Richard MichaelNigerian Election Latest
September 14th 2010 18:30
Saraki informs Jonathan, Sambo about presidential ambition
Kwara State Governor, Bukola Saraki, on Monday informed President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice-President Namadi Sambo of his desire to contest the presidential primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Our correspondent in Abuja learnt that Saraki first had an audience with Jonathan in his Aso Rock office, Abuja, before meeting with Sambo in his Aguda House residence.
The meetings took place hours before the National Working Committee of the PDP summoned an emergency meeting of its National Executive Committee over the guidelines for the party’s primaries.
Although details of Saraki’s discussions with Jonathan and Sambo were sketchy, it was however gathered that he told them that he was also ready to step down as the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.
THE PUNCH learnt from a source close to the meeting between Jonathan and Saraki, that the President did not express surprise at the governor’s information.
The source, who asked not to be named, added that Jonathan, who might declare his presidential ambition on the PDP platform on Saturday, told the governor that he wished him well.
It was further learnt that Saraki might formally declare his intention in Abuja on Friday.
Sources close to the governor said he was considering a serving governor from the South-South as his running mate.
One of the challenges the governor might face is how to convince the North that he is one of them as he is seen as a Yoruba. Kwara State, which he hails from, is one of the 19 northern states.
His father, Senator Olusola Saraki, who contested for the Presidency in 1992 and 1999, faced the same challenge. The development made him to produce two posters with two first names. One bore Olusola, the Yoruba first name he has been known to bear for years; and Abubakar, one of his lesser known given names that would have resonated with voters in the North.
THE PUNCH had reported on Monday that some governors in the NGF and PDP governors were plotting to oust Saraki as their chairman if he decided to vie for the Presidency.
The governors, who are seeking a second term in office, are said to be pro-Jonathan.
Also on Monday, the governors coordinating the presidential ambition of Jonathan in the six geo-political zones met in Abuja to strategise for the PDP presidential primaries.
It was gathered that the meeting took place in the Abuja home of one of them. The governors are Ibrahim Shema, Isa Yuguda, Gabriel Suswam, Gbenga Daniel, Martins Elechi, and Liyel Imoke.
The Ogun State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Sina Kawonise, who confirmed the meeting, told our correspondent in Abeokuta that Daniel had already kick-started the President’s campaign in the South-West.
Jonathan will on Tuesday (today) meet with the Daniel-led campaign team to receive a preliminary report of its visit to stakeholders in the South-West states.
Those met by the team at a closed-door session were the Oyo State Governor, Adebayo Alao Akala, at his Ogbomoso residence; his Osun State counterpart, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola in Osogbo; the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi; and the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona.
Meanwhile, members of the PDP NWC have called an emergency meeting of the party’s NEC for Wednesday to fine-tune the draft copy of the guidelines for the PDP primaries.
The NWC, which met for more than three hours on Monday, will reconvene on Tuesday after an audience with Jonathan in the Presidential Villa.
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Prof. Rufai Alkali, in a text message to one of our correspondents, confirmed the Wednesday NEC meeting.
The text message reads, “An emergency meeting of the NEC of the PDP is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, September 15, 2010.
“The time of the meeting is noon. All members of NEC are expected at the meeting.”
THE PUNCH gathered on Monday night that the NEC meeting might cause a setback for the planned presidential declaration of a former military dictator, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (retd.) on Wednesday.
Our correspondents learnt that PDP stalwarts loyal to Babangida might decide to be at the NEC meeting rather than the declaration rally.
Meanwhile, men of the State Security Services were at the campaign office of the former dictator, on Monday to make inquiry about the security preparation for the rally.
Kwara State Governor, Bukola Saraki, on Monday informed President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice-President Namadi Sambo of his desire to contest the presidential primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Our correspondent in Abuja learnt that Saraki first had an audience with Jonathan in his Aso Rock office, Abuja, before meeting with Sambo in his Aguda House residence.
The meetings took place hours before the National Working Committee of the PDP summoned an emergency meeting of its National Executive Committee over the guidelines for the party’s primaries.
THE PUNCH learnt from a source close to the meeting between Jonathan and Saraki, that the President did not express surprise at the governor’s information.
The source, who asked not to be named, added that Jonathan, who might declare his presidential ambition on the PDP platform on Saturday, told the governor that he wished him well.
It was further learnt that Saraki might formally declare his intention in Abuja on Friday.
Sources close to the governor said he was considering a serving governor from the South-South as his running mate.
One of the challenges the governor might face is how to convince the North that he is one of them as he is seen as a Yoruba. Kwara State, which he hails from, is one of the 19 northern states.
His father, Senator Olusola Saraki, who contested for the Presidency in 1992 and 1999, faced the same challenge. The development made him to produce two posters with two first names. One bore Olusola, the Yoruba first name he has been known to bear for years; and Abubakar, one of his lesser known given names that would have resonated with voters in the North.
The governors, who are seeking a second term in office, are said to be pro-Jonathan.
Also on Monday, the governors coordinating the presidential ambition of Jonathan in the six geo-political zones met in Abuja to strategise for the PDP presidential primaries.
It was gathered that the meeting took place in the Abuja home of one of them. The governors are Ibrahim Shema, Isa Yuguda, Gabriel Suswam, Gbenga Daniel, Martins Elechi, and Liyel Imoke.
The Ogun State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Sina Kawonise, who confirmed the meeting, told our correspondent in Abeokuta that Daniel had already kick-started the President’s campaign in the South-West.
Jonathan will on Tuesday (today) meet with the Daniel-led campaign team to receive a preliminary report of its visit to stakeholders in the South-West states.
Those met by the team at a closed-door session were the Oyo State Governor, Adebayo Alao Akala, at his Ogbomoso residence; his Osun State counterpart, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola in Osogbo; the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi; and the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona.
Meanwhile, members of the PDP NWC have called an emergency meeting of the party’s NEC for Wednesday to fine-tune the draft copy of the guidelines for the PDP primaries.
The NWC, which met for more than three hours on Monday, will reconvene on Tuesday after an audience with Jonathan in the Presidential Villa.
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Prof. Rufai Alkali, in a text message to one of our correspondents, confirmed the Wednesday NEC meeting.
The text message reads, “An emergency meeting of the NEC of the PDP is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, September 15, 2010.
“The time of the meeting is noon. All members of NEC are expected at the meeting.”
THE PUNCH gathered on Monday night that the NEC meeting might cause a setback for the planned presidential declaration of a former military dictator, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (retd.) on Wednesday.
Our correspondents learnt that PDP stalwarts loyal to Babangida might decide to be at the NEC meeting rather than the declaration rally.
Meanwhile, men of the State Security Services were at the campaign office of the former dictator, on Monday to make inquiry about the security preparation for the rally.
| 105 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
