*Insists no second term for Jonathan
in 2015
By Emeka Mamah & Soni Daniel,
Regional Editor, North
The North has asked President
Goodluck Jonathan to explain who he
was waiting for before taking action
to bring officials of the former
President Olusegun Obasanjo
administration to book over political
killings which he (Jonathan) said
were the order of the day when
Obasanjo held sway as the head of
government in the country.
It also insisted that the next president
of Nigeria, must emerge from the
area, pointing out that President
Jonathan must stand down for their
own in 2015.
The northern groups, Arewa
Consultative Forum, ACF, and the
Northern Elders Forum, NEF, made
these known at two separate
interviews with Saturday Vanguard
yesterday.
Reacting to a letter from Obasanjo,
alleging that the President had placed
1000 people on watch list, Jonathan
had in turn placed political killings in
the country on the door steps of the
former President.
Jonathan replied Obasanjo’s 18-
page open letter dated 2, 2013, to
him, pointing out that all the political
killings since the Fourth Republic
began, took place at the time
Obasanjo was President.
According to Jonathan, although
political killings had occurred in the
country, none of them had taken
place since he became President
about three years ago.
Among those who were said to have
been politically murdered during
Obasanjo’s administration included,
the former Minister of Justice and
Attorney-General of the Federation,
Chief Bola Ige, and South-South
politicians, Chief Harry Marshall,
Chief A.K. Dikibo, a former Senatorial
Candidate of the defunct All Nigeria
People’s Party, ANPP, in Imo State,
Uche Orji, Arc Layi Balogun, former
Vice Chancellor of the University of
Nigeria Nsukka, UNN, Prof Chimere
Ikoku, former Chairman of the Nigeria
Bar Association, NBA, in Anambra
State, Chief Barnabas Igwe and his
wife, Chief Victor Nwankwo of Fourth
Dimension Publishers and Chief
Funso Williams.
However, the Secretary General of
NEF, Prof Ango Abdullahi, confirmed
in an interview with Saturday
Vanguard that the North had made its
position on the 2015 presidency
known to President Jonathan’s
emissaries, who had attempted to
recruit some of their key stakeholders
for the next poll.
In the letter to Obasanjo dated
December 20, 2013, Jonathan further
stated, ‘’There have certainly been
cases of political assassination since
the advent of our Fourth Republic, but
as you well know, none of them
occurred under my leadership.
’’Regarding the over 1000 people you
say are on a political watch list, I urge
you to kindly tell Nigerians who they
are and what agencies of government
are “watching” them. Your allegation
that I am using security operatives to
harass people is also baseless.
Nigerians are waiting for your
evidence of proof. That was an
accusation made against previous
administrations, including yours, but
it is certainly not my style and will
never be. Again, if you insist on the
spurious claim that some of your
relatives and friends are being
harassed, I urge you to name them
and tell Nigerians what agencies of
my administration are harassing
them.
’’I also find it difficult to believe that
you will accuse me of assisting
murderers, or assigning a presidential
delegation to welcome a murderer.
This is a most unconscionable and
untrue allegation. It is incumbent on
me to remind you that I am fully
conscious of the dictates of my
responsibilities to God and our dear
nation. It is my hope that devious
elements will not take advantage of
your baseless allegation to engage in
brazen and wanton assassination of
high profile politicians as before,
hiding under the alibi your “open
letter” has provided for them.’’
However, reacting to President
Jonathan’s allegation on political
killings before he came into office, the
National Publicity Secretary of ACF,
Mr Anthony Sani, said, ‘’If you
consider the submissions by Mr
President,whose place in the order of
things, is to provide order and
direction to the nation… I wonder if he
needs ACF to ask him to take
necessary actions that are within his
mandate.
’’I have made it clear that what the
former president wrote to his place-
holder, President Jonathan, except
perhaps the issues of training and
arming snipers against political
opponents-was common place
knowledge. The same with the issues
raised by President Jonathan.
Meanwhile, Prof Abdullahi who spoke
in an interview with Saturday
Vanguard noted that the North had
already made its position on the
2015 presidency known to President
Jonathan’s emissaries, pointing out
that a list of 151 key northern
politicians and leaders was drawn by
presidential political tacticians with a
view to wooing them to work for the
president in the next general
elections.
The former ABU Vice Chancellor and
Presidential Adviser on Food Security
admitted to Olusegun Obasanjo, said
that he and some other northern
leaders, whose names appeared on
the list, had already been contacted
for possible support to Jonathan
ahead of the impending election.
He said however that the presidential
team must have hit the rock, as most
of the northern elements consulted on
the need to work for Jonathan’s re-
election, politely turned down the
offer.
Abdullahi did not mention the name
of any of those who contacted them
and who politely rejected the offer to
work for the president.
His words, “What I can tell you now is
that my name is on the list of the 151
Northern leaders and politicians, who
have been earmarked for consultation
by those working for Jonathan. But
the good thing is that most of those
contacted have also politely turned
down the offer.
“What Nigerians should know is that
the North as it is today, is ready to
receive and welcome a Nigerian
president from any of the 19 northern
states come 2015. He can come from
any of those states and we are ready
to support and work with such a
leader come 2015.
“I have been contacted by those who
believe they can lure me and other
Northern leaders to change our cause
and we courageously but politely
made our political position regarding
2015 very clear to them.
“They must have got our message
and have decided to adopt other
strategies, which in any case, would
not change our position regarding the
emergence of the Nigerian president
in 2015.”
Although President Jonathan is yet to
declare his intention to run in the
2015 poll, his body language
suggests he would run, hence,
opposition has been mounting
against his second term particularly
from the North, which claims that he
signed a deal to run for only a term of
four years after completing the
remaining two years of late President
Umaru Yar’Adua.
The lingering disagreement among
some of the party leaders and
governors in the ruling Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP, over 2015, led
to the defection of five PDP governors
to the opposition All Progressive
Congress, APC, last month.
President Jonathan has repeatedly
said that it is too early in the life of
the administration to begin campaign
for re-election in 2015, pointing out
that it was better for him to
concentrate on the provision of social
amenities for Nigerians than
dissipate energy on an election that
was still far away.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/12/political-killings-north-asks-jonathan-prosecute-obasanjo/

