President Goodluck Jonathan’s declaration to contest for second term will hold on Tuesday in Abuja, London, Washington DC and three other cities.
It was learnt that while Jonathan would mount the podium at the Eagle Square in Abuja, a replica of the event would be staged in Johannesburg, South Africa; London, UK; and in four American cities of Washington DC, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Houston.
The global dimension added to the President’s declaration was said to have been sponsored by his supporters and members of the Peoples Democratic Party in the Diaspora, under the aegis of the One Nigeria Coalition.
As of the time of this report on Sunday, security had already been beefed up in and around the Eagle Square, venue of the President’s declaration.
Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Prof. Rufai Alkali, has said it will be unfair to deny Jonathan the right to seek re-election on account of the insecurity in the North-East.
Alkali said this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja on Sunday. He spoke at an event to mark the President’s planned official declaration.
He was reacting to claims in some quarters that the President was insensitive to the plight of Nigerians, who had been under siege by the Boko Haram sect in the North-East.
The President’s aide said his principal felt the pains of all Nigerians and had been doing everything within his powers to deal with the situation and that it was uncharitable for anyone to use the security situation in the country to deny the President the right to seek re-election in 2015.
Alkali said, “The President took his time to say he will declare well after many others have done so.
“I feel that if others were not dissuaded by the security challenges from showing interest to contest, then I think there is no valid reason that will stop a sitting President from contesting.
“It does not make sense for you to say Mr. President should not declare or should not contest because there is crisis or security challenges but you, immediately INEC releases the time-table, rush to your party secretariat to purchase the form, organise a huge rally and dance around. I think what is good for the goose is good for the gander.”
Reacting, the National Publicity Secretary of the opposition All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said Alkali ought to advise his boss to protect Nigerians instead of trying to sell “a bad product”
“How many of our aspirants are today commanders-in-chief? Whose job is it to protect us all? Who has failed to perform this basic task of governance? I feel sorry for the presidential aides; they are labouring to sell a bad product. If I were him (Alkali) I will recommend the book ‘stopping a terrorist’ to the President,” Mohammed said. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
If Jonathan declares his candidacy in the cities noted, he is certainly more foolish than I ever would have imagined. What is he so proud of, leadership of the most corrupt nation in the world or what? What an idiot.
ReplyDeleteThis GEJ really thinks he has done well. I know he will now face anothe protest in d states. Why not hide in Abuja n do ur thing. No point selling shame outside the shores.
ReplyDeletePlease they should stop ridiculing Nigeria, why should the declaration be made also in foreign lands? I he seeking for re-election in those countries?, is not necessary, declare in Abuja and that will be all. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteClueless sounds like a song of praise with this Govt. If this would have been a normal thing for declaration, should it be now of all times, "The man that went to school without shoes"? There seem to be no angle of recklessness that cannot be seen in this Govt. It’s often said that a Goat will always be a goat even when it is flown abroad.
ReplyDeleteGet ready to hang urself come 2015 bcos he will stil be there or there will be no Nigeria
DeleteI think ur condition mentally is worse than that of ur president
DeleteWe know he is too desperate to go back to Aso Rock. Let him declare in Heaven too
ReplyDeleteI feel ashamed of this level of desperatness.
ReplyDeleteIf GEJ like, let him make the declaration in Heaven. He is only declaring the commencement of writing his hand-over note. We are tired on this non-performing Otuoke shoe-less boy as president.
ReplyDeleteGet ready to hang urself come 2015 bcos he will stil be there or there will be no Nigeria
DeleteIs Jonathan seeking reelection in those countries, why wastes so much energy, money , time and scarced resources in foreign land on simple things. Can't this government be reasonable enough to some extent. Because they call you a fool, must you prove that indeed you are a fool ?????. Try to prove some differences.
ReplyDeleteHabah
Now I'm so ashamed to be a Nigerian. How did we allow our country to led by this reckless person? What is he trying to prove? Is this some kind of show business or just a declaration of intention to run? Did Obama, Zuma, or other country's presidents declare in Abuja when they contested? This guy is bent on setting and breaking every available negative record while running Nigeria aground.
ReplyDeleteFor a person that hails from a state were an illiterate was a perm sec, what do u expect.
DeletePLS GEJ DON'T DO THIS WE HAVE REFUGEES, HOMELESS PEOPLE IN THE NORTH DISPLACED BY INSURGENCY THAT WAS CREATED BY YOUR GOV'T, JUST DECLARE IN YOUR OFFICE AND USE THE MONEY FOR YOUR FOLLOWERS THAT WILL SHOW YOUR CONCERN TO THE PEOPLE IN TROUBLE AND PROBABLY EARN YOU MORE RESPECT
ReplyDeleteUncle joe what happen to space? Let's see if people from that countries will come to Niger and vote for you come 2015. Is we the Nigerian that will determined your faith forget all this propaganda.
ReplyDeleteMaybe he is running for the mayor of the universe from the corruption headquarters of the third world.
ReplyDelete