Jonathan addresses the nation today

President Goodluck Jonathan will present a special presidential address to the nation to mark the country’s 50th independence anniversary.

In a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ima Niboro, said the presidential address would be broadcast before a cross-section of young Nigerians drawn from various walks of life at the forecourt of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

“This is a unique departure from the old practice where presidential broadcasts are pre-recorded and relayed to the nation. All television and radio stations may wish to hook up with the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria for the broadcast,” the statement read.

God is behind Nigeria @ 50 celebrations, says CAN President

The president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has said that it is biblical and in God’s plan for Nigeria to celebrate 50 years independence anniversary, even though there appears to be little to celebrate for.

Pastor Oritsejafor said as men of faith, the jubilee is a celebration of hope for a better Nigeria.The CAN president spoke yesterday at a press conference organised by the association in Abuja to mark the 50th Anniversary Jubilee Celebration.

He said, “As we prepare to celebrate our 50th independence anniversary as a nation, there is need to thank God for the last 50 years and to look forward to the next 50 years with great expectations.”

He said in spite of many Nigerians asking why Nigeria is celebrating in the midst of abject poverty among its citizens, it was still relevant to celebrate as God has kept the nation united for the past 50 years despite so many calamities.

“Though it might seem like there isn’t much to jubilate about in the nation, prophetically and by faith, we celebrate jubilee. We believe that as God sees our faith, He will give us cause to be jubilant as we begin the journey of another 50 years.

We don’t want to see things change before we rejoice, we rejoice in advance in firm faith that our God has heard our prayers and will supernaturally deliver this nation,” he said.

He however, lamented that in all ways, every Nigerian has failed Nigeria and it was time to bring about that change that is needed to move Nigeria forward.

He commended the Independent National Electoral Commission for taking the right steps towards holding credible elections and urged Nigerians to vote for good leaders.

Nigeria - Mama G - National Moi - Moi

Jonathan asks Senate, Reps to amend constitution

ABUJA— PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, asked the Senate to amend relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution and the 2010 Electoral Act to accommodate the new dates requested by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for the conduct of the 2011 polls.

President Jonathan in letter to the Senate read by Senator David Mark, urged the Senate to fast track the amendments noting that he was in agreement with INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, that the January date for 2011 general elections was not tenable.

The letter reads: “I am in receipt of a letter from the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on the above subject matter.

Planning and procurement

“According to the Chairman, the request is predicated on the inability of INEC to implement its detailed Action Plan with regards to planning, procurement and deployment for registration of voters and elections, within the time-lines in the context of the Electoral Act. It is noteworthy that the leadership of all the political parties endorsed the request in a recent retreat.

“While I agree with INEC on the validity of the request and the need to address the apparent difficulties, I shall propose an amendment of the relevant laws by inclusion of transitional provisions which will enable INEC conduct general elections between now and the end of April 2011.”

Meanwhile, the President has asked the Senate to expedite action on the amendment of 2010 Electoral Act to pave way for the extension of election from January to April.

He told the Senate in another letter: “I wish to refer to my letter notifying you of the letter by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, regarding its apprehension of the implementation of the Electoral Calendar.

Nigeria: 'Presidency is Not Zoned' - Jonathan

Abuja — President Goodluck Jonathan finally broke his silence over the zoning formula of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday, as he declared that the office of the president is not zoned going by the party's constitution.

The president made this clarification at the national headquarters of the party, when he returned his nomination form to contest the party's presidential primaries. Jonathan also said he was the most experienced person to the office of the president.

He spoke at an interactive session with the physically challenged, women, children and the aged, as part of "Nigeria At 50" celebrations. He said that having been a deputy governor, acting governor, governor, vice president, acting president and president, there is hardly any presidential aspirant that has his experiences.

Jonathan returned his nomination form to the office of the national organising secretary of the party, Prince Uche Secondus at about 3.12p.m, before proceeding to the office of the national chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, where he fielded questions from news men.

Asked what is his reaction to the clamour by some presidential aspirants that the office of the president is zoned to the north until 2015, the president declared: "Either by virtue of the PDP constitution, or in practice, the presidency of Nigeria has never been zoned to any part of the country."

