ALARMED by seeming soaring popularity of his main opponent in the March 28 presidential election, President Goodluck Jonathan may have decided to personally coordinate his campaigns for the strategic election, which has already drawn global attention.

Saturday Vanguard learned last night that Jonathan was uncomfortable with field reports that he would have been defeated by Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) of the All Progressives Congress, if the election had been held on February 14 as earlier planned by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

To stem the tide of the perceived “Buhari momentum” and tilt the pendulum in his favour, Jonathan, it was gathered, has opted to drive some aspects of his campaign by himself by meeting relevant political groups and individuals considered very important for his victory.

Personal touch

A source close to the new thinking in the Presidency, said that Jonathan had come to the realization that it would be better for him to be personally involved in the new phase of campaign instead of relying on emissaries, some of who have not been able to “deliver” despite being appropriately empowered to do so.

Ignores party chieftains in Lagos

Indeed, President Jonathan’s visit to Lagos beginning from Wednesday did not include elders of the party in the state.
President Jonathan, as part of his visit itinerary, met with market women yesterday without any indication as of press time that he would hold meeting with PDP leaders and elders in the state with the state leader of the party, Chief Bode George said to be away in England.

A chieftain of the party, who believes that the President has not carried the state party structure along in his quest to woo and win the state, Mr. Lukman Abioro, wondered why people like Chief Bode George, General Tajudeen Olanrewaju and others were not part of the visit.

Another leader, who spoke under anonymity said, “Mr. President has done well enough for Nigeria but I think he can be more comfortable as second term President if he wins in Lagos. But he has been in the same Lagos for the past three days and we are not carried along.”

Poor performing aides

The President was said to have been rattled by the discovery that many of the party leaders, who had assured him that they were fully in charge of their states and would deliver them to him, were far from delivering on their promise barely a few weeks to the crucial election.

Apart from the field reports, which were being sent regularly to him from each state, the president was said to have come face to face with the reality of the state of support for him when he visited the respective states to campaign.

A top source said that what the president saw in many of the PDP states, which gave him massive support in 2011, was far from encouraging and he decided to take an urgent step to salvage the situation instead of waiting for any of the governors or so-called political leaders from the zones.
“That is why the President is in Lagos to be able to woo as many South-West leaders and supporters as possible. I can tell you that although he went to Lagos officially to commission the four new war ships acquired for the Nigerian Navy, the underlying reason is to spend more time in the South-West and meet with relevant political entities and individuals who can help him out,” a close source to the Presidency said.

It was learned that unlike before when aides of the president spearheaded meetings and discussions with those considered germane to his re-election, Jonathan will personally meet with key traditional rulers, top businessmen, community leaders and even former party leaders, who had defected to the opposition and could be swayed to work for him anywhere he visits from now.

Already, Jonathan’s personal touch approach is said to have started yielding dividends with a host of some Yoruba leaders drumming support for him.

Unhappy with attacks on Danjuma

The source said that the president was also worried about the recent verbal attacks on General Theophilus Danjuma (rtd) by Nigeria Delta militants, fearing that the man, who personally rallied northern Christians and leaders for him in 2011, could be provoked by the insults to work against his re-election.

To visit Danjuma, Northern leaders

For that reason, Jonathan is said to have made up his mind to visit Danjuma and other northern leaders to personally plead with them to see reasons to still stand by him as they did in the last presidential election, which he won with ease.
A prominent northern leader told Saturday Vanguard yesterday that the assault on Danjuma by the former Niger-Delta militants did not go down well with most northerners, who have now decided to work against Jonathan, to retaliate the unwarranted attack on one of their leading lights.
Feuding media team

These developments came in the wake of alleged squabble among the President’s Campaign Media team. The media team was said to have performed poorly prompting recent appointments. Still the team has incurred the wrath of some presidential aides for allegedly paying more attention to attacking personalities in the opposition rather than zeroing in on issues that could rake more support for the president.
It was not clear as at last night if some changes were in the offing to sharpen the campaign team and elicit more support for the president as the date for the election draws nearer.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/02/2015-jonathan-moves-to-stop-slide/#sthash.CsaGVRJU.dpuf

Oga Jona is a goner, he is very clueless. His public statements are just an embarrassment to the country. He cannot control his cabinet, his team are in disarray, one person affirm a statement the other denies it.

Jona have the wrong people around him giving him bad advise since Moses was a baby.

Oh I wish today is March 28.

# Sai Baba
# Sai GMB
# Sai Osibanjo.

GEJ is a lost course and I ask again; where on earth is Godswill Akpabio? He's been missing in the scene.

pacesetter939:
GEJ is a lost course and I ask again; where on earth is Godswill Akpabio? He's been missing in the scene.

Akpabio? I learnt he donated money to Buhari campaigned but was turned down the same way Buhari turned down donation from Dangote.

sincerenigerian:


Akpabio? I learnt he donated money to Buhari campaigned but was turned down the same way Buhari turned down donation from Dangote.

That is my General. I will keep on loving the people's General.
March 28 is will go down in history as a day of liberation for Nigeria from the hands of Corruption infested PDP and the opening of the prison doors to all that have looted this nation dry. Amaechi, Tinubu, et al shall witness a new side/dimension of the people's General stern character as they shall see him show leadership by example. They should be very prepared.

