₦airaland Forum

2iic: PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan appears to have devised a strategy for freeing himself from the clutches of governors hostile to his 2015 ambition, especially those from the states ruled by the Peoples Democratic Party.

At the centre of this strategy, The PUNCH learnt, was a plan to empower ministers against the chief executives of their home states and create alternative power base from which Jonathan could tap for his second term ambition in 2015.

The ministers that would readily benefit from this presidential empowerment, as already discussed and decided on by members of the President’s kitchen cabinet, are those from states whose governors have been seen as antagonistic to Jonathan’s 2015 ambition.

The revelation came even as the Nigerian Governors’ Forum holds its election on Monday (today) in Abuja.

Though President Goodluck Jonathan said on Sunday that it had no interest in the governors’ forum elections, there were indications that the Presidency would put the poll under close watch.

Beyond merely electing who replaces Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as the chairman of the forum, analysts say the NGF poll will pinpoint the direction of the 2015 poll, especially within the Peoples Democratic Party.

Amaechi is regarded in the circle of Jonathan as not a fan of the President. There is said to be an underground campaign to ensure that Amaechi is not returned whereas the majority of the governors are said to be in support of retaining the Rivers State governor.

Not included in this majority of supporters for Amaechi are governors Godswill Akpabio, Henry Dickson and Ibrahim Shema of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Katsina states respectively.

Investigations have, however, shown that Jonathan would use Monday’s election to measure the loyalty of the governors.

“If the NGF election today does not go the way that will inspire confidence in the loyalty of the governors, the Presidency has a ‘Plan B’ option to fall back to,” a source who claimed to be privy to the ‘empower the ministers’ strategy confided in one of our correspondents on Sunday.

The source said that the President had decided to sidetrack the unfriendly governors and use the ministers to mobilise support from such states.

When the strategy begins to unfold, the ministers would be the one to nominate candidates from their states to be appointed to boards at the federal level.

Apart from that, the ministers would also be allowed to appoint what the source called “a point man” at each local government.

The source said, “The Presidency has decided to strengthen the ministers in states where the governors are not favourably disposed to the second term ambition of the President.

“The need to have this was discussed at a recent meeting the President had with his close aides.

“The President is worried that the governors, even though some of them are from his party, are not working with him on the need for the party to win the 2015 presidential election.

“So, we have decided to make the ministers his point men in the affected states and also allow the ministers have representatives at each of the local governments in their states.”

He also said that the President might appoint more politicians into his cabinet anytime he decides to effect a change among the ministers.

“He says he needs PDP-carrying members in some strategic states to enable such ministers carry party members along and also allow PDP members in the states to have a feel of his government,” the source added.

Sources say that the sin of Amaechi, who is a contestant in today’s election of the NGF, is that he is seen as not supporting the second term ambition of Jonathan, a fellow South-South person. The Rivers governor is alleged to be planning to run as vice presidential candidate to another incumbent governor from the north.

Amaechi has denied the speculation on many occasions but his traducers are not convinced.

The governors started arriving Abuja on Sunday for the election scheduled to hold at the Rivers State Lodge.

Jonathan’s Special Adviser on Political Matters, Ahmed Gulak, in an exclusive interview with one of our correspondents in Abuja on Sunday said the President did not have interest in who becomes the forum’s chairman because the group is not a constitutional organ.

He said members were free to decide who lead them once the tenure of the incumbent ends.

He said, “President Goodluck Jonathan does not have anything to do with who is or who becomes the chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum.

“The group is not a constitutional organ, though members have constitutional rights of freedom of association.

“The President has nothing to do with who is the chairman. He is not interested in who leads them because all the governors are his political associates.

“He can’t dictate who gets what in the forum. Once the tenure of the chairman ends, members are free to put anybody there.

“Before, the chairman was Sam Egwu, later it was Adamu Abdullahi and later Bukola Saraki. The Presidency has nothing to do with it.”
http://www.punchng.com/news/2015-jonathan-to-empower-ministers-against-govs/

Yawn! Wђɑ̤̥̈̊† did I miss?

Nigeria is going from baaaad to woooorst

yuzedo: Dis one problem na alawee!

Sweerie, come to my mansion in Ikoyi and lemme double your alawee for you, CASH!!!

....... Don't wear pant

Ashawo kobo kobo

mapet: @homerac7,

you be my senior o. H/c is 25, but I'm not afraid to give you a run for your h/c sometimes

Boys! Enjoying how you guys have decided to ignor some nonetity here

Are you guys real golfers or you play internet golf?

