The 35-man high powered Declaration Committee setup at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa by President Goodluck E. Jonathan, has signaled the first major presidential declaration competition in the annals of Nigerian political history.
The 35 man high powered “Goodluck Jonathan Presidential Declaration Committee” is headed by former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Haliru Bello Mohammed assisted by former President of the Senate, Chief Ken Nnamani, chairman Northern Governors Forum, Muazu Babaginda Aliyu and for effect, blended with Secretary to Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim as Secretary.
Some pundits reasoned that what led Mr President to deploy the services of the Secretary to the Government out of the onerous duties of the state, must be worth the salt and of paramount importance. Probably setting the stage for a do-or-die battle ahead.
The calibre of those assembled, ranging from serving Nigerian Senators, House of representatives members,from Ministers to Chairmen of local government councils was the first signal of a serious competition; that the intention of such high calibre assemblage is to beat the highly celebrated Buhari's Presidential Declaration which some pundits dubbed a great carnival that took place at the Eagle Square Abuja on October 15th 2014.
The Buhari’s Presidential Declaration carnival had well spiced content in both quantity and quality of attendees; indeed the colored composition as well ranged from serving Governors, Senators, Members of the house of reps, former governors, former ministers, and who is who in our political clime of today. It locked down government activities at the Federal Government Secretariat on that historic Wednesday.
The success of Buhari Presidential Declaration was acknowledged by watchers of political events on both sides of the divide, hence sending shivers down the spine of the managers and leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party.
It is the reason today massive rear-guard invectives and mudslinging on the personae of Buhari had intensified. The invectives are coming as if Buhari is already the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In fact, it is in other words coronation of a man many regards as the de facto candidate of the APC.
This is at the heart of the planning of “mega-rally” by President Jonathan and his handlers. Feelers from a minister who attended the close door meeting at House 7 of the Aso Rock Presidential Villa where this plan was hatched, said that Mr President charged them to make sure that the Buhari Declaration is a child's play. “After all, you people endorsed me, we must beat this man with modest means and plebeian followership.”, President Jonathan reportedly told the meeting.
There is no doubt that the reaction of President Jonathan and his handlers is not only to beat the Buhari Declaration carnival, but probably to showcase the fact that he has wide acceptability and
admiration like Buhari.
The “Jonathan Strategic Committee” is aware that the core ingredient of election in a liberal democracy is a referendum on the performance of the incumbent; therefore the attendees of the challenger's declaration rally should not be allowed to in any stretch of imagination be richer either in quality or quantity.
This is the reason President Jonathan did not attend the final rally of Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), which held few days after the Buhari's Presidential Declaration.
He was earlier billed to grace the TAN rally, but on a second thought, he apologized to the organizers led by Dr Udenta Udenta and his team, thanked them for their mass mobilization, noting that the crowd he glimpsed on the screen is not comparable to the Buhari's. As compensation he dispatched, the Vice President, Architect Namadi Sambo to address the rally.
My Fellow Compatriots! Welcome to the 1st Presidential Declaration Competition in the annals of Nigerian political history. This time the combatants: Buhari vs. Jonathan. It may be the beginning of good tidings from our hard earned democracy, as we hope to witness robust campaign in the days ahead. Happy Viewing!

source:
http://saharareporters.com/2014/10/24/presidential-declaration-competition-buhari-vs-jonathan