LAGOS — President Goodluck Jonathan, weekend, met with national leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria and former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu behind closed doors.

The meeting in State House, Marina, Lagos took place as President Jonathan returned from Ivory Coast where he joined other regional leaders for an emergency summit of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS.

Jonathan consults with Tinubu

The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has, however, dismissed any political benefit for Jonathan from associating with Tinubu, describing the former Lagos State Governor as more of a liability than an asset for the President’s political calculations.

A reliable source told Vanguard that besides Tinubu, others at the meeting were Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State; the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Dimeji Bankole.

The meeting followed increasing talks on the President’s future which has seen a number of his associates advocating a second term for Jonathan who first stepped into office in 2010 to complete the four-year tenure of his former boss, late President Umaru Yar‘Adua.

Weekend’s meeting aroused interest in political circles following speculations that Asiwaju Tinubu, just like Jonathan, could also be contesting the next presidential election in 2015.

Lagos PDP reacts

Reacting to the meeting, the Lagos State PDP Publicity Secretary, Mr Taofik Gani, said even while he was not in a position to confirm the motive behind the meeting, he nevertheless affirmed that the party in the state would not be deterred in its resolve to claim the state come 2015.

Gani said: “PDP is not a party of vendetta as far as we are concerned. I am not in a position to confirm the motive behind the meeting, but I know that there are other national pressing issues. For instance, the issue of Boko Haram warrants everybody to join hands to fight. I remember recently that the former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu said something on that and so the President must have come to meet him to see whether he has any position on that.”

While appealing to the president to tread with caution, he said: “It is a risky position if the president has come to see Tinubu regarding 2015. The President may have met a liability rather than an asset in the forthcoming election. The truth is that the Lagos PDP is better positioned that we do not need anybody outside the party to win elections.

“However, the Lagos PDP expects that whatever lobbying any member of the party is involved in will not override the interest of the party. In Lagos PDP, it is our interest to claim Lagos State from ACN and so, we will not compromise and jeopardize that interest.”

It would be recalled that the president had, recently, told an Abuja High Court that the provisions of the 1999 constitution pertaining to his chances to contest the 2015 election were clear.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/04/jonathan-consults-with-tinubu-fashola-akiolu/

I guess the politics of 2015 has already started!

So far:
.) The SS called GEJ to re-contest!
.) The SE are still consulting on what to do!
.) The SW is divided. Some for GEJ (PDP) and some against.
.) The core North are busy bombing themselves to dust without demanding the slightest quantum of accountability from their leaders.
.) The Middle belt... well, they'll support whoever wins which is likely GEJ! AGAIN!

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jason123: The question here are:

1) Are Nigerians going to vote based on competence? Or are we all going to crawl back to our religious, tribal and regional shells?
2) Will Boko haram stop if a Northerner becomes the president 2015?
3) Are we ever going to go back to true federalism (pre-1970 era)?

You ask a nice question. If we must stay together as a country, it is high time we decide your number 1 question or 3 question. How I wish my people should look me in the eye and call me "Brother" instead of an Hausa man, Igbo man or Yoruba man.

I wonder what we will tell our kids when they ask why is Nigeria so screwed?

It befuddles the imagination that a president who has no record, but actually continues to fail in the most critical areas germane to the well-being of a nation can engage himself in talks of a "second term".

PDP and its members are a bunch of shameless people for discussing sleeping arrangements even as the house is burning to the ground.

I am sure Tinubu is not discussing anything concerning 2015 with the president because Tinubu understands the seriousness of Nigeria continue to drift like this for another year.

Only 2nd term?? 200 terms nko.

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chrishenzo:

You ask a nice question. If we must stay together as a country, it is high time we decide your number 1 question or 3 question. How I wish my people should look me in the eye and call me "Brother" instead of an Hausa man, Igbo man or Yoruba man.

I wonder what we will tell our kids when they ask why is Nigeria so screwed?

There is no way we can remain a country without each individual asking him/herself those questions. My prediction is that the highlighted will happen 2015! If not, we don't deserve to be in the same country!

koruji: It befuddles the imagination that a president who has no record, but actually continues to fail in the most critical areas germane to the well-being of a nation can engage himself in talks of a "second term".

PDP and its members are a bunch of shameless people for discussing sleeping arrangements even as the house is burning to the ground.

I am sure Tinubu is not discussing anything concerning 2015 with the president because Tinubu understands the seriousness of Nigeria continue to drift like this for another year.

Only 2nd term?? 200 terms nko.

Don't be too sure. Is Tinubu not a Nigerian politician? Please, don't be deceived!

If indeed Jonathan is discussing 2015 with Tinubu then he is a jobless president and should resign, Nigeria is boiling and the only thing on his mind is 2015?

Retardeen is just too useless. Discussing 2015 when the nation is burning

After dragging Tinubu to CCB? Very funny Mr Jona ha ha. Tinubu is gonna phock Jona so hard becos Tinubu never forgets. Now them wan put Saraki for prison becos Saraki sef wan be president. Anyway, we dey watch.

hercules07: If indeed Jonathan is discussing 2015 with Tinubu then he is a jobless president and should resign, Nigeria is boiling and the only thing on his mind is 2015?

I concur.