Jonathan’s North-West campaign headquarters shut down
By Chesa Chesa, Abuja and Hamidu Sabo, Katsina



Factional crisis seems to be threatening the support base of President Goodluck Jonathan in the North as his campaign headquarters for North-West zone in Katsina State has been shut down.

This is the fallout of a face-off between Jonathan/Sambo Support Group and Jonathan-Re-build Nigeria Initiative. The two groups have been engaged in a series of arguments for sometimes.

Due to the ugly development, the multi-million naira headquarters of Jonathan-Re-build Nigeria Initiative on IBB Way, Katsina has been shut.

Meanwhile, Jonathan on Friday cautioned the press to stop attributing to him uncomplimentary comments from his aides, other government officials and his presidential campaign directors concerning other presidential aspirants and perceived political opponents.

Jonathan, who insisted that he was a firm believer in issues-based campaign for the 2011 presidential election, said he however find it objectionable when the media erroneously accredits to him hurtful and virulent comments against other aspirants made by government officials without his authorisation.

He also advised all groups, government officials and individuals purporting to speak for him to be guided by principles of decorum, propriety and fairness.

His Katsina campaign office, which was made available by Secretary of the Petroleum Trust Development Funds (PTDF), Engineer Mutaka Rabe Darma, was shut down for allegedly demanding the dissolution of the leadership of Jonathan/Sambo Support Group in the zone, which has the backing of Ambassador Dalhatu Tafida.

Tafida is the Director-General of the Jonathan/Sambo Campaign Organisation.

The complex rented and equipped by Darma with over 30 different offices was ready for Jonathan’s campaign but the Tafida-backed campaign group, using its upper hand in Jonathan campaign matters, shut down the complex during its visit to Katsina recently.

The incident has worsened the situation and is drawing bad blood among loyalists of the two groups.

The woman leader in charge of the North-West and Coordinator of the complex, Hajiya Binta Kuraye, decried the situation even as she disclosed that over

N45 Million Naira was spent putting the place together, stressing that no such office existed anywhere across the country for the Jonathan/ Sambo campaign.

She also accused members of the Tafida group of not working wholeheartedly for Jonathan/Sambo, but rather for themselves.

“You see this office is one of the best in the country, even the President commended the initiative, but simply because they don’t like Jonathan wholeheartedly that group sabotaged the office,” she said.

Kuraye also blamed Katsina Governor, Ibarhim Shehu Shema, and some elders in the state for sabotaging the effort of Darma.

She explained that Darma, as one of the President’s aides, is doing a lot towards the success of the Jonathan/Sambo ticket in the next general elections.

Presently, she said the PTDF scribe has spent over N100million to ensure that Jonathan is acceptable to the people, adding that he is doing the same in Abuja and other Northern parts of the country.

“Despite the importance of the office, the Katsina State government has refused to support it or contribute a single kobo for Jonathan to succeed but causing confusion in the movement” she lamented.

When contacted, the State Coordinator of the Jonathan/Sambo Support Group, Garba Garus, refused to comment on the issue.

And from Aso Rock on Friday came a statement that the President’s only recognised official spokesman is Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ima Niboro.

The statement reads: “The Office of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has noted with concern the continued attribution to the President by the media of statements neither made nor authorised by him.

“President Jonathan finds this practice very objectionable, especially as some of the statements so wrongly attributed to him are totally at variance with his views and beliefs on the conduct of political competition.

“The President is a firm believer in issues-based politics and totally dissociates himself and his office from some of the rather objectionable, hurtful, spiteful and divisive statements against other candidates which have been erroneously attributed to him recently.

“He therefore requests the media to call a halt to this practice immediately and only attribute to him henceforth statements made directly by him or his official spokesperson – his Special Adviser (Media & Publicity), Mr. Ima Niboro.

“Statements emanating from other government officials or staff of the Jonathan/Sambo Campaign Organisation should be clearly attributed to those individuals and not President Jonathan, and responsibility for such statements must be borne personally by those who issue them”.
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