Prof Dora Akunyili Lobbies Atiku For Vice Presidential Slot

ureports, editor@ukpakareports.com, 0808 336 8888, Aug 21 2010 08:16am


With uncertainty hovering over the appointment and relevance of the federal minister of information and communication in the new Jonathan cabal, new and puzzling political permutations and realignments appear to have overtaken the activities within the federal executive council [FEC] - so much that the members of the FEC who had originally pledged unflinching loyalty to the President, during the transition from Acting President to President, have begun the reappraisal of their loyalty. Ukpakareports.com has it on good authority that the Federal Minister of Information and Communication, Prof Dorothy Nkem Akunyili along with other members of the FEC, approached two of the major presidential aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] with interest in the vice presidential slot against the upcoming presidential tussle of 2011.

Particularly, available information point to the unexpected fall from grace of some of the ministers in the eyes of the President coupled with the limited campaign fund available to the President [the president is having difficulty raising monies for reelection campaign], as the propellant pushing many of the federal ministers into the latent switch of allegiance to the Atiku/Gusau camp.

As gathered, in the case of the federal minister of information and communication who had played a principal role in the dismantling of the Late Yar’Adua cabal, and in the eventual transition from Acting President Jonathan to President Jonathan, is quoted to be unhappy with the manner the Jonathan administration has rewarded her ill-fully. Her rebranding campaign which the Yar’Adua administration supported, according to a close source to her, has not received similar support under the Jonathan administration. She believe it to be a deliberate move to silence her.

With her dwindling relevance in the Jonathan cabal, the federal minister rose to grab the bull by the horns damning the consequences. Her recent meeting with both the Atiku and Gusau camps came on the eve of the National Executive Meeting of the PDP held in the first week of August 2010. At both meetings, according to a source, Dora Akunyili expressed her take on the “zoning” issue. In particular, she noted that in the interest of the South East that she supports the original zoning arrangement agreed upon by the PDP. To this, Atiku revealed to Dora Akunyili that he is searching the South East geo-political region for a running mate. He indicated Anambra as his place of interest. Gen. Gusau was said to echo similar sentiments during in his meeting with her.

So the die appears cast for the Jonathan/Sambo 2011 Presidential campaign. Or so it seems. Sources knowledgeable of the ongoings within the Jonathan presidential campaign planning committee told ukpakareports.com of the financial hurdles that awaits the campaign team. Speaking in confidence, one of the sources revealed that the recent bazaar of contracts hastily awarded by the Jonathan administration was done to raise “badly” needed cash. Some of such contract awards were the purchase of presidential aircraft for the sum of N25billion, the construction of a 700kv power generation station for $2.5billion, the internal rearrangements in the NNPC, and the list continues. Wealthy individuals, both local and international, have been approached by the campaign committee in the “desperate” attempt at seeking financial assistance – and not many have responded favorably.

That notwithstanding, many within the cabal of Jonathan’s administration appear confident and hopeful. They remain confident that the president will find the necessary funds to lubricate the campaign engine. But the ongoing tremor over the zoning issue remains an issue of instability for the cabal. As a source close to Dora Akunyili notes, the northern geopolitical zone has put the squeeze on the Jonathan group both financially and socially. Its effect according to source has been far reaching and beyond expectations. Many of the political hangers-on believe the battle to be near insurmountable for Jonathan.

Dampening the growing enthusiasm over Jonathan’s presidential campaign is the new revelation of the PDP Chairman’s subtle switch on the zoning issue having to do with his intimate connections to one of the PDP presidential aspirants, Atiku. As gathered through a letter written to the Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC] on April 19th 2007 by the National Administrative Secretary [Alhaji Abubakar Suleiman] of the then Action Congress subtitled “INTRODUCING FIVE MAN DELEGATION TO THE NATIONAL ELECTION RESULT COLLATION CENTER”. The letter placed Nwodo, the current PDP chairman as one of the trusted Atiku men during the 2007 election against the Late Yar’Adua/Jonathan campaign.

The letter reads in part “This is to introduce to you five man delegation that will represent our Party Action Congress [AC] at the National Election Result Collation Center [INEC]. They are:

1. Chief Tom Ikimi – leader of delegation
2. Bashsir Dalhatu
3. Chief Yomi Edu
4. Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo
5. Lai Mohammed

Please accept the assurances of our highest esteem. Alhaji Abubakar Suleiman, National Administrative Secretary - for National Secretary”

Adding gravitas to his alleged clandestine presence within the PDP chairmanship seat is his remark on the late and former governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abubakar Rimi in February of 2008 for re-joining the PDP. His words, “what attracted Rimi back to the PDP after he had criticized the party over six months ago? It is for him to tell the country that there is wonderful, brand new PDP that he has gone back to, that is doing right all things that he said were wrong with the PDP”.

Also, “We have no problem with his leaving. It is his credibility that is on the line. But we believe, in Action Congress, that first and foremost, the elections that were done in Nigeria were heavily flawed and we should not bequeath this kind of election to prosperity.”

He continued that “The number one thing we want to comment on is the madness called election 2007. If we don’t challenge it, the way we are challenging it across the country, it will become the order of the day. It was bad in 2003. It was worse in 2007 and this means that in 2011, there will be no election and yet results will be announced. We will be killing democracy if we allow this sham to go unchallenged”. And so the members of the Jonathan cabal knowledgeable of the historic ties between Nwodo and Atiku find themselves questioning the not-so-clear outcome of the upcoming PDP presidential primaries.

And Dora Akunyili, on her part, is reported to have delved into her past ties with Dr. Nwodo as well. Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo is said to have been roommates with Chike Akunyili [Dora’s husband] during their undergraduate years at University of Nigeria before Dora met her husband. And Dora used to play cook for the both. She cooked and brought food for both Nwodo and Chike. In her calculations, Nwodo is likely to tip the scale favorably to Atiku, if allowed the opportunity.

Ukpakareports.com reached out to the Federal Minister of Information and Communication regarding her secret lobbying of the Atiku camp but she declined to respond. Numerous SMS messages were sent to her direct line but she did not respond. Responding unofficially was a member of her family who confirmed that she had met with Atiku's people recently.

http://www.ukpakareports.com/news.php?type_id=1&news_id=1301

Ukpakareports stories should be taken with a pinch of salt o.

Dont believe the story.

It is assumed I read this in my dream. I will talk when I wake up from the slumber.

Ukpaka report again.

Akproko reports! Na lie!

There is no way this can be true. President Goodluck is smarter than most Nigerian would want to think. Lets watch and see and those speculating on Atiku or IBB Presidency should rather wake up from the ill-fated dreams!

Dora again!