celebrating corruption every where. the first time Nigerian budget rose to trillion naira, what about the fuel subsidy matter frm 65 to 100 a liter yet it dosent still stop corruption in our country, no security in any part of Nigeria, boko haram has just destroy almost part of the North. he came publicly and promised Nigeria only one term why then is he trying to bring confusion in the state.
ReplyDelete