[size=14pt]2011: PDP governors dump Saraki, root for Jonathan [/size]
Thursday, 26 August 2010 01:18 Tunji Olawuni 
•Group to mobilise for INEC

The hope of Governor Bukola Saraki of Kwara State becoming the sole PDP presidential candidate in the 2011 elections dimmed on Wednesday when his fellow governors refused to back him to his chagrin; instead majority of them are rooting for President Goodluck Jonathan.

Saraki, who is in his second term as governor of Kwara, is the current chairman of the Governors’ Forum and was one of the governors that opposed the emergence of President Goodluck Jonathan as acting president when late President Umaru Yar’Adua was ill. He has been scheming surreptitiously among the 28 governors of the PDP to ensure his adoption as the choice of the governors as the presidential candidate of the party.

At the meeting of the PDP governors in Kwara Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja, which ended Wednesday morning at about 2.30 a.m. sources disclosed that majority of the governors insisted on backing Jonathan for the presidency.

Sources disclosed that some of the governors felt it would be better to throw their support behind Jonathan than endorsing Saraki who, it was learnt, many of them felt was too ambitious. A source close to the meeting said “Saraki could not believe the stiff opposition from many of his colleagues that he (Saraki) could not come out of the meeting to see off his guests. Majority of the governors at the meeting wanted Jonathan to run and therefore should be supported”. The source said after the governors could not reach a consensus, they hurriedly postponed the meeting, saying: “I think it is over for Saraki to get the endorsement of his colleagues.”

Mohammed Abba-Aji, special adviser to the president on National Assembly matters, had on Tuesday announced that about two-thirds of the 28 PDP governors were in support of Jonathan running for the presidency. He had also disclosed that President Jonathan was in no way threatened by the governors who were making moves to pick one of them as the party’s candidate for next year’s general elections. As at noon on Wednesday, nearly all the PDP governors had left the Federal Capital Territory after the deadlocked meeting which failed to endorse Saraki but rooted for Jonathan.

Meanwhile, a group, Jonathan, Sambo Vanguard (JSV) on Wednesday said it would embark on mass mobilisation at all levels for INEC to conduct a successful voter registration in November. In a communiqué issued in Abuja after its inaugural executive meeting, the group said it had directed students’ union leaders in tertiary institutions to also mobilise for the exercise at the grassroots.

It urged President Goodluck Jonathan to announce his decision to contest in the 2011 presidential election. According to the communiqué, Jonathan as a Nigerian has the right to contest any election within the confines of the constitution.

“We shall mobilise our members from the wards, local councils and states to protest the delay in announcing his ambition for the 2011 elections. “While we impress on the president to declare and contest, we are equally convinced that any person has the alienable right to contest the presidential seat in a free and fair election,’’ it said. It added that the zoning arrangement of the PDP was extant and allayed the fears of the South East geo-political zone that power would shift to it after the completion of the Yar’Adua tenure.

It said that the issue of tribe and religion should not be allowed to deter qualified Nigerians from contesting elective positions in the country.

The communiqué commended the decision of the ruling PDP for allowing Jonathan to complete the tenure of late Umaru Yar’Adua.

Membership of the group cuts across the 36 states of the federation and FCT.

http://www.businessdayonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14047:2011-pdp-governors-dump-saraki-root-for-jonathan-&catid=85:national&Itemid=340

Saraki's career might now be stunted forever. Bad move.

[size=14pt]2011: PDP govs endorse Jonathan[/size]
•Katsina gov locked out
•S/South duty-bound to deliver ticket to Jonathan -Imoke
Written by Taiwo Adisa, Jackson Udom and Dare Adekanmbi
Thursday, 26 August 2010

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors, on Wednesday, ended their meeting, which they started late on Tuesday night in Abuja without issuing any communique.

However, reliable sources at the meeting told the Nigerian Tribune that all the governors, except three, threw their weight behind President Goodluck Jonathan, to contest the 2011 presidential election.

More here http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/front-page-news/10262-2011-pdp-govs-endorse-jonathan-katsina-gov-locked-out-ssouth-duty-bound-to-deliver-ticket-to-jonathan-imoke

It really seems Saraki's career is finished.

The guy is just being foolish and too ambitious. Is it that cheap to become a president?

desgiezd:

The guy is just being foolish and too ambitious. Is it that cheap to become a president?

Na mumu na.
He doesnt know that the Fulanis will never zone a position meant for the north to him.

Whenever it suits them, they will remind him that he is nothing but a Yoruba man. Has he forgoten how hausas in the senate kicked against the observance of a 1 minute silence for sunday awoniyi who had foolishly aligned himself with the core north all his life and rose to become AREWA leader.

This Saraki is just a dumb ass, spoilt brat. He must think the Saraki's stranglehold of Kwara extends to all of the country. Swegbe.

