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Balarabe, others on how Jonathan can survive opposition
Balarabe, others on how Jonathan can survive opposition
Those who believe that
President Goodluck Jonathan has a mountain to climb in getting northern votes
in seeking re-election in 2015 may be wrong after all, as former Kaduna State
military administrator, retired Colonel Abubakar Umar, said the North would not
vote as a bloc during the next general elections.
President Goodluck Jonathan has a mountain to climb in getting northern votes
in seeking re-election in 2015 may be wrong after all, as former Kaduna State
military administrator, retired Colonel Abubakar Umar, said the North would not
vote as a bloc during the next general elections.
Umar spoke to Daily Newswatch in an
interview in Kaduna, while other northern opinion leaders, including Alhaji
Balarabe Musa, and Alhaji Abba Gana, former minister of the Federal Capital
Territory, and others, also highlighted how President Goodluck Jonathan can
survive the predominantly northern opposition.
interview in Kaduna, while other northern opinion leaders, including Alhaji
Balarabe Musa, and Alhaji Abba Gana, former minister of the Federal Capital
Territory, and others, also highlighted how President Goodluck Jonathan can
survive the predominantly northern opposition.
Umar told Daily Newswatch that,
“In asking this question, you seem to be assuming that the North will vote as a
bloc. Nothing will be further from the reality. It is my opinion that the
electorate in the North, as in other parts of the country, will consider the
merits of each of the presidential candidates in their voting decisions.”
“In asking this question, you seem to be assuming that the North will vote as a
bloc. Nothing will be further from the reality. It is my opinion that the
electorate in the North, as in other parts of the country, will consider the
merits of each of the presidential candidates in their voting decisions.”
He said, “There is a
growing misconception that the opposition of the G7 Governors is a
representation of the collective political opinion or interest of the North,”
he said.
growing misconception that the opposition of the G7 Governors is a
representation of the collective political opinion or interest of the North,”
he said.
Umar stressed that far
from seeing his possible re-election as an uphill task, President Jonathan
should come out in the open and exercise his constitutional right to seek
re-election through due process, seeking his party’s nomination and then
presenting himself to the Nigerian electorate.
from seeing his possible re-election as an uphill task, President Jonathan
should come out in the open and exercise his constitutional right to seek
re-election through due process, seeking his party’s nomination and then
presenting himself to the Nigerian electorate.
“The challenge to his
eligibility or qualification should be through the courts. His suitability
should be challenged through responsible debates in the course of campaign,” he
said.
eligibility or qualification should be through the courts. His suitability
should be challenged through responsible debates in the course of campaign,” he
said.
The former military
governor of Kaduna State said it would be presumptuous of anyone to determine
how the North will vote in the 2015 presidential election. He insisted that the
North will not vote as a bloc, and as for the zoning arrangement of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP), it is dead and buried in 2011, he said.
governor of Kaduna State said it would be presumptuous of anyone to determine
how the North will vote in the 2015 presidential election. He insisted that the
North will not vote as a bloc, and as for the zoning arrangement of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP), it is dead and buried in 2011, he said.
The other northern opinion
leaders, apart from Umar, also advised President Jonathan on how to survive the
predominantly northern opposition. They include Second Republic governor of
Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, Abba Gana, as well as spokesman of the
House of Representatives, Zakari Mohammed.
leaders, apart from Umar, also advised President Jonathan on how to survive the
predominantly northern opposition. They include Second Republic governor of
Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, Abba Gana, as well as spokesman of the
House of Representatives, Zakari Mohammed.
Balarabe said the only
issue is for President Jonathan to accede to what the northerners want, and he
should know that there are two major elements in the North: the progressives
and the reactionaries. He should choose which of the two groups he wants to
accede.
issue is for President Jonathan to accede to what the northerners want, and he
should know that there are two major elements in the North: the progressives
and the reactionaries. He should choose which of the two groups he wants to
accede.
“He should know that the
North is divided into two, the progressives and the reactionaries, and he
should decide those he wants to appease. It may not be possible for him to
appease both the reactionary North and the progressive North. It may not be
possible for him to appease the leaders and the led, he should know that.
North is divided into two, the progressives and the reactionaries, and he
should decide those he wants to appease. It may not be possible for him to
appease both the reactionary North and the progressive North. It may not be
possible for him to appease the leaders and the led, he should know that.
“The North is divided;
because there is a section of the North which says actually, we have passed the
stage where we should be talking about North and South. What is important is
building Nigeria. The issue is not where the President comes from, either from
the North or from the South. The issue is that there are two fundamental
problems, whoever is able to solve the two fundamental problems the North will
go ahead with him.”
because there is a section of the North which says actually, we have passed the
stage where we should be talking about North and South. What is important is
building Nigeria. The issue is not where the President comes from, either from
the North or from the South. The issue is that there are two fundamental
problems, whoever is able to solve the two fundamental problems the North will
go ahead with him.”
The former governor urged
President Jonathan to tackle the problems of the development disparity between
the North and the South, if he wants northerners to go along with him.
President Jonathan to tackle the problems of the development disparity between
the North and the South, if he wants northerners to go along with him.