Jonathan maintained that the party's constitution only warrants it to zone offices that it has 'reasonable control over'. He listed such offices to include, the office of the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives and other principal offices of the National Assembly, the national chairman of the party, national secretary of the party and their likes at the state level.

The president said that before these offices are zoned, the president and vice-president must have emerged. While assuring that he would not do anything that is at variance with the party's constitution, Jonathan stated emphatically that, "there is nothing like zoning the presidency to the north or zoning the presidency to the south."

Find below, the full text of Jonathan's response to zoning.

"The issue you asked about zoning. This is the first time I have to comment on zoning. I have decided to talk about it, but, at the appropriate time, you will know a little more. But, either by virtue of the PDP constitution, or in practice, the presidency of Nigeria has never been zoned to any part of the country.

It has never been zoned or maybe I would read some sections of our own constitution too. There is the concept of zoning and rotation in the PDP constitution to encourage power to move from one part to the other and it is not limited to the office of the president.

We will read that section from the least office (from councillorship to the presidency) to encourage rotation and the issue of zoning, PDP does not zone the presidency, but PDP zones offices they have absolute control or reasonable control. The fact also is that the chairman of the party, deputy chairman, secretary, these are offices that the PDP has absolute control and normally PDP will zone.

"The office of the president and other elective offices like Senate president, speaker and National Assembly officers, PDP has reasonable control as long as we are in the majority. Those offices could be zoned. But, before you zone those offices, the president and the vice-president would have first emerge. I am saying this because I was involved.

If you take the situation of the 2007 election for example, when Umaru Musa Yar'Adua and myself emerged, then we met. Ali is here, he was the chairman of the party then, the former President Olusegun Obasanjo, our late President Yar'Adua, myself, the secretary of the party then, Ojo Maduekwe and Tony Anenih, we sat down in the Glass House. The North would have gotten a president who is from the North West, we have a vice-president who is from the South-South, then, where should we place the party chairman, then we decided it has to go to the South East.

Where do we place the Senate president, we decided it has to go to the North Central. And now we zoned all these other offices. These are offices that PDP has some reasonable control. But before you zone them, the president and vice president first must emerge.

"If you look at the tradition of PDP, after zoning those offices, if for any reason any of them resigned, then you call on that zone to pick a replacement. That is why when Ogbulafor resigned, the party had to go to the South East to pick the current chairman (Nwodo).

"When Patricia Etteh resigned as Speaker of the House of Representatives, the party had to go to the South West. The party did not just go to the South. So, if anybody is making that argument, then of course, he can only say ok, the North West, then, nobody from the North Central zone can even aspire to the presidency or the North East. PDP operates on the six zonal structure.

"The concept of zoning has been in PDP from inception. We have the PDP 1999 constitution and if you ask the chairman will give you. This is the very first constitution and the zoning concept is there, but not expressly stated. Then, 2001 constitution, it says that in Article 7 (2) ( c ), "in pursuance of the principles of equity, justice and fairness, the party shall adhere to the policy of rotation and zoning of party and public elective offices and it shall be enforced by the appropriate executive committee at all levels from councillor to presidency"

"Even at state level, the PDP encourages the governorship position to be rotated. The other offices are zoned after the governor and the deputy governor have emerged. Let me take two states and give you example at that level for those who want to over drag this.

"And this was in 2001. Let me digress a little. Those who are arguing, especially those who are also aspirants, who are arguing about this zoning, ask them, were they interested in contesting the Presidency of this country in 2003? Were they interested in 2007? Of course, if by our practice, PDP has a zoning arrangement that the presidency will be in the North for eight years, then south for eight years, then North for eight years, in 2003 no northern aspirant would have developed interest. But in 2003, you know that some of these people who are talking about zoning, it created a lot of havoc in the party, because they wanted to contest, even against Obasanjo, who had served only for one term.

"Then, in 2007, we had about 28 aspirants. If it was purported to have been zoned to the North, then you wouldn't have expected any southerner, but we even had about 16, more southerners that contested for the presidency. So, even in practice, the PDP constitution, the one I read, I decided to read from 2001, to tell you that it is not a recent issue. It has been a part of the party. This is 2009.

