President Goodluck Jonathan jetted to Lagos last night as part of his last-minute moves to persuade the teeming South-West voters to support his presidential ambition in this Saturday’s presidential poll. LEADERSHIP gathered last night that Jonathan rushed to Lagos after visiting the Suleja bomb blast victims. The president was said to have met with some influential South-West political and youth leaders.

According to a source at the meeting last night, “We see President Goodluck Jonathan as a sincere and honest person. Those who thought he was merely bluffing when he said nobody should rig for him must be convinced now that we have a president who believes in fair play and transparency.
“We now believe that Nigeria’s journey to greatness has begun. And, come Saturday, we shall vote for Jonathan. He is leading a new Nigeria where merit is the name of the game.”
It was also gathered that very senior intelligence officials are meeting with the top hierarchy of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to work out an understanding with the party for the presidential election.
Members of a prominent family involved in movies and show business have also been meeting with the top hierarchy of the ACN on the same purpose.
At the meeting with the youth group, he called on them to lead the fight for the election of credible leaders that would lead the country out of the woods.
The president also asked them to be at the vanguard of the quest to clean up the polity and enthrone responsive leadership in the country.
“You should be the vanguard to impress on the people that we must no longer be slaves to money politics,” President Jonathan said, admonishing them to persuade their friends not to sell their conscience.
He asked the leaders of over 70 youth groups that attended the consultative meeting to be part of the ongoing effort to rebuild Nigeria and set it on the path of renewal by guiding other Nigerians to make the right choices in the general elections.
“We must elect people who can take us forward,” he said.
The president reminded the youth leaders that, only a while ago, the country was at par with the Asian Tigers and needed to catch up fast with the rest of the developed world.
He said: “We must elect leaders who will take us there, sustain good governance, transform Nigeria, and set the stage for the future.”
President Jonathan, who thanked the youth leaders for coming at short notice, reiterated his pledge to create an environment that would improve the lot of young people.
“Our commitment is to work with the youth to ensure that Nigerians are proud everywhere,” he said, adding that last Saturday’s election was a manifestation of the possibility that Nigerians could do things right.
“We will surely get it right,” he said even as he reassured them of his full commitment to end youth unemployment and transform the country.
In their responses, the youth leaders praised the president for his humility and his campaign strategy that emphasised wide consultations with major stakeholders in the polity.
“We are humbled by your consultation with us and could only wish you well in your effort to turn our country around,” said Francis Abayomi, co-ordinator, South-West Think-Thank on Democratic Governance.
Also speaking, Comrade Ibuchukwu Ezike, executive director of the Civil Liberties Organisation, commended President Jonathan for his efforts to ensure that credible elections hold but asked the president to investigate the allegation of underage voting in some parts of the country.
President Jonathan, who was accompanied by his chief of staff, Chief Mike Ogiadomhe, and some senior aides thanked the youth leaders for their contributions and promised to continue to work with them in the task of rebuilding and transforming the country.
President Jonathan visited victims of last Friday’s Suleja, Niger State, bomb blast at the Gwagwalada Specialist hospital yesterday and vowed that those behind the dastardly act would be brought to book.
He said that, already, various security agencies had intensified efforts to track down all those involved in the unfortunate incident which claimed the lives of 13 Nigerians.
“Having inspected this hospital, I have seen these young people who are serving their nation and got cut off in this dastardly act by some anti-social elements, one feels sad.
“These are young people at the prime of their life, the hope and future of Nigeria. For anybody to target the youth, he is targeting the country and he does not mean well for the nation.
“Well, in all societies we have such people. But as a government we will make sure that we look out for them. God willing, we will get them, if not all, some of them and they will face the law.’’
The president pledged that government would settle all medical expenses of the victims as well as assist the families of those that lost their lives to the incident.
http://newnigerianpolitics.com/2011/04/11/jonathan-in-secret-meeting-with-tinubu-others/

lol

LOL! I spent the whole of yesterday convincing NLers that something could be in the offing with the likes of Fashola, but many thought I was crazy!
Tinubu will deal.

