Efforts by some stakeholders to drag former President Goodluck Jonathan to the 2023 presidential race on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has caused a sharp division within his camp, reports ‘Dare Odufowokan, Assistant Editor.
Allies of former President Goodluck Jonathan are sharply divided over an alleged plot by some chieftains of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to drag the ex-President into the 2023 presidential race on the platform of the ruling party. The Nation gathered that while Jonathan is reportedly yet to take a decision on alleged pressure on him by the APC chiefs, many of his known allies are said to be already working with the promoters of the plot in preparation for the 2023 elections. This is just as a good number of his associates have also made it clear they will not support him should he leave the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Though the leadership of the ruling party has denied it's miles planning to field Jonathan as its subsequent presidential candidate, resources in the birthday celebration advised The Nation that a few APC governors are certainly toying with the idea of backing the former president to go back in 2023 at the platform of the party. It became accrued that a lot of Jonathan’s pals are stated to be on their way to the ruling celebration as a part of the plan to facilitate his emergence because the presidential candidate of the party come 2023. According to assets, one of the APC governors can also be supported to turn out to be the vice presidential candidate of the celebration.
“The plot is to carry Jonathan in and support him as a presidential candidate on the settlement that he's going to do only a term in office and allow electricity to go back to the north. Constitutionally, he cannot vie for some other time period. So his desire is being promoted by a few northern governors and chieftains of the APC as a manner to douse the agitation for zoning and also truncate the presidential ambition of a particular southerner. Many meetings were held on the matter and although the former president is yet to consent to the plan, there are sturdy indications that he can also don't forget the offer and be a part of the APC in the end.
“As part of the moves, a few associates of the previous president are predicted to go away the PDP and join the APC quickly. Once that start happening then you need to understand the deal is struck and Jonathan can be coming to try to get the price tag of the birthday celebration beforehand of 2023,” our supply stated, adding that “and to make things smooth, the APC, influenced with the aid of the governors, has amended its regulations to pave manner for brand new comer into the birthday celebration to vie for tickets. That flow is a part of the strategies to soften the floor for Jonathan and others might be defectors into the APC.”
The body language of the previous president, in step with political observers, has additionally changed considering talks approximately the opportunity of his seeking a go back to the presidency in 2023 accrued momentum. When asked lately through newshounds whether or not he would be becoming a member of the presidential race in 2023, he said that “It is just too early to talk about that.” Analysts have also been pointing to the increased rapport between the former president and President Muhammadu Buhari, as well as the no longer too cordial courting he keeps with the management of the PDP, as symptoms of factors probable to come as 2023 attracts nearer.
Sources stated a group led through an best friend of the former President, who's also a chieftain of the APC in Bayelsa State, is already running with the promoters of the concept on the way to fly the mission. The events are said to have met on activities to talk about the modalities. “The APC governors want the marketing campaign to start from the South-south, being Jonathan’s base. It is expected to be taken to different elements of the south before they will provide aid to it up north as agreed. They have additionally assured us that they'll convince the APC to provide its 2023 presidential price tag to the former President. A lot of individuals and businesses may be part of all of it,” our supply claimed.
The Nation collected that as part of the plot to promote the candidacy of the previous president inside and outside his region, an agitation for the South-south to be allowed to present a candidate with a view to entire its 2nd tenure in 2023, might be set up. “This is to make the humans of the South-south see the challenge as theirs, and to additionally appeal to pro-zoning factors across the country. Jonathan changed into denied a 2d term in 2015 and via extension, the South-south is now the most effective area that wasn’t allowed to rule for 8 years. That is some thing we intend to capitalize on as we promote his candidacy,” our supply brought.
But Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, who's also the Chairman, APC Caretaker and Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee, stated the birthday party isn't wooing Jonathan for the 2023 presidential race on its platform. He delivered that APC governors’ go to to Jonathan turned into solely to congratulate him on his birthday and to honour him as a former Nigerian leader. He but said the birthday party is open to folks that are inclined to join, recalling that his committee’s efforts have attracted many erstwhile main competition figures like Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State into the APC.
On his element, Jonathan these days reacted to the tales making the round whilst he said he is nonetheless in the PDP. According to him: “PDP has been a very friendly birthday celebration. I am a member of PDP and I realize from the beginning until these days, it's been a very pleasant celebration. PDP is a celebration that includes anyone alongside and we have to extend that to Bayelsa State.”