Yes, OBJ should be arrested and prosecuted with immediate effect! He has done more harm than good to humanity. His wrongdoings have become too numerous to mention.

I am speechless.
When will we stop advocating for a leader just because he is from our own region?
When will we focus on abilities?
Determination? When will we vote leaders based on their qualification?
Little wonder Nigeria is still far behind.

As usual setting up political land-mines for GEJ....hopefully he will be naive enough to enter the trap.

“The Nigerian upper class has become cancerous devoring one another to the detriment of their greed and spec tale masses. Prophet Segun Akintoye +2348166696667.My BB Pin2A832BA4.

Is obasanjo a murderer or not?

Ilugun the boy, stop playing on our psyche. I just wish and pray that goodluck falls for this your so-called political land-mines. That is my prayers for every nigeria. The most important thing is to finish the murderer called obasanjo.

ilugunboy: As usual setting up political land-mines for GEJ....hopefully he will be naive enough to enter the trap.

They want to pitch both men against each other and reap from the fall-out of their fight.

I think Obj, Ibb and all others like them should be tried for the monumental corruption that characterised their stay in power.

Vessi: I am speechless.
When will we stop advocating for a leader just because he is from our own region?
When will we focus on abilities?
Determination? When will we vote leaders based on their qualification?
Little wonder Nigeria is still far behind.

Did say when?
The ugly answer is NEVER!
Nigeria was never one, is not one and will never ne one.

That is why someone are championing the emergence of Biafra!

We either do the needful now or continue to soak the lands with blood.