The 2009 constitution, the current one, they lifted it exactly, no word is altered. The process of zoning is not limited to the presidency alone. The concept of rotation, at the councillorship level, the party encourages us to shift councillorship to either from one community to the other or one compound to the other or from one family to the other that make up the ward. At the local government chairmanship level, we encourage that the post should move from one ward to the other so that no one ward can monopolise the seat. It goes on for all the seats."

"In Kwara State, you see that Saraki, whose term is completing, he is leaving, because the Nigerian constitution allows for two tenure. But, of course, the younger sister is contesting. If the party has zoned the position, definitely, somebody from that senatorial district cannot contest, except the younger sister is from a different senatorial district.

"If you look at the situation in Bayelsa State, you know my history. I am from Brass Senatorial District. I took over to finish Alamieyesiegha's tenure, just like it has happened at the federal level. I was to go back and contest and the party had no objection. I even got the party ticket after the primary.

But because I was now drafted to contest the vice-presidency seat, the party set up a committee, Dr. Ahmadu Ali is here, and gave Timipreye Sylva, who is from my senatorial district. The party would have said no, no, no, it had to go back may be to the Central Senatorial District, where Alamieyesiegha comes from, let them bring the aspirant form there.

Nigeria at 50 Awards - Jonathan Excludes Murtala, Buhari, IBB, Abacha

Former heads of state Muhammadu Buhari, Ibahim Babangida and Sani Abacha have been excluded from the special Golden Jubilee independence anniversary awards on 50 distinguished Nigerians by President Goodluck Jonathan. Jonathan also excluded the late Head of State Murtala Ramat Muhammad in the independence anniversary awards on Nigerians and friends of the country.

A statement yesterday by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, said the 50 personalities would be honoured for their contributions to the development of the country.

Those to be awarded are: Herbert Macaulay (Lagos), Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe (Anambra), Alhaji Ahmadu Bello (Sokoto), Chief Obafemi Awolowo (Ogun) , Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (Bauchi), Chief Samuel Akintola (Oyo), Mallam Aminu Kano and Chief Anthony Enahoro (Edo).

Ernest Okoli (Bayelsa), Jaja Wachukwu (Abia), Dennis Osadebay (Delta), Maj-Gen J.T.U Aguiyi-Ironsi (Abia) Generals Yakubu Gowon (Plateau),Olusegun Obasanjo (Ogun) Abdulsalami Abubakar (Niger) and Prof. Kenneth Dike (Anambra).
Relevant Links

Profs. Jacob Ade Ajayi (Ekiti), Ishaya Audu (Kaduna), Iya Abubakar (Adamawa), Chief Emeka Anyaoku (Anambra), Alhaji Shehu Shagari (Sokoto), Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule (Kano), Joseph Tarka (Benue), Shettima Ali Monguno (Borno) and Cardinal Francis Arinze (Anambra), Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq 111, Sultan of Sokoto (Sokoto) and Oba Adesoji Aderemi (Osun).

Also, Profs Wole Soyinka (Ogun), Chinua Achebe (Anambra), Alhaji Abubakar Imam (Kaduna), Alhaji Babatunde Jose (Lagos), Justices Adetokunbo Ademola (Ogun), Egbert Udo Udoma (Akwa-Ibom) Prof. Teslim Elias (Lagos), Chief Rotimi Alade Williams (Lagos), Justice Mamman Nasir (Kastina), Alhaji Alhassan Dantata (Kano), Alhaji Aliko Dangote (Kano), Chief Mike Adenuga (Ogun), Richard Ihetu aka Dick Tiger (Abia), Kanu Nwankwo (Abia) and Chioma Ajunwa (Imo).

Daniel Igali (Bayelsa), Michael Akinwunmi (Ogun), Mrs Funmilayo Ransome Kuti (Ogun), Mrs Margaret Ekpo (Cross River), Hajia Gambo Sawaba (Kaduna), Hajiya Ladi Kwali (Abuja), Princess Alexandra (Britain) and Lillian Joel Williams (Britain).

Pension funds in power sector bottomless pit

The importance of the power sector to Nigerians cannot be over- emphasized. Poor power supply is a source of great discomfort to Nigerians in their homes and offices. It is the reason for the collapse of industries that are too many to mention. Epileptic power supply is behind rising unemployment. It contributes, in no small measure, to the general economic malaise in the country.

