• Another Northern governor
emerges Jonathan’s favourite
emerges Jonathan’s favourite
The
shape of the battle for the 2015 presidential ticket in the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) seems to be manifesting by the day.
shape of the battle for the 2015 presidential ticket in the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) seems to be manifesting by the day.
Some
powerful forces in the party are pushing for a replacement of Vice President
Namadi Sambo as running mate to President Goodluck Jonathan on the party’s
ticket.
powerful forces in the party are pushing for a replacement of Vice President
Namadi Sambo as running mate to President Goodluck Jonathan on the party’s
ticket.
Their
choice is a serving Northern governor, who, in the opinion of those pushing his
case, has more clout in the region than Sambo.
choice is a serving Northern governor, who, in the opinion of those pushing his
case, has more clout in the region than Sambo.
They
regard their candidate as the ultimate joker the party needs to win the North.
regard their candidate as the ultimate joker the party needs to win the North.
But a
few other leaders are wary of the backlash of dropping Sambo and they are
weighing the options.
few other leaders are wary of the backlash of dropping Sambo and they are
weighing the options.
According
to findings, a major target of the Jonathan camp is how to secure the backing
of at least 11 out of the 19 states in the North.
to findings, a major target of the Jonathan camp is how to secure the backing
of at least 11 out of the 19 states in the North.
The
permutations in the camp of the President is that he could win convincingly in
22 states made up of 11 in the North, five in the South-East and six states in
the South-South.
permutations in the camp of the President is that he could win convincingly in
22 states made up of 11 in the North, five in the South-East and six states in
the South-South.
Northern
states being targeted are Plateau, Sokoto, Gombe, Benue, Kogi, Bauchi, Taraba,
Adamawa, Kebbi, Kwara and Jigawa.
states being targeted are Plateau, Sokoto, Gombe, Benue, Kogi, Bauchi, Taraba,
Adamawa, Kebbi, Kwara and Jigawa.
Katsina,
Kano, Kaduna, Zamfara, Yobe, Borno, Nasarawa and Niger are considered
unpredictable.
Kano, Kaduna, Zamfara, Yobe, Borno, Nasarawa and Niger are considered
unpredictable.
A party
source, who spoke in confidence, said: “A committee, comprising some trusted
ministers, select loyal PDP leaders and strategists of the President have been
working round the clock on how to secure the second term mandate.
source, who spoke in confidence, said: “A committee, comprising some trusted
ministers, select loyal PDP leaders and strategists of the President have been
working round the clock on how to secure the second term mandate.
“After
the groundwork has reached an appreciable level, the President will then make a
declaration in 2014.
the groundwork has reached an appreciable level, the President will then make a
declaration in 2014.
“But a
major challenge is how to win at least 11 of the 19 states in the North. The
South-East and South-South are already taken for granted. Even where there is a
bit of opposition in Rivers State, the presidency is already tackling Governor
Rotimi Amaechi.
major challenge is how to win at least 11 of the 19 states in the North. The
South-East and South-South are already taken for granted. Even where there is a
bit of opposition in Rivers State, the presidency is already tackling Governor
Rotimi Amaechi.
“Some
PDP leaders are pushing for another Northern governor as running mate to
President Jonathan to secure the North, especially the politically volatile
North-West and North-East.
PDP leaders are pushing for another Northern governor as running mate to
President Jonathan to secure the North, especially the politically volatile
North-West and North-East.
“A
fair-complexioned governor in the North-West is being proposed to replace
Vice-President Namadi Sambo, whose stronghold on the North is rated as weak.
Since Sambo came on board, the party leaders believe he had acted more as a
“technocrat” than a politician.
fair-complexioned governor in the North-West is being proposed to replace
Vice-President Namadi Sambo, whose stronghold on the North is rated as weak.
Since Sambo came on board, the party leaders believe he had acted more as a
“technocrat” than a politician.
“They
are clamouring for a VP who could play a political role like ex-VP Atiku
Abubakar did for former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
are clamouring for a VP who could play a political role like ex-VP Atiku
Abubakar did for former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
“As
part of the induction of the said North-West governor into national politics,
some PDP leaders and governors have recommended him to succeed Governor Rotimi
Amaechi as the chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum in May.
part of the induction of the said North-West governor into national politics,
some PDP leaders and governors have recommended him to succeed Governor Rotimi
Amaechi as the chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum in May.
“The
recommendation of the governor is based on his achievements, antecedents with
the Yar’Aduas, and ability to reach out to Northern emirs and opinion leaders.”
recommendation of the governor is based on his achievements, antecedents with
the Yar’Aduas, and ability to reach out to Northern emirs and opinion leaders.”
Asked
of the disposition of Jonathan, the source added: “So far, he is not disposed
to dropping his deputy but if the party thinks otherwise in 2015, he might have
no choice.
of the disposition of Jonathan, the source added: “So far, he is not disposed
to dropping his deputy but if the party thinks otherwise in 2015, he might have
no choice.
“The
President does not want to talk about 2015 now to avoid distraction.”
President does not want to talk about 2015 now to avoid distraction.”
Another
source added that some forces in the presidency are uncomfortable with Sambo’s
political weight.
source added that some forces in the presidency are uncomfortable with Sambo’s
political weight.
“I
think the signs are there that the PDP might change its team because some
forces want Sambo out. They have no particular reason than sheer politics. They
are suspecting his movement too.
think the signs are there that the PDP might change its team because some
forces want Sambo out. They have no particular reason than sheer politics. They
are suspecting his movement too.
“Recently,
Sambo was scheduled for a trip to Owerri, Imo State. His advance team had gone
to Owerri only for the VP to be stopped from going. They said the President
asked Sambo to represent him elsewhere.”
Sambo was scheduled for a trip to Owerri, Imo State. His advance team had gone
to Owerri only for the VP to be stopped from going. They said the President
asked Sambo to represent him elsewhere.”
It was
also gathered that Jonathan’s strategists have not lost hope on their plan to
‘capture’ the South-West in 2015.
also gathered that Jonathan’s strategists have not lost hope on their plan to
‘capture’ the South-West in 2015.
It was
learnt that they are targeting Osun and Ekiti States.
learnt that they are targeting Osun and Ekiti States.
Another
source said: “Jonathan’s team is yet to give up on the South-West although the
presidency’s cold war with Obasanjo and the recent sack of the National
Secretary of PDP have discouraged most party members in the geopolitical zone.
source said: “Jonathan’s team is yet to give up on the South-West although the
presidency’s cold war with Obasanjo and the recent sack of the National
Secretary of PDP have discouraged most party members in the geopolitical zone.
“Their
targets are Ekiti and Osun States. The recent development in PDP has helped to
strengthen people’s faith in the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the zone.
The performance of the ACN governors has added much value too.”
targets are Ekiti and Osun States. The recent development in PDP has helped to
strengthen people’s faith in the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the zone.
The performance of the ACN governors has added much value too.”
Although
Jonathan is banking on Governor Olusegun Mimiko and the Labour Party to deliver
Ondo State in the South-West, there are concerns that the politics of the
South-West does not follow a similar pattern all the time.
Jonathan is banking on Governor Olusegun Mimiko and the Labour Party to deliver
Ondo State in the South-West, there are concerns that the politics of the
South-West does not follow a similar pattern all the time.
It was
gathered that the same forces which claimed to have secured a second term
ticket for Mimiko, came out openly to protest against Jonathan’s administration
for allegedly marginalising the South-West.
gathered that the same forces which claimed to have secured a second term
ticket for Mimiko, came out openly to protest against Jonathan’s administration
for allegedly marginalising the South-West.
Source: The Nation