Beaf:

LOL! I spent the whole of yesterday convincing NLers that something could be in the offing with the likes of Fashola, but many thought I was crazy!
Tinubu will deal.

i thought you said tinubu was corrupt and so jonathan can not associate himself with such people

what happened

Since when did Fashola become Tinubu?? ROFLMAO!!!

Article says nothing about Tinubu and GEJ actually meeting, does it. . .?

Anyway, I don't mind Tinubu cutting a deal. But he'd better get substantial value.

lol

since when did meeting with ACN become a big deal? o my bad after the election huh lol

but really though ACN and PDP two different parties I dont expect anything to come out of it. it is what it is.

If anything i didnt expect ACN to win that much  thought PDP will still remain but this should be a worry for GEJ camp SW people might ride to ACN train all the way.

ekt_bear:

Article says nothing about Tinubu and GEJ actually meeting, does it. . .?

Anyway, I don't mind Tinubu cutting a deal. But he'd better get substantial value.

i dont think anyone should cut any deal.

Alj Uche:

i thought you said tinubu was corrupt and so jonathan can not associate himself with such people

what happened

Tinubu is corrupt, make no mistake. Jonathan will associate with the people on whose behalf Tinubu negotiates. There's a difference, you will not see Tinubu becoming anything in a GEJ govt.

sbeezy8:

i dont think anyone should cut any deal.

Why not? At least, theoretically assuming that GEJ'd not renege?

sbeezy8:

lol

since when did meeting with ACN become a big deal? o my after bad the election huh lol

but really though ACN and PDP two different parties I dont expect anything to come out of it. it is what it is.

If anything i didnt expect ACN to win that much though PDP will still remain but this should be a worry for GEJ camp SW people might ride to ACN train all the way.

i dont think anyone should cut any deal.

GEJ always crosses the last t and dots the last i. So, even though a victory is almost assured on Saturday, there is no sense in behaving like a snub (thats not GEJ anyway).

Beaf:

Tinubu is corrupt, make no mistake. Jonathan will associate with the people on whose behalf Tinubu negotiates. There's a difference, you will not see Tinubu becoming anything in a GEJ govt.

you see this is where i have problems with you and GEJ

if you know someone is corrupt and can not be of any advantage, why negoitate any deal with him

i really do not understand, unless GEJ is corrupt as well

as they say bad companies fellows bad companies

do not really get it, please explain what deal can be made with a corrupt man serving in government

Alj Uche:

you see this is where i have problems with you and GEJ

if you know someone is corrupt and can not be of any advantage, why negoitate any deal with him

i really do not understand, unless GEJ is corrupt as well

as they say bad companies fellows bad companies

do not really get it, please explain what deal can be made with a corrupt man serving in government

Abeg, go an die jare! Your BB is meeting with Ciroma as we speak and you're here killing yourself over GEJ, cos you fear what I posted on my thread will come to pass.
Who cares what you as a biased individual thinks anyway? LOLZ!

Beaf:

Abeg, go an die jare! Your BB is meeting with Ciroma as we speak and you're here killing yourself over GEJ, cos you fear what I posted on my thread will come to pass.
Who cares what you as a biased individual thinks anyway? LOLZ!

SMH

i am not fighting or aguring with you

all i am saying is if you are meant to fight corruption while in government, how is it possible to do so while making deals with corrupt people

i mean think now

or maybe i do not understand you, i want you to explain to me where i am wrong

please

The article is wishy washy

Tinubu deals with anyone.

Alj Uche:

SMH

i am not fighting or aguring with you

all i am saying is if you are meant to fight corruption while in government, how is it possible to do so while making deals with corrupt people

i mean think now

or maybe i do not understand you, i want you to explain to me where i am wrong

please

Next time don't ask silly questions. Your Buhari is busy holding meetings with Ciroma, IBB, Atiku and Yar Adua's cabal that did all the hiring of almajiri's to deceive people like you with, "see crowd!!"

