Why we voted for Jonathan – Northern Govs
Headlines Jan 17, 2011 By JIDE AJANI, Editor, Northern Operations, EMMANUEL AZIKEN, TAYE OBATERU, DEMOLA AKINYEMI & ALIYU DANGIDA
ABUJA—SOME governors of states in the North, yesterday, insisted that their decision to vote for President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate was hinged on the exigencies of national unity, patriotism and the need to uphold tenets of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Their insistence came at a time that moves were already being explored to re-invigorate the Jonathan/Sambo Presidential Campaign Organisation with “elders who are more versed and tested in a presidential contest.”

Meanwhile, Vanguard has been informed that there are already informal engagements of leaders of the PDP with those “considered to have really lost out in the series of congresses” of the party in the last two weeks.


Jigawa State delegates at the PDP Presidential Primaries at the Eagle Square, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida
Of special focus, Vanguard was made to understand, would be leaders of the Northern Political Leaders’ Forum, NPLF, who are members of the party.

The state governors who defended their choice of President Jonathan over former Vice President Atiku Abubakar spoke through their advisers.

From Adamawa, the home state of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Governor Murtala Nyako who spoke to Vanguard through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Alhaji Aminu Iyawa, described the comments of those accusing northern governors of betrayal as a figment of their imaginations.

Political antecedents

The Governor noted that delegates to the PDP presidential primaries voted for the better candidate without manipulation whatsoever. He said the delegates considered who among the presidential aspirants was best for the North-East sub-region and the entire country before they made their choice, adding: “The delegates know Atiku Abubakar and his political antecedents more than any other person(s).”

For Governor Buba Suntai of Taraba State, his Senior Special Assistant (Media), Mr. Emmanuel Bello made it clear that Governor Suntai was not a traitor. He said: “ We voted based on convictions and patriotism. We believe in Nigeria and the supremacy of our constitution. President Jonathan’s presidency is the elixir Nigeria needs for progress and development.”


From left: First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan; President Goodluck Jonathan; and Commander, Presidential Air Fleet, Air Commodore Adeshola Amosu, at President Jonathan's celebration of victory at the presidential primaries at Port Harcourt, yesterday. Photo: State House.
Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State hinged the support of the people of the state for President Jonathan on the imperative of having a national rather than a sectional leader at this point of the country’s history.

Reacting to accusations of betrayal from some quarters over the massive support given to Jonathan by many states in the northern part of the country, Jang said that Jonathan had demonstrated within his short tenure as president that he is a nationalist.

Jang who spoke to Vanguard through the Director of Press and Public Affairs in his office, Mr. James Mannok, said Jonathan deserved the support he got from the North.

He said: “For nine months that President Jonathan has been in office, he has no doubt shown himself as a nationalist; as a national leader. He has not reduced himself to a sectional leader and he has demonstrated through his policies, actions and the way he has responded to issues affecting different parts of the country.

“That is one of the reasons why he has endeared himself to Plateau and other states. For us, we see him as a visionary leader committed to one Nigeria and a strong developed nation. What this country needs at this moment is a leader that understands that what is important is the unity and development of this nation.”

From Kwara State, Billy Adedamola, Special Assistant on Media to Governor Bukola Saraki, who was a member of the Northern consensus quartet, it was made clear that a number of factors were responsible for Jonathan’s success
Adedamola said: “The problem really was that delegates from Kwara State were disenchanted with the way and manner Governor Bukola Saraki was treated over the consensus arrangement.

The argument during the campaigns that we didn’t come from the far North in spite of our commitment and allegiance to the consensus arrangement didn’t go down well with them at all. The governor really tried all he could to calm them down over that but of course he couldn’t follow them down to where they would vote.”

Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State, speaking through Alhaji Nasiru Abdul, Special Adviser, Media, explained that what happened last Thursday at the Eagle Square in Abuja was part of “the beauty of democracy.”

Exercising voting rights

He said the people had the right to exercise their voting right and nobody should take that away from them, adding: “ This is a democracy and every delegate at the convention was entitled to a vote and that is what they did.”

The deputy publicity secretary of PDP in Jigawa State, Alhaji Ali Abdulkadir Hadejia, said that no amount of blackmail or pressure will stop them from supporting the presidential ambition of Goodluck Jonathan in the 2011 general elections.

He said the decision of Governor Lamido to support Jonathan’s candidature wasn’t his alone but the decision of PDP and law abiding members of the party, adding that the recent protest in Hadejia had nothing to do with the support the state offered to President Jonathan in the just concluded party primaries.

Noting that the protest was organized by CPC members in favour of their gubernatorial aspirants, Hadejia said they were 100 per cent for Jonathan and there was no going back because it was PDP decision.

In his reaction, Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State said the state delegates voted the way they did because they were against dividing Nigeria along tribal and religious lines.

Yuguda who spoke through Alhaji Sanusi Mohammed, his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, said: “We should be able to give each and every Nigerian an opportunity to serve in whatever capacity. Therefore, accusing Mallam Isa Yuguda of supporting President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Yakasi and his group are not only trying to derail the nascent democracy we are enjoying, they are also trying to divide Nigeria along tribal and religious lines and this is what any patriotic Nigerian will kick against. We stand by Goodluck Jonathan.

Restructuring and reinvigoration

Meanwhile, a source inside Aso Rock Presidential Villa who worked with the Jonathan/Sambo Presidential Campaign Organisation, told Vanguard there was need for a restructuring and re-invigoration of the campaign organization.

The source said: “From what happened before and during the contest for the PDP ticket, it became obvious that while members of the Campaign Team put in their best, there would be need to bring on board more tested and experienced politicians who would be interested in delivering on the project.

Mr. President himself, while appreciating the work of the present team appears to have also come to terms with the need for a more energetic team. The elections in April would be a different thing entirely and all hands would need to be on deck.”

The need for this, Vanguard was told, came “because of the obvious absence of very tested and experienced politicians with the reach and network across the length and breath of this country. The general election is a different thing all together. There would be no excuse for false moves. The President can call on people from even his South South geo-political zone who are known, tested and trusted to deliver on elections.”

This seems like welcomed news.

Nigeria needs patriotism.

N/GOV una weldon