Wow, clever change of strategy. "zoning is dead and everyone should compete" ,ala let "democracy be a true game of numbers", coming from those who backed zoning vociferously yesterday. It is very obvious what this change of political strategy is entirely about. Very interesting.



http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/news/46306-atiku-to-jonathan-stop-pretending-on-2015.html

Atiku to Jonathan: stop pretending on 2015
By Augustine Avwode andTony Akowe, Kaduna 12 hours 36 minutes ago
Font size: Decrease font Enlarge font
Atiku Atiku

Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has dismissed the claim by President Goodluck Jonathan that linking him with 2015 presidential race was distracting him from fufilling his electoral promises. Rather, Atiku urged the President to get ready to contest the election since he is constitutionally qualified to do so.

Atiku, who spoke through his media aide, Mallam Shehu Garba, advised the President to stop pretending, because it is well known that he is qualified to run just like himself.

In like manner, the Congress for Positive Change (CPC) described the statement issued by Presidential Adviser on Media, Dr Rueben Abati last Sunday as “diversionary and mere political rhetoric.”

CPC’s Secretary-General, Engr. Buba Galadima, who spoke to The Nation, said Nigerians know what to believe and when to so do.

The Presidency last Sunday vehemently refuted insinuations that President Jonathan was working towards contesting the 2015 presidential election.

Abati had warned those peddling the rumour to leave the President out of the “hue and cry” over the 2015 presidential race and allow him deliver on his promises to Nigerians.

He described the insinuations as “irritating distraction’ that was getting out of hand and must be reined in.

But Garba viewed the clarification as unnecessary. He told The Nation that the President did not owe anybody any explanation since zoning, the only caveat he said could have necessitated an explanation, no longer exists or has any more relevance or consequence on whoever wants to run for Nigeria’s presidency.

“Our position is clear. At least as far as the Atiku Abubakar Organisation is concerned, that clarification is unnecessary and uncalled for. The President knows that he is very well qualified to run for the presidency of the country in 2015, if he so wishes. And so, we can only tell him to go ahead if he so desires. He does not owe anybody any apology.

[size=14pt]“The reason, as we said before, is that zoning, as a political arrangement, is dead. Therefore, anybody from anywhere, as long as he has met all the constitutional requirements, is free to contest.
[/size]

“And we also want everybody to know that the Turaki (Atiku) is eminently qualified to vie for the presidency of the country in 2015 also. It is important to ask people to stop making pretences about 2015 because there is nothing stopping anybody from contesting.”

Galadima, who said it was difficult to believe those who fail to live by their promises, said he was among the people in the Save Nigeria Group (SNG) who fought to ensure that President Jonathan was named the Acting President, but he regretted that the promises he (Jonathan) made in those days were not fulfilled.

He said: “As far as the CPC is concerned, the President’s claims are political rhetoric and diversionary tactic. We all know what people are capable of doing. We know those who can keep their promises and those who can’t keep theirs. We know those whose antecedents would make it difficult for us to believe them.

“I participated fully in ensuring that Jonathan was made Acting President, and I still remember the promises he made then that if he was allowed to complete Yar’Adua’s tenure and conduct a credible election, he would have achieved his life ambition. But we all know better today.

“Secondly, when he came in and even without a cabinet, barely a month, he started the talk of a seven-year single term. How do you reconcile that with what he is now saying to Nigerians? He knows that he has become unpopular and that his rating has plummeted and so he just introduced that as a diversionary tactic.

“Even the media missed a vital point by failing to read between the lines as far as Gen. Azazi’s comment in Asaba is concerned. He is only castigating the North so as to pave way for President Jonathan’s ambition in 2015."

However, the northern socio-political organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), said yesterday that Nigerians should learn to believe the President who said he was not interested in contesting the 2015 presidential election.

The National Publicity Secretary of the Forum, Anthony Sani, told The Nation that “there is nothing new in what you asked me to react to, precisely because ACF has made it clear that it is not proper to start politics of 2015 within one year in office. ACF has said this is time for governance and not politics. Politics should wait for when the whistle blows.

“President Jonathan told the world in Adis Ababa that a president who cannot make a difference in the life of his nation in four years is most unlikely to do so if given more years. I honestly do not know why some people are too eager to doubt Mr. President’s words of honour.”

