The Peoples Democratic Party governors have advised President Goodluck Jonathan on the two things he must do before declaring his re-run ambition in the 2015 general election.
The governors, who were in a meeting with Jonathan in Abuja at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday and Wednesday, advised him not to declare his second term ambition yet because of the abducted Chibok girls as well as the security challenges currently bedeviling the country.
According to Punch, the governors, while assuring the president of their undying support towards his re-election bid, noted that the nation’s mood was not ready for such a declaration.

The governors advised the president to put the mood of the nation into consideration before making an open declaration.

The governors therefore gave the president two options: either to visit Chibok, Borno State, or allow the abducted schoolgirls parents to visit him at the Presidential Villa.

“The meeting was a painstaking one. We considered so many things. We talked about so many issues. While it was true we spoke about how to reposition the party and the gains we are making across the country ahead of the 2015 general elections, we also considered the probability of when the President could make his open declaration. Some of my colleagues argued that the time was ripe, but others felt that the mood of the country and even the international community are not favourable. We argued that if the President declares now, it will be seen as being politically bad and not in the best interest of the nation and that it could be termed as being against the spirit of fatherhood.

“The President was advised to meet with the parents of the girls, even if some are going to see it as coming a bit late. It is better done now instead of allowing it go into history that the President did not visit or invite them for a meeting,” one of the governors said.


However, one of the governors questioned why the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is yet to issue guidelines for the general election.

“We know that the campaigns are for him and part of efforts to strengthen the image of the government and that of the President. The Opposition does not have this opportunity” he said.