The Nigerian presidency has NEVER been won by cold scheming or unclothed ambition; when would the likes of this spoilt rich kid learn from history? Besides he must be deluded to think he's a bona fide northerner that is qualified to take up the north's slot. Mumu oshï.

hahahahahaahhhahahhahhahahahaha ( falls on the floor holding his stomach) hahahahahaha D.amn fool only geography makes you a northerner the hausa's, fulani's and kanuri's don't see you as one of there own.

na_so:

Na mumu na.
He doesnt know that the Fulanis will never zone a position meant for the north to him.

Whenever it suits them, they will remind him that he is nothing but a Yoruba man. Has he forgoten how hausas in the senate kicked against the observance of a 1 minute silence for sunday awoniyi who had foolishly aligned himself with the core north all his life and rose to become AREWA leader.

I taya for di guy!
Well, he seems to have finally drawn a very bad card. It is easy to see that the PDP machine will crank up to isolate and destroy him. How on Earth could he think he could represent zoning and the core North from Kwara? Na wa!

Saraki is the new Atiku.

Which meeting is this I just read another article that said Northerners were opposed to Jonathan and asking saraki to run as president?

But saraki either refused or didnt comment

[size=13pt]2011: Jonathan, Babangida, Saraki divide PDP governors [/size]

10 for President

•Nine for IBB

•Nine for Kwara Gov

• All-night meeting inconclusive

[b]AFTER a meeting which lasted for five hours, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors could not agree on who to support for the 2011 presidential elections yesterday morning.

The meeting, which started about 9 p.m. on Tuesday “ended a few minutes after 2 a.m.” yesterday “and it was inconclusive,” said a source.

Over 20 governors attended the meeting held at the Kwara State Governor’s Lodge, Abuja.

At the centre of the disagreement was the candidature of President Goodluck Jonathan, former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) and Governor Bukola Saraki of Kwara State.

Saraki is the Chairman of the Governor’s Forum and is a leading choice among the governors from the 19 Northern states angling to have a shot at the presidency next year.

“The meeting was so hot that they had to take a break about 11.30 p.m. for 30 minutes when refreshment was served. Some did not even take anything but busy answering phone calls and calling some of their colleagues who were not at the meeting to brief them on the latest development,” said the source.

It was gathered that 10 of the governors, led by a South-West governor, are supporting Jonathan’s aspiration, nine, led by a North-Central governor, are backing Babangida while the remaining nine, led by a South-South governor “who just had a raw deal with the presidency,” are putting their weight behind Saraki.[/b]
The position of Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State, who is officially joining the party on Saturday in Umuahia, the state capital, at a grand rally, is not known for now.

The source said that Jonathan got many of the governors to his side due to the pressure he put on them before he met them on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

It was gathered that some of the President’s foot soldiers had inflitrated the governors’ rank, promising that should Jonathan continue in office next year, they will not be victimised.

Hitherto, the fear among the governors, especially those on their last lap (2003 – 2011), is that anti-graft agencies will be unleashed on them after leaving office on May 29, 2011 “for political reasons”.

“Honestly, the support for each of the aspirants is a complete mix-up. There are governors from the North and South backing the aspirants and now, it is a game of hide and seek. You can’t really know who really is supporting who sincerely because of the fear of the unknown.

“You know, this is a power game and you must be careful. Jonathan is holding the pistol now and if you make the wrong move, you will be shot. Babangida has rallied all the Northern elements behind him and you know it is dangerous for anybody to support a Southern candidate from that part of the country for obvious reasons because of the tension and anxiety involved.

“Also, among the governors believed to have an interest in the post, Saraki is leading and all the governors, those leaving office and those staging a come-back, want to be sure of their political future. That is why they are being careful.

“So, the situation is still foggy. The governors are divided because two of the aspirants, Jonathan and Babangida, have promised them heaven and earth. You know no governor has indicated interest openly but among the lot, Saraki is leading. At the meeting, some of the governors said their colleagues, who are interested, should declare openly so that the governors can take a position,” he said.

Meanwhile, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has said that Babangida and himself “are working closely together for the unity, stability and development of the country”, adding that they are prepared to make necessary sacrifices in the service of their people.

He said no sacrifice would be too much for them to make in the service of their people and the unity of Nigeria.

He declared this in Yola, Adamawa State yesterday at a public lecture held in honour of Senator Jibril Aminu to mark his 71st birthday.

Babangida, who was the Chairman at the occasion, also recommended the close relationship between him and Atiku to other politicians, saying that politics does not need to create enmity among them.

Atiku, who paid tributes to Babangida at the event, said their relationship dates back to the 1970s.

“What many Nigerians don’t know is that I’ve been friends with General Babangida more than 10 years before I met the late Major General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua,” he said.

He disclosed that their relationship had been fostered by the need for Nigerian leaders to close ranks and face the challenges facing the country.

