The musical chairs for the 2015 presidential elections may have begun within the political inner cirlces of the Jonathan presidency. Information available to 247ureports.com through sources within the presidential villa reveals that the President and the President’s close political aides remain unsettled over the decisions to be made concerning the upcoming presidential contest of 2015.
Available information indicates that the activities at the office of the President has collapsed onto the single issue of 2015 presidential elections. According to a source who spoke to our correspondent off the record, the President’s men are principally focused on the mechanization of 2015 presidential elections – and the possibilities of mounting a bid for a second tenure by President Goodluck Ebelemi Jonathan. In particular, the source mentioned the many meetings convened by the various south-south organizations [with the blessings of the President’s men] over the issue of President Jonathan joining the contest in 2015 against his earlier promise – not to run. The source fingered the National Security Adviser [NSA] as heavily involved in the lobby to assemble the necessary pressure from the Niger Delta to urge the President into joining the presidential contest.
It is gathered however that President Jonathan is not particular about contesting for the seat in 2015 – having served the remainder of the late President Yar’Adua’s term. But a credible source notes that the President’s wife does not share the same reasoning as the President. 247ureports.com gathered through firsthand sources that the 1st Lady has assured her political associates that Mr. President will contest in the next Presidential election of 2015 – “come rain or shine” . The source pointed to her recent activities as indicative of her resolution to remain the 1st Lady till 2019.
The recently signed 2012 Budget is said to contain the monies to be used to finance the necessary mechanization for the eventual emergence of President Jonathan as the Peoples Democratic Party’s [PDP] presidential candidate in 2015.
Introducing its unwanted dimension is the recent announcement by the presidential flag bearer of the Congress for Progressive Change [CPC], General Buhari indicating his interesting in joining the presidential race in 2015. The lobbyist for Jonathan/Sambo 2015 presidential ticket are reportedly uneasy with the announcement. And they have begun convening veiled meetings with political stakeholders within the party and in the North to checkmate the possible domino-effect that might follow the announcement by General Buhari. Available but unverified information points to a sinister move by the President’s men to sabotage the candidacy of the former dictator. Our source indicates that the President’s men have approached some stakeholders of the Action Congress of Nigeria [ACN] with the aim of talking the party men into fostering the idea of a joint presidential ticket with the CPC. By so doing, General Buhari’s candidacy might be tossed or jeopardized. 247ureports.com is uncertain the outcome of the said attempts by the President’s men.
It was gathered that the recent resignation of former President, General Olusegun Obasanjo of the position of Board of Trustees Chairman may have been connected with the new direction being sought by the President [Jonathan]. One of the operators in the PDP indicated that Obasanjo prepared his resignation a while ago before the Christmas of 2011 – but shelved the official announcement for an appropriate moment for the President – away from the instability of the fuel subsidy protests and boko haram related upheaval. A source close to General Ibrahim B. Babangida confirms that “we have been expecting the resignation since December 2011“. The source indicates that the former president may have “washed his hands” of the activities of the PDP with regards to the direction President Jonathan is taking the party and the country. In particular, Obasanjo is said to be unhappy with the emergence of Bamanga Tukur as the new PDP National Chairman.
From a blind side is the uncertainty of President Jonathan’s vice in the person of Architect Namadi Sambo who has briefed close associates in Kaduna of his intentions to join the presidential contest in 2015 under the PDP banner. President Jonathan, according to available information, is aware of the presidential aspirations of his vice president, along with the preparations on ground to kick-start the grassroots campaign. The vice president, on his part, is said to also be aware of President Jonathan unsettled intention to join the race. The two men have since developed cold shoulders towards each other – to the extent that close associates of the President have suggested a presidential ticket without the present vice president. The former federal capital territory [FCT] minister from Kebbi State, Senator Aliero has been suggested as a possible replacement for Namadi Sambo.
stay tuned