There is, therefore, no doubt that many Nigerians would be willing to give an arm and a leg, figuratively speaking, to have regular electricity in the country.

Nigerian presidents, over the years, have not been unaware of the power debacle. The Nigerian landscape is littered with failed promises of many governments on power supply. It is, indeed, one sector in which government’s promises and kites have been so easily deflated. Ask former president, Olusegun Obasanjo. All his vows on the sector came to naught. Power is the sector that almost demystified Obasanjo’s Power Minister, the late Chief Bola Ige, who was hurriedly moved from the ministry to the Ministry of Justice, from where he was assassinated.

Ask President Goodluck Jonathan. All his vows, as Vice President, last year, that Nigerians would have no need for generators by this year, on account of the federal government’s planned resuscitation of the power sector, fell like a pack of cards, before his own eyes.

Since he assumed full leadership of the country, however, President Jonathan has left no one in doubt that he is bent on revamping the sector. He has come up with a roadmap for power. A national Super Grid is to be constructed to boost electricity supply. The 11 distribution units of the national power carrier, Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), are to be privatised, to make them more efficient in order to boost power supply.

All these are welcome steps, but, the latest initiative from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to invest N400 billion of pensioners and workers’ money from the National Pension Fund in the power sector calls for a No No.

Money in the Pension Funds is no free money. It is money that belongs to retirees who have spent their lives working for the nation, who deserve rest and peace of mind in their old age. It is also money that belongs to workers who are working hard now with the expectation that they will receive their pensions when they retire.

Should money belonging to these two categories of Nigerians be pumped into a bottomless pit that has gulped trillions of naira in the past decade, with little to show it?
I think not, and Nigerians, including the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) should not look askance and let this great evil be perpetrated on workers and retirees’ money.

The Central Bank needs to be told, in strong terms, and possibly, sued; to ensure that pension funds are not trifled with. There is no doubt that government has a history of profligacy in the power sector. Investigations into how trillions of naira in the sector was managed, in the past, did not reach a logical denouement.

Instead, some of the legislators who were charged with the investigation fell into the same bottomless pit of corruption. Money pumped into the sector has become some form of national cake, with all those charged with its management, struggling to have a share of it.

Although CBN governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, was quoted by Bloomberg to have said, at a conference in London, that the apex bank would provide guarantees to allow the release of the money to viable and eligible power projects, it is not assuring enough, because if the Federal government had been alive to its responsibility of paying retirees pensions as due, the idea of the National Pension Fund under the Pension reforms might not have arisen, in the first place

In addition, the governor has not said how, with Nigeria’s peculiar experience in these matters, pension funds invested in power projects will translate into cash that will be paid back to the National Pension Fund, when retirees need their savings.

Also, the Federal Government has never demonstrated seriousness in bringing those who toy with power sector funds to book. It is quite instructive that on the same day the plan to invest pension funds in power projects became public knowledge, Nigerians received the news that the Federal Government has dropped all charges against the sacked chairman and six commissioners of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) who had been answering charges related to corruption in the court.

The decision to drop the suit no FG/HC/CR/34/09 Federal Republic of Nigeria versus Owan and six others was ostensibly taken to woo the former officials to drop court cases challenging their removal from office, in order to pave way for the reconstitution of a new board in order to move the power sector forward. The suit is to be withdrawn through entering of a nolle prosecui by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the next adjourned date.

Does this suggest a serious approach to fighting corruption in the power sector? And, are pension funds safe in such a sector where government would so lightly withdraw a suit it filed against persons accused of corruption?

This is the question the NLC, retirees’ organisations and pension fund administrators, should be asking the government.

The matter of our pension laws is another area that needs to be looked at. The general belief is that it is pension fund administrators that are empowered to administer and invest pension funds. How does the CBN come into the matter? NLC should look into this.

If pensioners’ funds must be invested in the power sector, Federal Government guarantees on the N400 billion the CBN wants to unlock from pension funds into the sector, will not be enough.

Firm bank guarantees from banks with the required strength are required.
Moreover, the legal underpinnings of the CBN plan should be studied and addressed to ensure that the regulatory body has not stepped outside its bounds as a regulator of banks in Nigeria.