“We have to work together to solve the problems facing us as a nation and making Nigeria a prosperous country for the benefit of our people.

“The challenges facing the country are immense and there is an urgent need for the Nigerian political elite to work together and reposition the country for the benefit of all Nigerians,” he said.

Speaking on Aminu, who Atiku referred to as his elder brother, the former Vice-President said the Senator “has made immense contributions to the development of Nigeria and deserves to continue as a Senator until he becomes the longest-serving Senator in the history of Nigeria”.

Aminu, in his own remarks, said: “I admire two attributes in Atiku Abubakar. The first is his doggedness.

“If Atiku wants something done, he would go to whoever has the key to that thing, regardless of how lowly placed the person is. Not all of us politicians can do this,” he said.

Secondly, he described Atiku as a party organiser.

He said: “Atiku is fully back in PDP blood and flesh. I welcome it”.

He queried the discriminatory granting of waivers by the PDP, saying that there is no reason the ruling party should favour some aspirants to the detriment of Atiku.

“Is it because he is from Adamawa State?” he queried.

^
Anything from the Compass is not likely to be credible. IBB does not have 9 states, thats the most obvious giveaway.

Beaf:

^
Anything from the Compass is not likely to be credible. IBB does not have 9 states, thats the most obvious giveaway.

THEY MAY BE CORRECT, ONLY A slowpoke WILL VOTE FOR THE KILLER OF BANKS WHERE MANY PENSIONERS MONEY WERE FORSAKEN

^
Yes, you can even see that the compass newspapers figures don't add up. 22 governors attended the meeting, but the compass has figures for 29!!

Anyways, to buttress the point that Jonathan has the overwhelming number of governors, he was confident enough to order Aso Rock security to lock out governor Sherma (Katsina) when he turned up for a visit. Gov Sherma is one of those people is still deluded that the cabal has some power, he has been very hostile to Jonathans campaign. He got was shocked to his hair roots yesterday by the men at Aso Rock gates.

PDP governors set to battle Jonathan

“I can assure you that Jonathan is in for a surprise. For instance, the South-East governors who have earlier given him a tacit support, when they declared that they are not interested in the president and vice-president seat, seem to be singing another tune now.” The source, who maintained that everything will now be in quick succession said that unfortunately for Jonathan and his handlers, they have so many unresolved issues that would engage them while the governors continue with their planned action

“We want to assure the generality of Ndigbo that the South-East Forum is firmly committed to the communique it issued with the Northern political leaders Forum on Tuesday, August 10, that the two groups believe in zoning and rotation of power principle as the best safeguard for our democracy, peace, unity and national stability, that the two groups will work staunchly for the realisation of a Northern President in 2011, and that both groups will also work assiduously for the realisation of an Igbo President in 2015.

South-East politicians and their Northern counterparts had signed an agreement to work towards the emergence of a President of Northern extraction in 2011 and subsequently, the realisation of an Igbo President in 2015.

In a related development, the Summit of Eastern Human Rights and Pro-Democracy Activists rose from their second meeting, in Enugu at the weekend, dissociating itself from the endorsement of any presidential aspirant for the 2011 general election.

In a communique issued after the meeting held at the Ofuobi African Centre, Enugu, the group said that “the South-East would, in due time, take a position on political parties or aspirants to support based on the aspirant’s endorsement of the Igbo charter of demand.’’

Also, members of a coalition of South-East human rights and pro-democracy activists have met again in Enugu, describing leaders who had taken positions to support Jonathan as “self-seekers”.

Im not saying compass is right or wrong im saying - there can always be a suprise.

I get you, yeah, its a dog eat dog world out there.

Compass is right.
Just so you know.
cool down Guys!!!!!!! January 8 mos probably we shall know who the real politician is.

Who has the right to aspire to be President? Every Nigerian.

So the talk about some being over ambitious is funny and does not make a lot of sense.

Never knew he was trying to run for the presidency . . . .

Fhemmmy:

Never knew he was trying to run for the presidency . . . .

That's why we keep hearing, governors say this and governors say that. It has always been Saraki's ambition speaking, he has been misusing the presidency of the govs forum. But, now its crunchtime no smart governor wants to be caught in his nest.

ferari90:

Compass is right.
Just so you know.
cool down Guys!!!!!!! January 8 mos probably we shall know who the real politician is.

Would that be governor Sherma that got locked out of Aso Rock?

keep peddling rumours.

saraki has a better chance of winning than Jonathan. Jonathan chance are not good. THat is why Jonathan party is banking on rigging the election.
AC or labour  would have a Yoruba on its ticket, And that is where the Yorubas would vote.  Jonathan can only pick 10 state.

look at my chance as the poll with the person, I have in my mind to pick as vice president.  I would beat Jonathan at the poll and all of them. There is this person who is fulani, I just do not want to name, want to be president, I know that person is humble enough to be vice president.