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Jonathan to battle Obi in NDC *Ex-President insists Nigeria must rise again!
Indications are fast emerging that Peter Obi, candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 presidential election, may not have a free ride to picking the ticket of the 2027 edition on the platform of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), after all.
The former Governor of Anambra State, might be squaring up against Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria’s former President and Obi’s boss at a time, who is being pressurised into making a go at the nation’s number one job for the third time.
In recent years, calls for the former President to throw his hat into the ring for another go at the job, which he left when he was defeated in the 2015 presidential election have been off and on by some interest groups, without any clear indication.
But it now appears that the former Deputy Governor, and Governor of Bayelsa State, Vice President and later President might be pecking at the bait right now after the agitators came knocking at his doors once more.
That indication came on Thursday, when a group of youths, under the aegis of the Coalition for Goodluck Jonathan, on converged on the Abuja residence for the same purpose, at which point he promised to begin full consultations on the matter.
The demonstrators, chanting songs and slogans asking Jonathan to run for president again in 2027, had besieged his Taraba Close in Maitama, home in Abuja, overflowing into nearby streets and causing significant traffic disruption.
Amid blasting music, the visitors, who also waved placards with messages such as GEJ: Nigeria is dying, save it!, GEJ, Nigerian youths break the medicine wey dem do you, and ‘GEJ, if you no run, we quench, described Jonathan as a unifying figure capable of rescuing the country from its current challenges.
Calming his visitors down, the ex-President said: “Thank you for showing interest in your country. If you have no interest in your country you’ll not bother to be here. I can say that you’re showing signs of being patriotic Nigerians and I will encourage you to continue to be patriotic to the country.
“It is only patriotic citizens that build their country. Unpatriotic citizens will destroy their country, take the money to other countries to enjoy their lives. So, you must be patriotic. And things are very clear. The key thing we need in this country is peace.
“So, as young people – more than 80 per cent of you here are young people – I don’t even know how old some of you were when I was President. The key thing in this country is peace and we’ll continue to advocate for peaceful and credible elections in the country.
“If we don’t have peacefull and credible elections, most citizens will not bother to get involved and we’re here to advocate for that. It’s very there to us and indeed you. The young people must be fully involved in the electoral process, especially your rights to vote.
“I’ve observed elections in more than 14 or more African countries – some I’ve been there two times and even South East Asia. Nigeria has the lowest turnout of elections in every election circle. We have the highest voter apathy. And it shows that people are not even interested in elections.
“We have the worst – the least – I have never been in a country that has the low numbers we have in terms of voters. I think INEC needs to do something about it. They need to study the circumstances and maybe study the cause and do something about it.
“As young people, you must be involved in the electoral process. If I ask how many of you have voters cards, may be 50 per cent of you don’t have voters cards. And you’re asking me to go and contest elections. So, you must be patriotic, you must participate in the electoral process.
“You’re asking me to come and contest the next election. The presidential race is not a computer game. But I’ve heard you and I’ll consult widely. But the most important thing is that in Nigeria that the new people will have hope – the Nigeria that will plan for its grandchildren.
“These countries people travel abroad to go and enjoy, things don’t happen overnight. Leaders after leaders plan for their grandchildren and build their countries. So, every year, you see things being added and added until they’re in this semi-paradise countries they enjoy.
“The japa syndrome in Nigeria has to stop. The highest level of disdain shown to Nigerian youths abroad has to stop. Even African countries that we helped – African countries that even as students, half of our scholarship money were contributing to solve problems in those countries are treating Nigeria as if we’re all a bunch of idiots. It has to stop.”
Battle-weary Siminalayi Fubara, has finally thrown in the towel in the three-plus-years political war with Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), linking his decision on the need for peace in the state rather than fear.
Harangued, harassed, lacerated and buffeted, since few days after inauguration as governor, including a six-month state of emergency slammed on the state by President Bola Tinubu, things eventually came to a head for Fubara, with a plot to bar him from contesting re-election in 2027, by another coordinated onslaught from his party – the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a series of developments, which started emerging from the process towards choosing candidates for the polls, all APC members with a link to the governor, were disqualified from seeking their individual tickets by the APC screening committees set up for that purpose, while the hammer of rejection also continued to dangle on Fubara himself before his final decision to quit the race.
In a statement he signed on Wednesday night, he said: “As our elders say, not everything a hunter sees in the forest is spoken of in the marketplace. Some truths are best borne quietly, not out of fear, but out of wisdom and restraint for the sake of peace and a greater purpose.”
The full statement read: “After deep reflection and extensive consultations with my family, friends, and associates, I have taken the difficult but necessary decision to withdraw from the APC gubernatorial primaries. I do so with a full heart and with a firm commitment to support whoever emerges as the candidate of our great party.
“Leadership is ultimately about sacrifice. There comes a time when personal ambition must yield to the greater good of the people. Rivers State is bigger than any individual, and at this critical moment, the peace, stability, and unity of our dear state must take precedence over every personal interest.
“To my supporters who stood firmly with me throughout this journey who gave their time, resources, prayers, and unwavering hope, I offer my deepest gratitude. I understand the disappointment, the anger, and the pain many of you may feel. Much has indeed been invested and much sacrificed along the way. But please know that your loyalty and trust were never in vain. My silence over this period was deliberate and strategic, guided always by the higher interest of our state and our people.
