ADDIS ABABA(AFP) – President Goodluck Jonathan may enter the race for chairman of the African Union, after Gambia pulled out of the running this week, a source close to Jonathan said Saturday.

Leaders will choose a new chairman for the 54-member pan-African body in a secret ballot at the African Union summit opening Sunday.

The leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are campaigning for Jonathan to run for the position, which has been occupied by the President of Equatorial Guinea, Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, since 2008.

“Quite a number of African leaders have been approaching him and encouraging him to be the candidate for the next chairman of the African Union,” said the source, who spoke of the condition of anonymity.

“If it is the consensus of (ECOWAS) that he should run for the chairmanship of the African Union, I doubt if he will be able to tell his colleagues that he will not listen to them,” he added.

Diplomatic sources had earlier said Gambian President Yahya Jammeh or Benin’s leader Boni Yayi were likely rivals for the post, which changes every four years and is offered to different regions in Africa on a rotational basis.

However, the source confirmed that Gambia was no longer vying for the spot, which is largely ceremonial, adding that Benin may not run either, leaving Nigeria as the sole candidate for chairman of the union.

ECOWAS leaders are meeting on the margins of the AU summit in Addis Ababa Saturday to decide whether they will formally recommend Jonathan for the spot.

The next chairman will come from the west African region to replace Obiang, whose election was condemned by rights group over his poor rights record at home.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/01/jonathan-may-run-for-au-chairperson/

Nice one. I hope he wins.

Who cares? Dat post na useles post sef.

Goodluck for Governor, Badluck for bayelsa
Goodluck for President, Badluck for Nigeria
Goodluck for African Union Presido, badluck for Africa.
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, spreading the nasty luck around. since the 2000's !

Let the whole africa enjoy his fresh air

Even when he has not being able to put port harcourt together.Anyway,AU is another basket case,full of unprincipled loafers.

Who will vote for him?

A president who could not secure his country, why bother for Africa?

Misplaced priority for the previously shoeless boy from Otuoke

The current AU chairman is suffering from a chronic renal desease. You know jonathan's Good luck can only come to play when there is a plaque. Retarrdeenho!!. The foool that cant in even control his wife.

Anarchy:

Who will vote for him?

I won't even lie,I didn't even read your write up or anyone of the replies by other people but giving my opinion just based on your topic, E GO BE CAPITAL MISTAKE FOR JONATHAN TO BE AU CHAIRMAN.

Rhino.5dm:

The current AU chairman is suffering from a chronic renal desease. [b]You know jonathan's Good luck can only come to play when there is a plaque. [/b]Retarrdeenho!!. The foool that cant in even control his wife.

Alams' impeachment and Yar Adua's transition come to mind.

To be honest, I'd say: Jonathan from his antecedence has proven to be a catastrophe. What makes the smiling, crooked, clueless, kaikai-shacking turned whisky sipping, good-for-nothing, puscy faced, bowler-hat-wearing monkey think he stands a chance

Of what relevance has the AU ever been anyway?

.

GEJ 4 au chairman,watchout 4 boko au, I dey laff ooo

Bdeal:


GEJ is intellectually shallow and his foreign minister is nothing to write home about.

T.K.O

Would that bring the end of boko haram?

Hahahahahahahahaha. This has to be the joke of the millenium. How can a group ☺₣ hunters ask Ǟ blind man to lead the way? Do they think they will escape the wrath of the jungle?

A man who is yet to rid his house of a flu wants to cure an entire community of cancer? Members of the AU must be taking up comedy or must have confused marijuana for tobacco and all smoked some weed and sipped some shekpe. Bunch of confused beings

He should make peace at home so that he can be able to make peace in other African Countries having problems. Remember EGYPT. TUNISIA LIBYA and other states in crises.

C'mon people. there is nothing wrong in the president going for a post which represent Nigeria interest in Africa.

I really think this is a good move.

As of the problem at him, I believe being In the position of power in africa can really help reduce or tackle the issue of boko haram in neighbouring countires such as cameroun and co

When the blind leads the blind,their abode is certainly a ditch.

To think that d leaders of ECOWAS are campaining for him to take the position is laughable.
Africa is really a dark continent!

Zi:

To think that d leaders of ECOWAS are campaining for him to take the position is laughable.
Africa is really a dark continent!

who should they campaign for ? Mugabe

I mean this is his chance against boko haram in the continetal stage

Moreover, this would/should not affect his presidential duties

alj harem:

C'mon people. there is nothing wrong in the president going for a post which represent Nigeria interest in Africa.

I really think this is a good move.

As of the problem at him, I believe being In the position of power in africa can really help reduce or tackle the issue of boko haram in neighbouring countires such as cameroun and co

I disagree.
Charity begins at home, not from abroad.

alj harem:

C'mon people. there is nothing wrong in the president going for a post which represent Nigeria interest in Africa.

I really think this is a good move.

As of the problem at him, I believe being In the position of power in africa can really help reduce or tackle the issue of boko haram in neighbouring countires such as cameroun and co

hey you dont want to follow popular appeal just to be different
or you are just being sarcastic

what nonsense did you write up there? is your head correct?

slim poppa:

I disagree.
Charity begins at home, not from abroad.

true talk

Your excellency there is alot of work to do at home than chairing d AU

Please dont condemn Jonatan, for i strongly Believe he will act well as the chairman of AU. We nigerians are experts in condemning our leaders. He has done nothing bad only that his policies are hash on us and it is for our own future good. Thanks

Remii:


Alams' impeachment and Yar Adua's transition come to mind.

He had better. That way when the presidency chair is removed from his backside he still has another. Good luck to him.

Hope this will make Him more responsible and enable Him transform Nigeria for the best?

Africans sha with their thought process!