Aftermath Of Jonathan’s Adoption: Fresh Concerns Over Sambo’s Fate via #LEADERSHIPNEWS The covert moves by some influential northern powerbrokers within the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to supplant Vice President Namadi Sambo ahead of the 2015 presidential election appear to have played out. The development is coming on the heels of the party’s formal adoption at Thursday’s meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of President Goodluck Jonathan as its sole candidate for the February 2015 presidential election. By implication, President Jonathan, though still silent on his return bid, will get the PDP presidential ticket unchallenged on December 6, 2014. But regardless of the party’s position, the four-layer adoption of President Jonathan was without the usual inclusion of the vice president, as was the case in 2011. As a result, forces loyal to Alhaji Sule Lamido and Ibrahim Shehu Shema, governors of Jigawa and Katsina states respectively, have been pushing for either of them to be the president’s running mate in 2015. The PDP Governors’ Forum, National Caucus, Board of Trustees (BoT), as well as the NEC, have all at separate meetings with a common position, adopted the president but are maintaining curious silence on whether or not his deputy would run with him in the 2015 presidential race. While the vice president has tied his continued political relevance to the discretion of the president, the ruling party has said the issue of the president’s running mate in 2015 was settled with Thursday’s endorsement. The governors in question have been vague on the issue too. All the same, a member of the PDP BoT, who spoke to our correspondent on condition anonymity just after the PDP NEC meeting, admitted that the silence over Sambo had elicited “expected curiosity within the party”. According to him, the adoption in favour of the president without a mention of the vice president was worrisome and the development gives credence to the fact that there were still forces within the PDP bent on discrediting Sambo ahead of the 2015 presidential race. “One cannot be too sure that all the adoptions reached or agreed to by the various levels of the party were without any intrigue or permutations. For one, you should know that there have been series of moves by some very powerful and influential forces, especially in the North-West, that have been drumming it loud without any inhibition, that the current vice president does not have what it takes politically to galvanise support for the PDP in the North and not even in the North-West. “The moves were on before Thursday’s adoption of the president for another term in office and the Katsina State governor, Shema, has been the most visible personality in this regard, but the moves became more pronounced when the NEC met and came out with the resolution to present President Jonathan as the party’s sole candidate. “When we met at the level of the BoT, some of us had thought that it was just a normal thing to be silent on the vice president, but before the NEC, it became obvious that some forces were very vehement that the vice president be insulated from the deal and be left at the mercy of the president, to see whether or not he would run with him in 2015. “I must confess that just before the NEC, a few of us from the South-South made efforts to include the vice president, that is to endorse both President Jonathan and his deputy, but some governors and their foot soldiers opposed the idea on the grounds that there was still ample time to determine whether or not the vice president has a grip of PDP politics in the North to be given the opportunity for another chance,” he disclosed. LEADERSHIP Weekend gathered that the position of the PDP had been to give the North West another opportunity for the position of Jonathan’s running mate, even though it was silent on Sambo. Although it could not be officially confirmed, reports were rife that in order to placate former president Olusegun Obasanjo and to garner substantial votes in the North-West, the Jigawa State governor was being fronted for as possible vice presidential material in 2015. Obasanjo has not hidden his preference for Lamido for the presidential job, even though the PDP NEC’s adoption of Jonathan appears to have shut him out of the race. It could not be officially confirmed if last week’s meeting between Obasanjo and Jonathan may have paved the way for the adoption of Jonathan that was equally laden with a soft-landing for Lamido. Gov Lamido Reacts Meanwhile, in spite of the unfolding scenario, Governor Lamido has distanced himself from the 2015 presidential race. Director of press, Jigawa Government House, Umar Kyari told our correspondent that at no time had his principal indicated interest in the 2015 presidential election. “There was no time the governor of Jigawa State, His Excellency Dr Sule Lamido indicated interest in running for the presidency of the country. This is not to say that he is not qualified, but because all the while, the stories about his 2015 presidential ambition have been the moves initiated by people who believe in him and his credentials. “The reaction to the question you put is not different from the other because in the light of the developments in the PDP, it is possible that people who believe in his ability may be pushing for him to be the president’s running mate. But I must tell you in all honesty that Governor Sule Lamido has refrained from making any categorical statement as regards 2015, whether as presidential candidate or running mate,” Kyari said. Katsina Gov, Shema Keeps Mum Efforts to reach Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema of Katsina State were not fruitful. His director of press, Ibrahim Matazu could not be reached, as his telephone was switched off. The governor’s special adviser on media, Sani Shuaibu promised to “touch base and respond”, but still was not answering his phone after about two hours of attempting to reach him. However, a lady who identified herself as his wife called back at about 4.15pm and told our correspondent that Shuaibu was busy and could not be reached. VP Sambo Speaks On His Fate Vice President Sambo has described as desperate, politicians who want him out of the 2015 race. Speaking through his spokesman, Umar Sani, Sambo said the issue of who becomes President Jonathan’s running mate was at the discretion of the president, even as he reminded Nigerians that his principal’s name did not need to feature in the serial adoptions by the