Politicians are the same all over the world. They can cut deals with anyone including the devil. Itz just the pundits that make some of them look like saints.
This is premised on-No permanent friend or enemy in politics!
This has been going on even when the pope was an alter boy!

,

but what deal can PDP possible give ACN?

See this article too: http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=44565:pdp-dangles-unity-govt-carrot-before-rivals&catid=1:national&Itemid=559

It is possible that a smarter tactic is to just join up with CPC and defeat the PDP once and for all. Offers of unity gov't, deals are a sign of weakness.

Isnt Tinubu a genius?

Now is the right tme to cut deals. Tinubu first of all delivered the SW and showed that he has a whole region under control.

GEJ realises that he has been getting endorsements from people who dont matter and cant even deliver their wards.

Now ACN and Tinubu would now make the demands they want

Goes back to the beautiful bride thread of Abagworo some days back

When some ppl were giving endorsements without thinking of how to win votes ACN was working on the basics.

Now they have about 20 senators, who wont deal with someone like that as against parties with 2 senate seats?

Asiwaju Ojuyobo Tinubu carry go

We dey laff oooooo

^^^^ if anything ACN senator should get senate president.
only deal that makes sense

even at that I dont see ACN endorsing GEJ, the only thing ACN can do to help GEJ is not align with CPC- which i doubt ACN was going to do anyway.

dayokanu:

Isnt Tinubu a genius?

Now is the right tme to cut deals. Tinubu first of all delivered the SW and showed that he has a whole region under control.

GEJ realises that he has been getting endorsements from people who dont matter and cant even deliver their wards.

Now ACN and Tinubu would now make the demands they want

Goes back to the beautiful bride thread of Abagworo some days back

When some ppl were giving endorsements without thinking of how to win votes ACN was working on the basics.

Now they have about 20 senators, who wont deal with someone like that as against parties with 2 senate seats?

Asiwaju Ojuyobo Tinubu carry go

We dey laff oooooo

What the heck kind of deals would they be making

At this point, GEJ might be desperate to get votes from the SW and anything can be pushed.

E.g Juicy posts, Increased FG projects anything at this point, GEJ is desperate.

Or they might tell ACN not to step down for CPC regardless of the circumstance in returns for favours

dayokanu:

At this point, GEJ might be desperate to get votes from the SW and anything can be pushed.

E.g Juicy posts, Increased FG projects anything at this point, GEJ is desperate.

Or they might tell ACN not to step down for CPC regardless of the circumstance in returns for favours

This is the very reason why I am against anyone having this kind of power in our democracy!   Why would anyone have the power to make such decisions on OUR FUTURE without OUR PERMISSION??

dayokanu:

At this point, GEJ might be desperate to get votes from the SW and anything can be pushed.

E.g Juicy posts, Increased FG projects anything at this point, GEJ is desperate.

Or they might tell ACN not to step down for CPC regardless of the circumstance in returns for favours

I doubt ACN is going to step down for CPC ANYWAY so its like win win situation.

Question for those of you crucifying people who associate with Tinubu: WHY HAVE YOU NOT CRUCIFIED FASHOLA FOR ACKNOWLEDGING TINUBU AS HIS MENTOR?

Tinubu is our Godfather and we accept him.

Ojuyobo for life.

We dey laff

dayokanu:

At this point, GEJ might be desperate to get votes from the SW and anything can be pushed.

E.g Juicy posts, Increased FG projects anything at this point, GEJ is desperate.

Or they might tell ACN not to step down for CPC regardless of the circumstance in returns for favours

GEJ is very far from desperate. Why would he be? The man just isn't smug, he's just being the nice guy that he is by pulling the country together after the very ugly campaigns.

^^far from being desperate and he has to fly down to Lagos to negotiable and cut deals with Asiwaju.

When he becomes desperate what else will he do? prostrate for Buhari? abeg the man is desperate jor.

Yes. Its called politics.

Every politician associate with whoever that will help him realize his ambition period