There is no doubt that pumping in money could help to solve the power problem if such money is judiciously used, but this should not be at the expense of workers and retirees.
If pensions funds must be pumped into the power sector, it should be done through dialogue and consensus of all stakeholders, not via CBN fiat.

Obasanjo - Why I Attended Jonathan Endorsement

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo said he was part of the Southwest PDP endorsement for President Goodluck Jonathan's presidential bid because as a party leader he could not disagree with that decision.

Obasanjo, who spoke on Wednesday in New York in the margins of the UN Millennium Development Goals Summit, said, "I am the chairman of the PDP board of trustees, whatever is being done by my zone, I cannot disagree with it."

He said media reports to the effect that he abandoned Jonathan's camp were mischievous.

Obasanjo said Jonathan will do his best in the PDP presidential primaries but did not explain what that means. "I believe he will do his best and if he does his best and the PDP does its best, we will be satisfied with the result," he said.

He said he was not at the president's declaration in Abuja on Saturday because of a burial of a friend's father he had to attend in the United States.

"Carl Masters lost his father when he and I were together in China," he said. "I promised to honour his invitation to attend his father's burial."

On 2011 elections, Obasanjo urged Nigerians to be optimistic and to stop "condemning ourselves by the standard other people draw for us."

He said, "We have many things that we need to correct, one of them is the act of criticising ourselves. We must decide the best standard for us and use that standard truly."

2011: Jonathan’s presidency, panacea for N/Delta problems –Utuama

THE deputy governor of Delta State, Professor Amos Utuama, on Saturday, centred the decision of President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2011 polls within the context of providing solutions to the problems of underdevelopment and agitation for resource control by the Niger Delta.
Utuama, a professor of law, speaking at the launch of a book, “Agonies to Triumph of the Minorities,”  written in honour of Chief Fred Brume, in Effurun, Delta State, said Jonathan’s presidency beyond 2011 was the sure path to the realisation of the agitation of the people of the Niger Delta to control their resource.
According to him, Jonathan’s presidential aspiration in the 2011 polls represented the political solution that the Niger Delta and even the larger Nigerian nation required to address the yearnings and aspirations of the oil producing communities.
“So the political solution is around and we should not shy away from it… This is hope rising for the Niger Delta people. If we miss it, we are missing opportunity for life. Our children and generations to come will not forgive us,” he said.
The deputy governor, however, said “I do not believe that we should use the resources to the exclusion of Nigerians. I believe in the Nigeria project. This is the era of globalisation… For those of us to whom God has made possible to have a large nation in Africa…we must not dismember it.”
He said President Jonathan had a constitutional right to aspire to become president in 2011, adding that it was in the recognition of this that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) made it clear that he was free to run.
Utuama added that other aspirants for the presidential race from other parts of the country enjoyed similar constitutional rights, adding that rather than excluding a particular aspirants, the electorate and party delegates, as the case may be, should be allowed to determine their choice.

Former Vice-President of Nigeria Joins Jonathan Campaign

Former Vice-President Alex Ekwueme has accepted to serve in President Goodluck Jonathan's Presidential Campaign Council (PCC).

The council is made up of eminent Nigerians who are expected to provide operational guidelines for the president's main campaign team, as well as coordinate all activities relating to the campaign ahead of 2011.

A full list of the members of the PCC, obtained exclusively by THISDAY, shows that it is a blend of old and new politicians drawn from the six geo-political zones of the country.

Many of the council members had been involved in moves to draft Jonathan into the race before his declaration in Abuja last Saturday.

The full list of the members, according to geo-political zones are: North-central: Governor Gabriel Suswam, Alhaji Shaaba Lafiaji, Chief Solomon Lar, Barnabas Gemade, Ahmadu Ali, Jerry Gana, Major-General Gado Nasko and Senator Tunde Ogbeha.

North-east: Governor Isa Yuguda, Alhaji Kaulaha Aliyu, Adamu Maina Waziri, Ambassador Hassan Adamu, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Hajiya Zainab Maina, Ibrahim Bunu, Senator Jonathan Zwingina, Senator Idris Umar, Senator Bala Muhammed, Mrs. Christy Silas, Muhammed Lawal, Barrister Ahmed Gulak and Alhaji Abubakar Muazu.

 Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, former Chairman of the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

North-west: Governor Ibrahim Shema, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Prof M.K Abubakar, Kabiru Tanimu SAN, Senator Isaiah Balat, Hon. Azumi Bebeji, Ambassador Dalhatu Sarki Tafida.

South-east: Governor Martin Elechi, Ojo Madueke, Mrs. Josephine Anenih, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyawu, Princess Stella Ogiemwonyi, Chidinma Nwajumogu, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Chief John Nwodo.

South-south: Governor Liyel Imoke, Chibudom Nwuche, Godswill Orubebe, Chief Tony Anenih, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, Dr. Bolero Ketebu, Senator Aniete Okon, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, Johnnie Amalate Turner, Sully Abu, Gen Owoye Azazi.

South-west: Governor Gbenga Daniel, Olusegun Agagu, Shuaibu Oyedokun, Tunde Adeniran, Raji Rasaki, Mr. Ayoka Lawani, Wahab Dosunmu, Senator Ogunseye Ogunlewe, Sen. Olayinka Omilani, Chief Funsho Lawal, Mrs. Biodun Olujimi.

Nigeria @ 50 Years & Jonathan for President 2011

NEXT week, Nigeria will clock 50 as sovereign state. In other words, the country will be officially old. If it were a human being, it would have been expected to have had substantially achieve its goals in life and preparing lasting legacies to bequeath to its offspring. In the case of a nation, political stability, socio-economic advancement, efficient infrastructure and vibrant human capital are some of the necessities that should be solidly etched in the national psyche. But it is debatable whether Nigeria has come of age and is anywhere close to the goals it set for itself at independence in 1960.

The nation’s founding fathers did well to seek and obtain independence and opened up the citizens’ eyes to the enormous potentials of a country blessed with abundant human and natural resources. Beyond that, it is doubtful if there was enough effort on their part to mould Nigeria into a solid unit whose strength should lie in its diversity. Rather than engendering the realisation of its immense potentials, Nigeria’s vast endowments have more or less become divisive factors. This was accentuated in the beginning by the ethnic-leaning leaders who were motivated by less than altruistic intentions. It is hardly surprising because Nigeria is a country of different nationalities brought together by the colonialists without their consent and  consideration for their apparent differences and established ways of life.  It was with the understanding of these marked differences that the colonial powers employed the policy of divide and rule to facilitate the administration of the territory.

These differences may have been blurred in the last 50 years, but they are far from being erased and the corollary of this is the lack of substantial socio-economic progress up till this moment in the nation’s history.

Things can be different if the country taps in on the promises of an unbroken democracy that this dispensation offers to finally melt away all inhibitions posed to unity by ethnic, regional and religious cleavages.  From 1999, it looked like the country was heading in that direction because of the increased opportunities for all Nigerians to participate at the highest level in the democratic governance irrespective of his ethnic or regional background.

Olusegun Obasanjo became president through the votes of Nigerians from all around the country. Voters who were not members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cast their votes for him because of their conviction that he was the most appropriate person, at that point in time, to lead the country. In fact, those who were behind his emergence as the flag bearer of the party thought less about his ethnic background or creed and more about his potential to cement the country. When he was leaving office, eight years after, he handed over to the late Umaru Yar’Adua who hailed from another section of the country. Even though the process of the emergence of Yar’Adua was flawed, the majority of the people of the country were comfortable with his leadership and, with his assumption of office, the country had made progress in the orderly transition from one civilian administration to another.

President Goodluck Jonathan was confirmed by the grace of Nigerians –Christians, Muslims and atheists of all tribes-working together to invoke the constitutional prescription for succession in the circumstances following the death of Yar’Adua.  With his general acceptability, though he is of a minority stock, you would think that the country had finally crossed the Rubicon and trudging on with less emphasis on region, religion or tribe.

It does not look as if this is the case with the ongoing battle for the PDP presidential ticket.  Ahead of the 2011 elections, it appears ethnic bigotry is rearing its head. This could have been ignored as one of those things that can occur in a large democracy but for the involvement of national leaders such as Ibrahim Babangda and Atiku Abubakar in the scheme to fish out a regional consensus candidate since the declaration of Jonathan.