cleavages of the PDP. “Whether or not I’ll run as his running mate in 2015 is purely a discretion and prerogative of Mr President and not a factor of political calculations of those who want me out. It should be noted, however, that what the party did was the best in the circumstances that we have found ourselves as a political party. “For those who think both the president and his vice ought to have been given a joint endorsement by the party, it should be noted that they have missed the point; things are not done like that. Nigerians should allow the president to first and foremost declare and then pick his running mate,” Sani said. This Is A Settled Matter – PDP National publicity secretary of the PDP, Olisa Metuh did not pick his calls and text messages sent to his line were not replied. But his deputy, Barrister Abdulahi Jalo, told our correspondent that the issue of Jonathan’s running mate was a “settled matter”. “I think we should not bring back this issue because of the cohesion of our great party, the PDP. You will recall that four basic leadership levels of the party took the decision. The caucus, the BoT, Governors’ Forum as well the NEC all took the decision at various times. “We believe our presidency is one and indivisible at all times; any attempt to tear it apart should be ignored by the media. All I am saying is that both President Jonathan and Vice President Sambo are one; as long as the head has been declared as the sole candidate, it should be taken that the matter is settled,” Jalo said. It would be recalled that at Thursday’s NEC meeting where he was adopted as the party’s sole presidential candidate, President Jonathan refrained from making any reference to his deputy, even as he said the move had humbled him. The president said, “At this point, let me say that the events of yesterday, starting with the BoT meeting last night and what has just happened today here with various motions adopting me as the sole candidate of the party has really humbled me. I’m totally overwhelmed. “Let me specially thank our governors that initiated that action; though of course before that, the House of Representatives in a meeting I had with them made a similar thing, but when the governors came up with a giant signed paper, it’s like atomic bomb. “I know the media people will expect me to say something. I am so overwhelmed that I lack words to express my mind. I will reserve that till an appropriate date that will come. “But I can only promise members of our party and indeed Nigerians that for you to have that kind of confidence in me is a big challenge. But I promise I will not disappoint you.” Jonathan’s adoption as PDP candidate on Thursday was dramatic. Shortly after the president and other party leaders had entered and settled down in the NEC meeting hall, PDP national publicity chairman, Olisa Metuh, quickly informed members that the party’s governors had information to pass to NEC members before the meeting commenced in earnest. Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, who swiftly identified himself as the one to make the announcement on behalf of the other governors stated that at a meeting on Wednesday, the governors of the party had endorsed Jonathan as a sole candidate for the 2015 election. He said the endorsement was unanimous and without reservations. To convince NEC members that there was unanimity among governors on the decision, Aliyu asked Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido to stand up and bear witness to his story. Lamido, who was sitting directly opposite the president and dressed in a grey suit stood up, looked directly at the president, smiled at him and raised his thumb as a sign of approval without uttering a word. The whole hall burst into thunderous applause, with the NEC members laughing and exchanging banters in celebration of Lamido’s acceptance of Jonathan’s candidature. Presenting a similar message from the BoT, a former deputy national chairman of the party, Shuaibu Oyedokun, said that the BoT had equally at its meeting on Wednesday night endorsed Jonathan as an unopposed candidate of the party. Senate President David Mark, who presented the position of the National Assembly PDP caucus to the NEC meeting, declared that as an institution that cherished the principle of continuity, the National Assembly had endorsed Jonathan for re-election long ago. Mark said, “It is the legislature that understands continuity better. We preach it and act it. What is happening today is good news. We had since resolved that if you have a president that is performing, there is no need to change him. It is for this reason that we in the National Assembly long ago resolved that President Goodluck Jonathan be adopted as a sole candidate for the 2015 election.” The PDP women’s caucus position, which was presented to NEC by Amb. Justina Eze, equally endorsed the president as a sole candidate. As soon as all groups had presented their endorsement messages to the NEC meeting, a former acting PDP national chairman, Haliru Bello moved a motion that NEC should adopt the positions of the Governors’ Forum and other caucuses. Haliru’s motion was promptly seconded by former governor of old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo, who commended the governors for having taken the decision earlier. Accordingly, the PDP national chairman, Ahmadu Adamu Muazu put the motion to vote and it was unanimously adopted. He said that the decision by PDP NEC for Jonathan’s sole candidature would be presented before the December 6, 2014 national convention for formal approval. It would be recalled that in 2011, the presidential campaign outfit, prior to the primaries was christened the Jonathan/Sambo Support Group. The same organisation with same office is now called the Goodluck Support Group (GSG). President Jonathan’s political adviser, Professor Rufai Alkali was yet to respond to a text message on the change of name as at press time. But former deputy national coordinator of the GSG, Dr Eddy Eniola Olafeso confirmed the development. “All I can say is that yes it is true the GSG used to be Jonathan/Sambo Support Group with same office. However, it is difficult for me to say anything further, because I am no longer there and cannot adduce reasons for the change,” he said. Olafeso was deputy to the immediate-past political adviser to President Jonathan, Alhaji Ahmed Ali Gulak, who was removed from office a few months ago.
Posted on: Sat, 20 Sep 2014 02:58:14 +0000
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