Join our team, contribute your qouta to see that we go to our seperate Nations. Nigeria was created by one man on a piece of paper. It was tragic!

ilugunboy: As usual setting up political land-mines for GEJ....hopefully he will be naive enough to enter the trap.

ilu=bitter
gun=weapon to kill
boy=immature male
you are not a smart guy.your bitterness in Nairaland is not hidden.
Read again and reason!

Bunch of confused fellows!

For GOD sake, these old fools are playing games on us
When will the youths of this most populated nation learn about this politiking games... Are we really that pathetic that we can not differentiate left hand from right...;(;(;(

babyface333: Is obasanjo a murderer or not?

Ilugun the boy, stop playing on our psyche. I just wish and pray that goodluck falls for this your so-called political land-mines. That is my prayers for every nigeria. The most important thing is to finish the murderer called obasanjo.

You know what....? Am not always comfortable with fake handles as this one you are using. I wish you can use your real and main handle, so that I can appreciate who am dealing with.

If your main handle is serving a ban presently....then stay away from the community.

samuelkaykay:
ilu=bitter
gun=weapon to kill
boy=immature male
you are not a smart guy.your bitterness in Nairaland is not hidden.
Read again and reason!

You want to earn LIKES.....knowing fully well that any comment that attack me automatically earns a LIKE from the GEJ till 2019 crew members...

You've failed!

ilugunboy: As usual setting up political land-mines for GEJ....hopefully he will be naive enough to enter the trap.

They're already at loggerheads and OBJ has done his worst by accepting APC.
There's nothing OBJ can do to surprise GEJ again.
Gej should prosecute him.
That singular act may win 2015 elections for GEJ.

Ilugun the boy! Stop derailing this threed joorh. Face the topic. I am babyface and will continue to be babyface.

Ilugun my man. Your bitterness no knows bound and it has beclouded you of the little sense of reasoning you have. That notwithstanding, am still that your priceless friend from across the niger. Oya since you have known me now, face the topic.

Meanwhile hapi new year in advance.no yab me oooo. Just wish me same.

ilugunboy:

You know what....? Am not always comfortable with fake handles as this one you are using. I wish you can use your real and main handle, so that I can appreciate who am dealing with.

If your main handle is serving a ban presently....then stay away from the community.

God bless Nigeria.

babyface333: Ilugun the boy! Stop derailing this threed joorh. Face the topic. I am babyface and will continue to be babyface.

Ilugun my man. Your bitterness no knows bound and it has beclouded you of the little sense of reasoning you have. That notwithstanding, am still that your priceless friend from across the niger. Oya since you have known me now, face the topic.

Meanwhile hapi new year in advance.no yab me oooo. Just wish me same.

donchriss??

Bad guy!!!

Happy new year in advance bro...wish you and your family a very prosperous 2014.

حنز‎ ‎

ilugunboy:

You want to earn LIKES.....knowing fully well that any comment that attack me automatically earns a LIKE from the GEJ till 2019 crew members...

You've failed!

if there is someone who don't need likes,i am.i have served this country at a national level.you refused to see the phrase that said that their major concern is to return power to the north not to ensure good governoon.your post is always childish.

samuelkaykay:
if there is someone who don't need likes,i am.i have served this country at a national level.you refused to see the phrase that said that their major concern is to return power to the north not to ensure good governoon .your post is always childish.

Correct the typo in bold...

The question is..can you confidently say that we are having good governance now?

I want competition....I don't like the idea of PDP being in perpetual control...it's turning governance attitude into lackluster ....lukewarm and lackadaisical.

If APC gets there....there would be that gleam of hope that they wouldn't want to be thrown out or suffer the same fate as PDP due to bad performance.....there is a motivation and fear.

Only Nigerians can be better off with a government afraid of losing power.

Let he without sin cast the first stone,any prosecution of OBJ will open the pandora box,and many would be consumed,GEJ inclusive.