Long Live General Muhammadu Buhari
Long Live Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
Long Live The Federal Republic of Nigeria

#c

It is too late for Jonathan. His aides have been feeding him lies that he is well loved by the masses but Jonathan is now seeing the handwriting on the wall that Nigerians are ready to kick him out; especially the youths he was banking on. Low turn out during his presidential rallies was the first indication that brought panic into Jonathan's campaign. The president was shocked with the large turn outs that Buhari got in every states he went. All the billions of Naira Jonathan released to PDP states chairmen are not being used to campaign for Jonathan. All the funds have disappeared into thin air. For few PDP state chairmen, they've only been bringing few paid crowd to campaign venues.

For example in Kebbi, they were going to villages to talk to people and then paid them 10,000 Naira each to come to campaign venue to cheer the president. They brought people in some buses and took them back to their villages after campaign.

sincerenigerian:


Akpabio? I learnt he donated money to Buhari campaigned but was turned down the same way Buhari turned down donation from Dangote.

Really Never knew both Dangote and Akpabio were turned down oo. That's disgraceful

Jona pack your load and go and rest. No matter how much u use in settling Yoruba market leaders and some nonsense Afenifere, u can never win Yoruba land.

For your information, the elite, the educated middleclass, the lower class, and others in Yorubaland are all psychologically & physically supporting Buhari. There is no need to talk much, just visit any place in Yoruba land and open a political discussion, you'll get same result- Buhari, Buhari, Buhari, Buhari!

This is Buhari's time. Asiko Buhari ti de. Ti Asiko eda ba de, ko si n kan ti anybody le she si

The Yoruba race will be voting massively for GMB to Jona's uttermost dismay.

Jona is a Gonner.The man know that Abati,Okupe,Omokirikiri,fayose,Tony,Tewonde Bode and others thieves are only playing him.BUHARI so SURE

Only a serious or catastrophic occurrence for GMB/APC can make Jonathan survive the impending disgrace at the polls.

jonathan your days are numbered.. operation #marchback2otueke. no negotiation.

GEJ will be going back to Otuoke come May 2015

I just can't imagine another gruesome term under Jonathan. Whatever he can do, Buhari can do better. All these extra-time commissions and face saving projects doesn't move me.


Sai Buhari

Burger01:
I just can't imagine another gruesome term under Jonathan. Whatever he can do, Buhari can do better. All these extra-time commissions and face saving projects doesn't move me.


Sai Buhari

You couldn't have said it any better, your comment best describes the joke exhibition by GEJ and his PDP govt.

It seems you guys signal each other whenever a thread of this nature is to be created, so you can litter it with your hate propagandas. even the title alone tells it all.

Goodluck to you guys as we go to the poll.

It is unfortunate that some APC followers in Nairaland don't sleep at all just to make front page with their yeye comments . Election will come and Jonathan will win it. You guys should deal with that.

GEJ has lost it, this was a man that got the collective votes of all Nigerians in 2011 but today the reverse is the case..

Is time to show GEJ that power belongs to the masses and not some few Nigerian elites..

My family and I are ready to send you back to otuoke with our votes for saying stealing is not corruption...

The first Nigerian President to give Corruption another definition...

When we are all clamouring for a younger leader, we gOt one quit alright but now we can't wait to go back to an older leader cos we got a clueless young chap.

FFK, Fayose, clark, Asari and co are doing more harm than good for this man. You cant keep threatening people and expect them to vote for you. Only cowards succumb to threats and Danjuma is not a coward. March 28 is fast approaching, we shall see.

M4gunners:
It is unfortunate that some APC followers in Nairaland don't sleep at all just to make front page with their yeye comments . Election will come and Jonathan will win it. You guys should deal with that.

Guy, Its not midnight here.... everybody on nairaland dont live in Nigeria.

reborn1:


Guy, Its not midnight here.... everybody on nairaland dont live in Nigeria.

I have heard you. Keep deceiving yourself.

Keep deceiving yourselves.

Even me wey no be politician no say apc CANNOT win the presidential election.

This man is oooooo desperate. #IHaveDcided

GEJ is being deceived by double-faced politicians. When GEJ came to Minna 4 campaign, PDP mobilized football clubs's coaches to lure their players with #1500, #1000 each ,a day b4 n day of the campaign n were promised some largesse after the campaign, yet the players disobeyed their coaches n shouted SAI Buhari at the campaign ground. GEJ is fighting a lost battle! which he knows.

[s]

M4gunners:
I have heard you. Keep deceiving yourself.

[/s]


Mschew

Sai Osinbajo!

Sai Buhari!!

Sai APC !!!

#IN BUHARI WE TRUST#

I like the game of politics, Jona has done a lot for us, I believe he deserves another 4 years to consolidate on his reforms.

Jona, they said if you want something done the way you want it, you have to do it yourself, I support you as you re strategise.

I strongly believe most people who decamped for political gains or for money will return as the APC has no more funds to carry them along.





March4Goodluck

sincerenigerian:


Akpabio? I learnt he donated money to Buhari campaigned but was turned down the same way Buhari turned down donation from Dangote.

You learnt without verifying yet regurgitate the LIE