“As our elders say, not everything a hunter sees in the forest is spoken of in the marketplace. Some truths are best borne quietly, not out of fear, but out of wisdom and restraint for the sake of peace and a greater purpose. It is enough to say that I have faced immense pressures and difficult choices, but my love for Rivers State remains greater than anything else.
“I sincerely thank our great party, the All Progressives Congress, for the platform and support extended to me throughout this process. I also express my profound appreciation to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his support and encouragement.
“The APC remains our collective home, and I urge all party faithful and supporters to remain steadfast and committed as we continue to build a stronger and more united future together.
“Let it be clearly understood that I stepped aside from participating in the upcoming River’s state Gubernatorial election not out of weakness, fear, or surrender, but out of conviction and sacrifice so that Rivers State may move forward in peace and unity and I remain committed to serving the good people of Rivers state till the end of my term.”
Peter Obi, candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 presidential election, virtually poured cold water on the burning issue of Goodluck Jonathan, for Nigerian President making a bid for the office he lost in 2915 to the late President Muhammadu Buhari, through the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Obi, who is also making another bid for the same office for the second time, told reporters on Tuesday, shortly getting a letter of clearance from the Nigerian Democratic Congress though he was not aware that the former President was contesting, he was in no position to obstruct the move as political choices were the rights of individuals to make.
Against the revelation by Babangida Aliyu, former Governor of Niger State, who spoke on behalf of Nemadi Sambo, Jonathan’s Vice President and currently in charge of the presidential screening of the Peoples Democratic Party, Obi told the reporters at the NDC National Secretariat in Abuja: “Actually, I’m not aware of that. But democracy is about people offering themselves for service and being voted for.
“I’m not in any way going around looking for who and who is contesting. I’m concentrating on how to build a better Nigeria.”
But he was quick to marshal out his plans for the country, declaring that under his presidency, Nigerians would be freed from daily lamentations coming from the parlous situation the present government of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by President Bola Tinubu had plunged the country.
Hear him: “This I will do by first uniting the country because it’s not a united country. We have to govern the country by the Constitution of Nigeria, which stipulates federal character and inclusivity. The country must be united. The country must be secure.
“We want to see mothers no longer fear when their children go to school or work. We also want a country where we can travel all over Nigeria without fear. So many Nigerians today go to bed not knowing where the next meal will come from tomorrow. That must change.
“We must live in a country where people do not turn public assets and public wealth into private assets. So we must fight corruption to a standstill and make it work for everybody. Politicians are preoccupied with the next election when Nigerians are dying. That must stop.”
He also took time to explain the reason for the two-hour stretch of drilling during the screening. Saying: “This is democracy in action because NDC chooses to do things properly. So when we say this is going to be screening, it has to be done right.
“Nigerians want to know whether you meet the stipulated constitutional qualification and provide relevant documents to back them.
“This is the way to know whether everything you have said or declared is the truth and if you can answer questions posed about your commitment to building a united, secure and prosperous Nigeria. That’s why the screening took over two hours.”
Regarding his status as a sole candidate, Obi, who was accompanied by Victor Umeh, a long time ally and Senator representing Anambra Central at the National Assembly, said: “I don’t know who else has bought. So until the party says I’m the only one who expressed interest, that’s it.”
Only an official pronouncement by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), seems to be last barrier to cross for Peter Obi to appear on the ballot for the January 7, 2027 presidential, the second time he would be chasing the nation’s number one job.
That hurdle is also set to be cleared in no time, all things being equal, given the speed with which the party is taking to ensure that all the loose ends are tied in order to meet the deadline of the Independent National Electoral Commission for all parties to conclude their selection processes for all the candidates for next years general elections.
Against the backdrop of initial date of May 29 scheduled for the presidential primaries, Sam Egwu, Chairman of the screening committee for the presidential election, said on Tuesday night that the exercise would take place on a date to be announced.
He spoke on a day he handed Obi, the only candidate that bought form for the high office a clean bill of health to contest the election after a two-hour drill at the party secretariat in Abuja, on Tuesday night.
Egwu former Governor of Ebonyi State announced Obi’s clearance as the party’s sole presidential aspirant ahead of its forthcoming primaries, about two hours after the arrival of the former Governor of Anambra State, who would be running for the presidential office for a second time after the bid in 2023, where he was declared to have come third by the INEC, in a heavily-disputed outcome, in which his supporters claimed he clearly won.
Obi had arrived at the party secretariat at about 6:45pm on Tuesday, accompanied by Victor Umeh, senator representing Anambra central and immediately went into business, where he was drilled on his qualifications and intentions and other nuances of governance.
Egwu, who announced that the panel was satisfied with his performance, as he answered all questions correctly, told reporters who besieged the venue: “This is to certify that following the screening of the presidential aspirant of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), His Excellency Peter Obi, and being satisfied that he has complied with all the requirements of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and all provisions of the Electoral Act, and the satisfactory answers given by him to all the questions from members of the national screening committee.
“He is hereby cleared to contest in the presidential primaries of the party for the 2027 presidential election on a date to be announced by the party. Congratulations.”
He then presented an official clearance letter to Obi with the party’s official nomination form numbered 001.
Obi picked NDC presidential nomination and expression of interest forms on Sunday, May 17, the initial deadline set by the party for the collection of forms by all categories of aspirants.
On Monday, the party extended the deadline to May 24 to enable more aspirants pick forms, noting that the return of completed nomination forms for all screened and cleared aspirants would commence on Wednesday, May 20 and close on May 26.
However, the party did not extend the deadline for the collection of presidential nomination forms, noting that it had already closed.
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