“The problems are those of Almajiris and disparity in the
development in the North and the South. Whoever can tackle these problems in
the North, they will go along with him. You and I will realise that the North
and the South benefit from the economy. The North is fair in terms of political
power, but the problem in the North is that of Almajiris and the problem of educational development.
development in the North and the South. Whoever can tackle these problems in
the North, they will go along with him. You and I will realise that the North
and the South benefit from the economy. The North is fair in terms of political
power, but the problem in the North is that of Almajiris and the problem of educational development.
“But there are some
Northerners who are in opposition to the reactionary Northerners. Some of the
progressives in the North say they want a united Nigeria and a progressive
government that can solve the problems of Nigeria. There are some Northerners
that say the North is at a disadvantage in terms of development,” he explained.
Northerners who are in opposition to the reactionary Northerners. Some of the
progressives in the North say they want a united Nigeria and a progressive
government that can solve the problems of Nigeria. There are some Northerners
that say the North is at a disadvantage in terms of development,” he explained.
However, in spite of the
vehement opposition to the President’s likely quest for a second term from the
core North, Abba Gana is upbeat about Jonathan getting the support of majority
of northerners in his re-election bid. He said all the President needs do is to
ensure fairness to all.
vehement opposition to the President’s likely quest for a second term from the
core North, Abba Gana is upbeat about Jonathan getting the support of majority
of northerners in his re-election bid. He said all the President needs do is to
ensure fairness to all.
Gana disclosed that there
are many northerners who are ready to vote for Jonathan on the understanding
that the North, having produced nine Nigerian Heads of State should allow its
traditional ally, the South-South to exhaust its own opportunity of governing
Nigeria for the first time.
are many northerners who are ready to vote for Jonathan on the understanding
that the North, having produced nine Nigerian Heads of State should allow its
traditional ally, the South-South to exhaust its own opportunity of governing
Nigeria for the first time.
The former FCT minister
also agreed with Umar that the North would not vote as a bloc, adding, however,
that neither the Northern Elders Council nor the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF)
can speak for the North.
also agreed with Umar that the North would not vote as a bloc, adding, however,
that neither the Northern Elders Council nor the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF)
can speak for the North.
But he expects the
President to continue to reach out to the northern people.
President to continue to reach out to the northern people.
However, Zakari Mohammed,
spokesman of the House of Representatives, believed that for Jonathan to get
the support of the North for his re-election bid in 2015, he has to thread the
same path he did in 2011 by meeting leaders of the party in the northern states
and seeking their consent.
spokesman of the House of Representatives, believed that for Jonathan to get
the support of the North for his re-election bid in 2015, he has to thread the
same path he did in 2011 by meeting leaders of the party in the northern states
and seeking their consent.
“He surely won’t get the
support of everybody, but could win some”, he said, stressing there are people
around Jonathan whose agenda is at variance with his.
support of everybody, but could win some”, he said, stressing there are people
around Jonathan whose agenda is at variance with his.
“He has to get rid of such
people from the corridors of power. He doesn’t have to be nice to such people
to be a good leader. He doesn’t have to be nice to everybody,” Mohammed said.
people from the corridors of power. He doesn’t have to be nice to such people
to be a good leader. He doesn’t have to be nice to everybody,” Mohammed said.
The lawmaker would want
Jonathan to effect a change in leadership of the PDP, especially the Alhaji
Bamanga Tukur-led National Working Committee (NWC).
Jonathan to effect a change in leadership of the PDP, especially the Alhaji
Bamanga Tukur-led National Working Committee (NWC).
“You and I know that the
present leadership of the party is not helping matters,” he said.
present leadership of the party is not helping matters,” he said.
On his part, Senator
Emmanuel Bwacha, representing Taraba South in the Senate, said he personally
has no problem with Jonathan remaining in office for another six years, saying
that he is not aware of anything achieved by his predecessor that the present
government has failed to accomplish.
Emmanuel Bwacha, representing Taraba South in the Senate, said he personally
has no problem with Jonathan remaining in office for another six years, saying
that he is not aware of anything achieved by his predecessor that the present
government has failed to accomplish.
For the President of Arewa
Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) Alhaji Yerima Shetima, Jonathan should be more
concerned about national issues rather than sectional matters, stressing that
is the only means that can guarantee his support for a second term in office.
Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) Alhaji Yerima Shetima, Jonathan should be more
concerned about national issues rather than sectional matters, stressing that
is the only means that can guarantee his support for a second term in office.
According to Shetima, part
of the problems Jonathan has is treating his latent re-election bid as his own
creation. The President has made it glaring that he has sympathy for Niger
Delta as against the entire country that is his constituency.
of the problems Jonathan has is treating his latent re-election bid as his own
creation. The President has made it glaring that he has sympathy for Niger
Delta as against the entire country that is his constituency.
Shetima explained that
though he is favourably deposed to having “a President that will be concerned
with the development of the country; the President may not necessarily portray
himself as belonging to one section of the country, because emphasising that a
certain section of the nation should produce the President has in no way helped
the country”.
though he is favourably deposed to having “a President that will be concerned
with the development of the country; the President may not necessarily portray
himself as belonging to one section of the country, because emphasising that a
certain section of the nation should produce the President has in no way helped
the country”.
“This idea of a section
producing the President has not favoured the country. I do not share the idea
of sectional leadership. The President should have a rethink and make himself a
national leader, rather than playing up sectional issues.”
producing the President has not favoured the country. I do not share the idea
of sectional leadership. The President should have a rethink and make himself a
national leader, rather than playing up sectional issues.”
Source: Daily Newswatch