Their effort smacks of a descent from Olympian indifference to pettiness into the abyss of political desperation.  They both have nationalistic credentials. These are what they should project to the voters, rather than relying on the all too worn out phrase, power rotation, to seek a return to Aso Rock.

How Jonathan’s declaration changed the face of Abuja and The factors that turned the ceremony into a bang

Situation in Abuja prior the declaration day
DAYS preceding that of the declaration, the tempo of activities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) climaxed, as consultations, preparations and advance plans heightened. It was noticeable that the city was going to be overtaken by human and vehicular traffic in a matter of days.

It was observed that many who attended the event kept calling their contacts in Abuja, asking for assistance to secure hotel reservations to avoid a last-minute rush and possible disappointment. On the eve of the declaration day, when Sunday Tribune went round prominent hotels in Abuja, it was gathered that all the available hotel rooms had been booked. Some of the hotels visited included Transcorp Hotel, Bolingo Hotels and Towers, 1st Forty, Sheraton, Agura Hotel, Bayelsa State Guest House and Sigma Apartment.

One of the visitors who spoke with Sunday Tribune at Sigma Apartment, Wuse, lamented that she had already wasted a lot of money on taxi, moving round hotels to secure accommodation, to no avail. She said that due to the high-level of mobilisation of the people from Bayelsa State and other states in the South South, it was apparent that many people from the state and the zone were going to attend the event.

As situation stood regarding the shortage of hotel rooms, they were to face some level of frustration. Also on the eve of the declaration day, a number of President Goodluck Jonathan’s loyalists who thronged Abuja had to sleep at the Eagle Square venue; in the open and under cold weather.

An emergency security meeting was equally held between the heads of the Army, Navy, State Security Services, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Bala Mohammed to assess the state of security ahead the declaration and fine-tune other strategies to ensure that there was no security breach.

State of Affairs On The Declaration Day
The venue was already overtaken by people and activities as early as 8:30 a.m. Part of the early callers included traders, comprising sellers of Jonathan’s branded shirts and caps. They literary invaded the venue to make brisk business. Nature also smiled on the event with a very clement weather. Of course, the Eagle Square was filled beyond capacity with an overflow.

Traffic officers had a herculean task maintaining flow of traffic and introduced various diversions to aid easy movement, prompting many people to trek kilometres to the venue. As expected, posters of the president sponsored by politicians, including governors interested in contesting various offices in 2011, flooded the venue and adorned strategic positions in the nation’s capital.

Many taxis and other private vehicles were conspicuously painted with “Breath of Fresh Air”, with the picture of the president strategically inserted. To maintain adequate security around the venue, combined team of the army, police, civil defence with the police dogs were at hand. Police also added boost to the security as it deployed surveillance helicopter which continuously hovered around the venue to monitor the situation.

There was an unusual site around the venue of a man without clothes on, but wrapped in black leather and lying face down while the event lasted, showing that there could be more to the event than the physical. In all, the human tsunami that hit the venue, no doubt, presented a precursor to what to expect in coming weeks when the primaries of the PDP and the actual campaigns would eventually kick-off. Be that as it may, many factors contributed to the success recorded by the declaration.

The Governors’ Connection
One of the factors that contributed to the success of the declaration of President Jonathan included the desire by some of the PDP governors to vie for second term. The affected governors, apart from those of Niger, Dr. Aliyu Babangida; Zamfara, Alhaji Mamudu Shinkafi and Adamawa, Alhaji Murtala Nyako, had shunned the previous declarations by the former head of state, Ibrahim Babangida and the former vice president, Atiku Abubakar.

The states’ helmsmen wanted to be noticed at all cost so as not to put their loyalty to the ambition of the president in doubt. That also informed why they heavily mobilised their supporters to Abuja.
The Zonal Contribution
The fact that the declaration by President Jonathan was the very first time that a serving president from the South South extraction was seeking election contributed to the huge mobilisation of people of the zone to attend the event. The presence of most of the repentant militants was noticeable.