Discordant tunes
But it seems that the alleged plot, especially indicators that it's miles being promoted by way of in large part northern chieftains of the ruling birthday celebration, isn't being considered the same way with the aid of the former president’s supporters. While The Nation accumulated that a number of his allies are already working as a collection to push the idea and persuade Jonathan to make the move into the APC when the time comes, some very close buddies of the previous governor have expressed objections to the plot, warning the ex-president to be wary of these urging him on. According to dependable resources, lots of them are former coordinators of Jonathan’s campaigns in the past.
During the week, supporters of the former president below the auspice of Goodluck Jonathan Support Group (GJSG) state coordinators, known as on him to shun all entreaties “aimed toward luring him to dump his political domestic which is the PDP, and jump into the threat-laden uncertainties of the ruling celebration.” The organization, talking after a meeting in Port-Harcourt, capital of Rivers State, reiterated its in advance hazard to withdraw assist for Jonathan, need to he leave the PDP for the APC. “We want to mention it again that as dependable contributors of the PDP, we are able to now not observe all of us to the APC simply because we like her or him,” GJSG stated.
The Nation accumulated that the assembly of the coordinators become convened following fears that the rumoured talks between Jonathan and some APC governors may end up actual. According to the Chairman of the coordinators, Hon. Alfred Emiloju Esomijumi, “we have made efforts to get to the basis of the rumour and we aren't convinced that it's far all lies. On a day by day basis, we are becoming symptoms that something may be occurring at the back of the curtains and this is why we deemed it critical to quickly talk our thoughts and make our role at the unfolding political drama known.
“It isn't for amusing that some of the humans we see as leaders inside the ex-President’s camp can be favouring the ruling celebration towards our own party on some troubles. It is not also mere co-occurrence that some folks who left us inside the beyond are now regular visitors to a number of our leaders. We have waited lengthy sufficient for any person to clean the air on a lot of these happenings however nothing has been carried out. We continue to be solidly devoted to the politics of Dr. Jonathan as he stays a pacesetter yet to be equaled on this us of a. But we will now not sacrifice our loyalty to our dear party for our love for his leadership and character.”
Also, Comrade Zik Gbemre, National Coordinator, Niger Delta Peace Coalition, needs Jonathan to be cautious of the many gives coming his way beforehand of the 2023 presidential election. “He is a citizen of this u . S . Who enjoys all rights to vote and be voted for inside the 2023 presidential election. He nevertheless has the window to contest since he dominated for simply one time period. However, if I had been Goodluck Jonathan, I will now not take delivery of the pressure from the North or anywhere else to contest any election once more. Knowing the type of politics played in Nigeria, it is able to just be an try to dent his photo in addition.
“Jonathan done lots while he flippantly conceded defeat and accepted the final results of the 2015 presidential election. What else does Jonathan need to obtain? What is it that Jonathan could not do properly, with nearly six years because the President of Nigeria? Jonathan ought to be very cautious not to simply accept any Greek Gift, both from any character or another geopolitical region of the u . S .,” he stated.
But on Thursday, some other organization of Jonathan’s supporters, in a launch signed by way of Comrade Godknows Kpodoh, lambasted Esomijumi and his group over their stand on the problem, describing him and others with him as ‘impostors who're out to truncate our chief’s constant march lower back to political management.” Kpodoh stated his institution, Coalition for President Goodluck Jonathan (CPGJ), “in contrast to GJSG, is widely known and recognised by using Jonathan and his buddies all around the united states. “We will aid Jonathan anywhere he is going. He is the hope of this united states of america and we the young ones will now not fold our fingers at this critical time. It is unfortunate that a few impostors are already paid to truncate this consistent march,” he lamented.
The Nation also amassed that a few allies of the former president, disappointed with certain developments and decided to do all they can to forestall any plan by means of Jonathan to exchange camp ahead of the 2023 elections, discreetly advised a few PDP leaders to go to the ex-president in Abuja currently. The immediately past Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has led the high powered Reconciliation Committee of the PDP to the meeting. The go to, in keeping with the committee, is geared in the direction of last ranks, settling rifts and bringing about consolidation beforehand as intrigues relating to the 2023 popular elections spread.
Others at the trip covered former governors of Gombe, Katsina and Cross River states; Ibrahim Dankwambo, Ibrahim Shema and Liyel Imoke respectively. Others are ex- Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim; and former House of Representatives leader, Mulikat Adeola-Akande. Sources advised our correspondent that the PDP leaders used the possibility of the parley to urge Jonathan to disregard all entreaties to him by means of the APC as it will not be in his favour politically
.Meanwhile, it's far yet to be ascertained whether or not the assembly has sooner or later ended speculations approximately what the previous President will do subsequent.
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