•May step down for president

AHEAD of the February 14 presidential election, nine candidates cleared by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) for the race have begun crucial talks with the Candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Goodluck Jonathan, on the possibility of stepping down for him.

Sunday Tribune learnt that the collaboration meeting was being anchored on behalf of President Jonathan by the National Unity Group (NUG), one the support groups canvassing for his re-election.

Though the identities of the candidates and their political parties were not known as of press time, it was gathered that the meeting, which took place at a location in Abuja and lasted for several hours, with the nine candidates and the officials of NUG reportedly adjourning it till today for the candidates to brief their different political parties.

A competent source at the meeting told Sunday Tribune in confidence that after today’s final meeting, the nine candidates would make their decisions to step down from the race and team up with President Jonathan.

Confirming the development at a news conference in Abuja on Saturday, National Secretary of NUG, who is also the National Vice-Chairman of the PDP (South-South), Dr Cairo Ojougboh, said the meeting with the nine presidential candidates was with the aim of collaborating with President Jonathan and that it was cordial and fruitful.

According to him, “we are still incubating the process. What has happened today is very encouraging. We made appreciate progress. They have gone back to discuss with their political parties. The core of the meeting is collaboration for the unity and progress of the country.

“For now, it will not be proper to start naming the nine candidates involved.”

olatunji21:
“I have always served
Nigeria to
the best of my ability. I have always
tried
to give more to the nation than it has
given
me. This is the principle of service
that has
guided my public life. Thus, I am not
a
rich person. I can’t give you a
pocketful of
dollars or naira to purchase your
support.
Even if I could, I would not do so.
The
fate of this nation is not up for sale.
“What I will give you, and this nation
is
all of my strength, commitment,
sweat and
toil in the service of the people.
What I
can give you is my all.
“I do not intend to rule Nigeria. I
want
to democratically govern it with your
help.
I seek a Nigeria where Christians and
Muslims may practise their faiths in
peace
and security; a Nigeria that is just
and
where corruption no longer
trespasses into
our institutions and national
behavior and a
Nigeria where our diversity could be
used
for our national prosperity.
“Nigeria is our home. Let us now
turn it
into the great nation we know it can
and
should be.”
-General Muhammadu Buhari (2014).

mymadam:
Interesting indeed! All of a sudden, the PDP appears to have become the party in opposition. What has happened to the legendary power of incumbency?

BokoHaramm:
I know a GEJ will win in FAILbuhari

ya, with all those bus conductors looking for CHANGE