W☺☺w! Τhis guy is still alive!

Why is Buhari shaking the whole country?

Happy Birthday Sir

Oti o ! Τhis one no resemble our Goldie naa! is she τhis fat?

RIP we late girl.

wisestman: to me i think its the most ridiculous explanation. he fired four shots thru d door. he didnt go to confirm if the person was dead but went back to bed. does dat make sense? why did he go back to bed? out of all d places thieves could pass thru it was the bathroom he/ she chose to break in...abeg its a PREMEDITATED MURDER period......

Make una dεy read and understand first b4 commenting. All these 'na ♍e first comment' is causing alot of wahala.

dare2think: Unfortunately, this is a messenger that thrives on attention!

WARNING KESHI??

Why? did he warn him when the team was under pressure? Now the team has achieved something in his absence he comes with advises!!

Keshi should be advising him (judging from his recent actions) not the other way around.

OSAZE and read the messenge again,...does it now make sense

sylve11:

Make i join you grin and laugh

Paentera: After the Goldie BBA & heartfelt loss over her passing away by a lot of her former online adversaries & fans, I have come to the conclusion that as much as possible, we should enjoy the best parts of ourselves rather than name calling especially for those who made it to the top but have short comings.

If it happens that we lose these people, we eventually remember when these guys were unstoppable forces and were at their prime. Osaze has shortcomings, however let us remember that he once made us smile as Nigerians. Remember, #YOLO (you live only once), so enjoy it, make it happy for those around you rather than look for faults in others.

When matured minds speak you recognised them from afar

andyanders: Osaze is sick and needs help. I have said it before that the guy is under a spell.If he is having problem with his country and same time his club, he should know that he needs deliverance and should be refereed to The Synagogue to be healed. He has diarrhea of the mouth.

Men talking like lil girls

dare2think: Is he??

Why should he resign for being successful?

So what if he does not win anything again, at least he has won something. How many managers, both club and country, can boast of that achievement?

Ozaze is the last person that should be dishing out advices? he needs some himself after been disgraced both home and abroad!!!

Odewingie, check yourself first!!

Matured minds always go for the message irrespective of the nature of the messenger

Seun: Christ Embassy. I think their ladies are wealthy, single, liberal and affectionate!!

He should come to Embassy; we will give your life a meaning

MC Dumexx: I tire o 4 many tori o.
Goldie's Manager says goldie is well

http:///sqSfJpgf

Your link isnt connect, showing invalid. Pls add ♍☺re link.

Why are people still asking if it is real? She is gone and is final. Wђɑ̤̥̈̊† we should concentrate on now is how she died. Is it a homicide or suicide?

Was she sick, accident or poisoned?



May her gentle soul Rest in Peace

~Bluetooth:
Achebe is a bigot while Soyinka is a peacemaker.beside his books are full of lies.what has he done for Nigeria ? Nothing other than spreading lies and hatred in the minds his children.

I think you and your like are the bigots here. Men that talk like women

The topic is about N4billion first lady house not Soyinka versus Achebe

@ the Topic; the office of the first lady should be scraped because it makes no sense. As rightly said, that fund can use to upset alot of issues and I also advised the first ladies of other countries to distance themselves form it. Very annoying

The scoreline is Chelsea and Braga Babu.

Mr. Joseph 007:
chelsea must go trophyless this. GGMU

Just like manU did last season eh?

Omo_Tier1: imagine torres even wan score

Ogbeni you ąg∂ɪ̣̇η ni

xynerise: Chelsea always lose when I watch them play

There is a mushrum in your teeth

Omo_Tier1: Nah better for worse nah..wetin?.. Feb 14 no far.. no second chance for you..

I will wait for Ronaldo jor

Omo_Tier1: I BANCE you...

Bance is scary

Omo_Tier1: Watch football and stop dey take style dey spy Ronaldo...

Cant get my eyes off him

Omo_Tier1: Yes... u mind don sweet you nah ?

U don piss finish

Omo_Tier1: You no got keep quiet which kin place you come from?.. .. Let me watch ball..

You sure say no be Ashi join you dεy?

Omo_Tier1: no wonder dem call you ashifoam... you mate dey kickballs dey earn millions..

Sunday Mba no senior you oh!

Omo_Tier1: see me.. half time I no piss.. now piss dey catch me ... how I go miss one sec. of this match...

Call your babe naaa, u fit piss am inside

fredoooooo: 2nd half

Ronaldo will add two in τhis half, just rlax and watch

Omo_Tier1: you better go siddon dey look BANCE..

You want convulsion to hold ♍e?