The ACF maintained that electing President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2011 general election was a vote of no confidence by the nation on the principle of zoning and rotation even though the south practically blackmailed the north into accepting the principle of power shift and rotation.

“You would agree that the politics of power shift or rotation and zoning were espoused during the 1994-95 constitutional conference by the South, which morally blackmailed the North into accepting it in order to foster harmony, stability, equity and sense of belonging across the nation.

“But by voting President Jonathan in 2011, one may not be totally wrong to submit that it is the nation’s way of passing judgment against politics of rotation and zoning.

“As democrats, Northerners accept the verdict. But that is not to suggest the North will not play politics of 2015. I am sure the North will still play politics, which may not be on the basis of rotation or zoning.”

wonder whether that fa@ really believe he has any chance at all.

The haters are at it again. They are already turning this thread into a O'dua-hating thread. . . O-bigots!!!
As for Gej, let him stop pretending and face what is staring him in the face. . .
PDP's Blackmail of every opposition is fast going outa vogue these days. We already know PDP has nada to offer and will rather rubbish the reputation of anything that posses a threat to their 'Lootocracy' . . . From the look of things here, it is only a matter of time before they (PDP brainwashed supporter) break into APGA, ACN and CPC accross the east, west and north respectively.

sheyguy: The haters are at it again. They are already turning this thread into a O'dua-hating thread. . . O-bigots!!!
As for Gej, let him stop pretending and face what is staring him in the face. . .
PDP's Blackmail of every opposition is fast going outa vogue these days. We already know PDP has nada to offer and will rather rubbish the reputation of anything that posses a threat to their 'Lootocracy' . . . From the look of things here, it is only a matter of time before they (PDP brainwashed supporter) break into APGA, ACN and CPC accross the east, west and north respectively.

My brother, simply ignore them. Never forget that silence is the best answer for a fool. What is more pathetic than lady-boys who follow other men around obssesively seeking their attention and yet not getting it ? Abeg ignore them.

I think Atiku and co are simply saying that it is fitting GEJ should now ironically suffer from what he helped to kill. Atiku is being clever by half since the PDP always insisted that zoning is the equitable way to ensure others, aside the major ethnic groups, attain the Presidency. As it is, they are indirectly saying that no one should talk of "our turn" in 2015. Fight for it if you want it. that is the new name of the game.

Gbawe:
I think Atiku and co are simply saying that it is fitting GEJ should now ironically suffer from what he helped to kill. Atiku is being clever by half since the PDP always insisted that zoning is the equitable way to ensure others, aside the major ethnic groups, attain the Presidency. As it is, they are indirectly saying that no one should talk of "our turn" in 2015. Fight for it if you want it. that is the new and illogical. name of the game.

Your highlighted statement above is unclear and lacking a logical structure. Atiku's spokesman does not imply what you think. First of all, what did GEJ help to kill? Answer: zoning. So how is GEJ now "ironically suffering" from "zoning"? Has the 2015 presidency been "zoned" by PDP to any part of the country? The initial post is non-news.

aletheia:

Your highlighted statement above is unclear and lacking a logical structure. Atiku's spokesman does not imply what you think. First of all, what did GEJ help to kill? Answer: zoning. So how is GEJ now "ironically suffering" from "zoning"? Has the 2015 presidency been "zoned" by PDP to any part of the country? The initial post is non-news.

look, are you not seeing how Clarke Dokubo-Asari et al demanding that GEJ must use his 8 years on behalf of the SS with the not so subtle hint that this is the turn of the SS? How about others saying "it is our turn" as if they now want to benefit from a zoning arrangement? Atiku and co are simply saying no can do.

Atiku and his camp, the most vociferous supporters of zoning who previously insisted point blank that GEJ must never run , are now saying zoning is dead. Read between the lines and link the history of events leading up to the last election with team GEJ pushing the "zoning is bad" and Presidency on merit" position and you will understand what Atiku and his team are getting at. You forget that GEJ [b]categorically denied [/b]signing up in support of zoning while Atiku, Ciroma, IBB et al insisted he did. This is now simply to remind him to keep his position consistent.

^^^^My brother thank you for throwing more light

E be like say 2015 campaign don begin so?

sheyguy: From the look of things here, it is only a matter of time before they (PDP brainwashed supporter) break into APGA, ACN and CPC accross the east, west and north respectively.