The staunch support of political leaders of the zone, to Jonathan’s ambition added to the success greatly. Apart from that, the South-South zone had taken a bold decision earlier to demonstrate unprecedented support to the president through their attendance so as not to give the impression which could be capitalised upon by the northern elements unfavourably disposed to the candidature of Jothanan, following the retention of the zonal arrangement of the PDP.

Jonathan’s qualities
There is no gainsaying the fact that the qualities of Jonathan added colour to the event. His mobilisation skills, especially during the days when he campaigned for the office of governor of Bayelsa State before he was picked by the late President Musa Yar’Adua also played great role.

From the humble service as deputy governor, governor, vice president and presently president of the country, Jonathan has, no doubt, endeared himself to many. His wife, Patience who is seen in various quarters as a great mobiliser, on her own, must have added some support that resulted in the large crowd pulled by the declaration ceremony. As it stands, the goodwill which Jonathan wielded prior to his emergence as president was yet to wane despite the efforts in the recent time to discredit his ability to unite the country and move it forward.

Age factor
Jonathan is seen in many quarters as a symbol of change and an aspirant that could represent the interest of the youths of the nation. Ranging from IBB to Atiku, Jonathan remains a paradigm shift from the old order where retired military leaders and old-same politicians were recycled, in the eyes of his loyalists. That factor must have pulled the youths who decided to stage an open solidarity.

PDP’s character
Historically, PDP is known for displaying unflinching support for the leader of the party who has an interest to continue in office, especially if the coast is clear. It is obvious that the executive of the party would do everything possible to ensure a successful outing for the leader in the declaration and campaigns. No officer would prefer to be seen as disloyal. In such ceremonies, the party had siezed every opportunity to further showcase it as the leading political party in the continent.

The International Community Connection
It is a known fact that the international community was watching to see whether Jonathan would be able to conduct a free and fair poll in 2011. Ability to do so with his joining the race is also being monitored. However, the success or otherwise of his declaration was viewed as a step in assessing what would be the turn of the event in coming weeks as the build-up to the polls approaches. This, the president and his foot soldiers have kept sacrosanct and do not want to stage a first flop.

The Pre-Declaration Prayer Session
Jonathan remains the first aspirant to the presidency in 2011 who organised an open prayer session to seek God’s approval, prior to his declaration day. The desire to seek divine direction must have provided some level of result and contributed greatly to the eventual success of the day.

With the eventual declaration, all is now set for the president to participate in the forthcoming primaries and possibly in the 2011 presidential poll. How far Jonathan can go, however, remains a matter which time will definitely tell.

Support for president Goodluck comes 2011

Women hold a banner in support of President Goodluck Jonathan during a presidential rally...

Biography of President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria

Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (b. Novembre 20, 1957),is currently the President of Nigeria. A former zoologist who became vice-president in 2007. He was the Governor of Bayelsa State from 9 December 2005 to 28 May 2007, and was sworn in as Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on 29 May 2007. 

He became officially the President of Nigeria May 6, 2010,This comes as the country prepares to bury its former leader Umaru Yar’Adua who died yesterday the 5th of May 2010, after a prolonged illness that saw his Vice-President stepped in to his shoes as Acting President. There had been tension in the country as rival political factions struggle to assert authority in what was seen as a power vacuum during the period of illness of Yar’Adua.


Family: He is married to Patience and has two children.


Jonathan, of the Ijo (Ijaw) ethnic group and a Christian, was born and raised in the region of the Niger delta in what is now Bayelsa state. He attended Christian primary and secondary schools in the area and later attended the University of Port Harcourt, earning a B.S. in zoology (1981), an M.S. in hydrobiology and fisheries biology (1985), and a Ph.D. in zoology (1995). During his university education, he also taught at Rivers State College of Education from 1983 until 1993. He then served as an assistant director at the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission, a now defunct government agency, from 1993 until 1998.


Jonathan’s political career began when he became involved with the nascent People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the late 1990s. He was elected deputy governor of Bayelsa state in 1999 under the party’s banner. He served in that position until 2005, when he was elevated to the governorship after the incumbent was charged with corruption and impeached. In 2007 he was selected to be the vice presidential running mate of the PDP’s presidential candidate, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. He and Yar’Adua were elected in April and inaugurated in May. zoologist he became vice -president of Nigeria in 2007.