[size=14pt]2011: Jonathan won’t contest—Reuters[/size]

ABUJA— A REPORT published by an international news agency, Reuters, quoting a Presidency source as having declared that President Goodluck Jonathan was considering not contesting the presidential elections due next January may have unsettled the Presidency, yesterday, as the government immediately reacted saying President Jonathan was yet to make a commitment.

The news agency in the report quoted the Presidency source as having said that President Jonathan will, however, make his intentions known by the end of the month.

The Presidency, however, reacted to the publication, saying the President has not declared that he would run in the presidential elections or not.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had said that President Jonathan has the right to run, because he was previously Vice President on a joint ticket with President Umaru Yar’Adua, who died mid-way through his first term earlier this year.

But the party also said it would uphold the principle of “zoning” and that other candidates were free to contest at its primaries, expected to be held in September.

The Presidency source was quoted as saying: “He is not likely going to run, simply because his party has retained the zoning of the presidency to the north for the next four years. Though his party said he can run despite the zoning, the party said this because they didn’t want to offend him.”

The source said Jonathan would make his intentions public before the end of August. The Presidency officials who declined comment, added: “He is a man that always ensures equity and fair play, so he may allow the North to have their remaining four-year term if that will ensure peace and unity.”

A decision by Jonathan not to run would come as a surprise to many in the country, because never before had an incumbent leader, constitutionally allowed to seek re-election, withdrawn from a presidential race.

Scepticism

Recent announcements by Jonathan’s administration, from pledges to end chronic power shortages to the imminent passage of long-awaited reforms to the energy sector, have looked more like campaign pledges, heightening expectations he will stand.

Abubakar Momoh, professor of politics at Lagos State University, said:”Everybody knows that groups and interests are campaigning for him, and they are well-funded …

Nobody is deceived. I don’t believe in this idea of mobilising but then saying, ‘I’m not too sure yet.’” He added that  Jonathan’s failure to declare is “impinging on his integrity.”

But sources close to the president have been saying for weeks that he was concerned about the implications of ending zoning and about his own credibility as a candidate in polls he says he wants to make free and fair.

Presidency reacts

The Presidency, yesterday, reacted to the publication stating: “Our attention has been drawn to a report published by Reuters today, quoting “Presidency”sources as stating that President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan may have decided not to run in the 2011 presidential elections after all.

“Information at our disposal indicates that this is a story sponsored by interested parties. Unfortunately, the highly rated global news agency was misled into publishing it.

The truth is that the president has not said he will not run. Neither has he said he will.

“At different times he has given clear reasons why he considers it premature, in the interest of governance, to make any commitment both ways. At the appropriate time, the president will inform his country men and women of his future plans. Until then, every comment on the subject remains mere speculation.”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/08/17/2011-jonathan-won%E2%80%99t-contest%E2%80%94reuters/

I'm laughing.

Am laffing too o. One thing is clear: the man will run

When a 'source' said he may run, no official release to counter that, but when another source says he will not run, official release dropped to counter it. Isn't the message clear enough?

The ambiguous signals emanating from GEJ on issues concerning his presidential ambition do not augur well with the delicate Nigeria polity. He should make up his mind and tell Nigerians whether he is running or not.
I cant believe that the presidential election proper is around the corner and some potential contestants are still dillydallying.

^^
what do you expect of him? He's confused. . .he knows not what he's doing.

Why is GEJ always ambivalent when it comes to knowing his intentions about 2011 polls? He is always trying to please everybody.

Jonathan is a very weak leader. Among major contestants , he's the weakest.

He definately will run.

Sorry! He contested and won and is now the president.

God Bless Nigeria!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GodBlessNigeria

Care-Taker:

Sorry! He contested and won and is now the president.

God Bless Nigeria!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GodBlessNigeria

Let me guess. . . you entered a time machine, transported yourself to May 2011, logged into Nairaland and posted this??

Mobinga:

Let me guess. . .  you entered a time machine, transported yourself to May 2011, logged into Nairaland and posted this??

Abeg! u be t.b.joshuaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!


God Bless Nigeria!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GodBlessNigeria

Jonathan is almost as bad as Yar'Adua in the way he's allowing rumours to distort the political process. Why can't he come out & tell us his plan for 2011 Presidency? Who or what exactly is he scared of?

Reuters Ko bbc ni. Na today? have we forgotten the BBC yaradua interview so soon?

If GEJ fails to contest na im be say OBAMA don grant am asylum for America. dem no born am well to near ND.

come on guys, is there a deadline for when people are allowed to officially enter into the fray?

if there is such a deadline, has it elapsed ?

if it hasn't elapsed, can we cut GEJ some slack please ?

the man will announce whether or not he wants to run in his time. you people should stop bullying him into a decision

ziddy:

Jonathan is almost as bad as Yar'Adua in the way he's allowing rumours to distort the political process. Why can't he come out & tell us his plan for 2011 Presidency? Who or what exactly is he scared of?

Abeg kool down, the man is consulting, he needs to have 60% of the delegates votes in the bag before the PDP primaries. Abi you want to him to act like Atiku who forgot to re-register in his ward first before declaring presidential ambition in a party that does not "know" him?

I SUGGEST WE (NAIRALANDERS) CONTACT OCTOPUS PAUL TO KNOW IF OUR DEAR GEJ WILL CONTEST, ON WHICH PARTY PLATFORM & IF HE WILL WIN. THIS WILL EASILY SETTLE ALL THESE SPECULATIONS.

Smart guy . . . there's no way he can lose now.

If he runs . . . the voters forced him to, he couldn't bear to disappoint us.
If he doesn't . . . he's a man that believes in fairness and honesty.

Smart politicking.

@na_so,eldee and all pro GEJ,God bless you all.it is well with Nigeria.