This is what I fear the most

haka_nai: ^^^^My brother thank you for throwing more light

My brother, it is not Rocket Science. We all remember team GEJ, because it was expedient for them back then as a game changer, shouting that GEJ never acceded to any zoning arrangement while IBB, Ciroma, Atiku et al were virtually in tears insisting that Jonathan fully backed zoning and indeed benefitted from it.

Now some want GEJ to benefit from an exponent of zoning with the noise that the SS must have "its own 8 years". If there is genuinely no zoning, why the noise GEJ must have 8 years? Others too are saying "SE Presidency only in 2015" as if it is their slot.

Atiku is merely being proactive in reminding all of them that those who supported the abrogation of the concept of zoning then cannot now wish to gain from a return to zoning. They should keep their position consistent and fight for the Presidency under the new arrangement where everyone is allowed to compete and no ethnic group is favoured. We must all remember that everything will start from the PDP for Atiku, GEJ and others. If there is no zoning in the PDP and no selective banning of any ethnic group then it is fairly obvious how things will play out.

We should all note how, cleverly, Atiku is not going down the beaten path of "GEJ cannot contest". Rather, he is saying GEJ is constitutionally allowed to contest. The obvious implications being that GEJ and everyone interested should fight for the Presidency with no one aided by any zoning whatsoever. In other words, win it on merit if you can.

Atiku is too over ambitous and wants to be president at all cost. But as for Jonathan, let us not judge him now until the end of his regime.

I dey laff

Once the North get, forget it

Yes,GEJ should stop pretending....it as been clear that he av an intention of contesting....but Atiku should stop playing sharpe cos Both will lose

adigun bankole: Yes,GEJ should stop pretending....it as been clear that he av an intention of contesting....but Atiku should stop playing sharpe cos Both will lose

God forbid an Atiku Presidency, in an age Nigeria should be looking at the likes Fashola and Duke, but Atiku would be a lousy Politician if he does not take political advantage of certain issues events have 'favourably' thrown up.

Do you remember that the constant argument of team GEJ was that Jonathan never signed up for zoning and that Nigeria should be moving towards a "merit based system" where anyone should run for the Presidency without "discrimination"? Atiku, IBB et al were made to look the retrogressive bad guys by other insincere politicians cleverly taking advantage of issues and mouthing what they are not committed to.

Remember that Atiku and co were very committed to zoning to the extent they insisted GEJ must not participate? Remember also that, in showing they were committed to zoning, both Atiku and IBB stated categorically that they would hand over to an Igbo deputy in 2015? Remember the support IBB and Atiku were enjoying from the likes of Ken Nnamani and Soludo?

What will now have caused this U-turn if not that Atiku and other Northern hawks want to flip the script on those who propagated certain armuments yesterday and now want to depart from that today?

Atiku is calling them out here in a nuanced manner. I.e stick to your "President on merit" argument of the past and let us see how you fare based on that alone. Let everyone, including GEJ, compete and fight. No favours, no advantages for anyone and no discrination against anyone. In other words, let democracy be a game of number, popularity and merit as team GEJ previously argued. [b]No automatic claim to the Presidency for any region of Nigeria.b]

atiku though is free to contest for now in 2015, i'll advice him to pay more attention in himself and stop making diversionary statements that might work against him. who knows, he may stand disqualified by 2015. lol

2015 is d turn of d southeast and 9ja nids a man like orji uzo kalu so dat we can lift d worldcup whch is d only avenue to unite d country. If u no suport d bid ur papap dia

For GOD's mercy and sake this people should leave this election matter till 2014 na, abi are we about to jump from 2012 to 2015. Instead of this people to be thinking of how to make this country move forward, they are busy thinking of who will hold power next. NA WA FOR OUR GOVERNMENT SEF

peter2012: Atiku is too over ambitous and wants to be president at all cost. But as for Jonathan, let us not judge him now until the end of his regime.

Hope hope hope. That is Nigerians undoing. Look, I am among the few that marked GEJ as a failure start from word go.

Forget about "giving more time". He has spent 2+yrs with nothing. He is just naturally a failure by gene( the smallest molecular level of life). There would be a change in more disasters if you really clamoring for changes.