declaration (2)

Former President Olus-egun Obasanjo has attributed his absence at last weekend's declaration by President Goodluck Jonathan, at the Eagle Square in Abuja, to his trip to Jamaica for the burial of the father of his friend, Carl Masters.

The conspicous absence of Obasanjo at the declaration, which was attended by leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including members of the National Working Committee (NWC) and virtually all the PDP governors, had attracted the attention of political analysts who viewed his absence as an indication of the gradual withdrawal of his support for the president's aspiration.

But in an interview with journalists at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Tuesday, Obasanjo said: "I was not there because I was in Kingston, Jamaica. A friend of mine, very close friend of mine, Carl Masters, lost his father when he and I were together in China, and since he was with me there and he is a good friend of mine, he said look, I would want you to come to the burial of my father and pay tribute.�

The former president, who is PDP�s board chair, also reacted to the rising opposition against President Joanthan's aspiration by some northern political leaders describing it as normal in politics.

"Ganging up or not ganging up, factions and alliances are normal parts of politics and there is nothing wrong. what matters is that at the end of the day, whatever the result, we will all accept it,� he said.

Commenting on the chances of Jonathan in the forthcoming PDP primary election, Obasanjo said: "I believe he will do his best and once he does his best and the party, PDP, does its best, we will be satisfied with the result."

Asked who he would be voting for as a delegate at the party's primaries, the former president simply said: "Well, I might as well tell you who I will be voting for in the election. I thought that is meant to be secret."

Reminded that who he would vote for may actually be an open secret having recently led the party to endorse the president at its zonal meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State Obasanjo, while noting that the zonal chapter had the rights to do that, said: �Since in our party, you start being a party member from the ward level, then to the state level, to the zonal level, you must be an active party member in whatever is being done at any of these levels. So I was there at the zonal meeting and whatever my party decides at that level, I cannot say to hell."

While responding to a question on media reports that he might have withdrawn his support for Jonathan, Obasanjo, who lashed the media for such reports, said: "I am the chairman of the party (BoT), whatever my zone does, I cannot disagree with it. But when we then have to meet as BoT, I chair that and then I direct the affairs of BoT as necessary.�

Expressing confidence that the next election would be conducted successfully, the former president urged Nigerians to stop judging and condemning themselves by the standards that other people draw up for them, adding, "We must decide what is the best standard for us and use that standard truly."

Below is the question-and-answer session with Obasanjo.

You conducted three successful elections as military head of state, and civilian president. Elections are around the corner, are you optimistic that it will be conducted successfully?

Of course yes, oh yes. You see, we are in a country of excitement and we believe in things happening and they do happen. But we are also a country where I say there is never a dull moment. If I come to the world again, I will tell God, bring me back to Nigeria. We have many things that we need to correct, but one thing that we need to correct is that we criticise ourselves, we look for how to improve things and we are never satisfied, we are never complacent, which is very good. We are looking for what we can do better, how we can do them better, who is wrong and what is wrong at the same time. So because of that, people tends to say, ah, these Nigerians, but one thing we must cease doing is to stop judging and condemning ourselves by the standard that other people draw up for us. We must decide what is the best standard for us and use that standard truly.

Are you optimistic that your party is going to win next year's presidential election?

My party will do the best and once my party does the best, the best will be good enough for my party.

You were absent at the declaration of President Jonathan last weekend, why was that?

I was not there because I was in Kingston, Jamaica. A friend of mine, very close friend of mine, Carl Masters, lost his father when he and I were together in China, and since he was with me there and he is a good friend of mine, he said look, I would want you to come to the burial of my father and pay tribute.

Are you optimistic that President Jonathan will win the PDP primaries?

I believe he will do his best and once he does his best and the party - PDP - does its best, we will be satisfied with the result.

You are going to be a delegate sir, who would you be voting for in the PDP primaries?

Well, I might as well tell you who I will be voting for in the election. I thought that is meant to be secret.

But you just led the South-west to endorse Jonathan?

South-west PDP chapter, one of the six zonal chapters, and it has rights to take a decision as to where, as a chapter, it believes it should go. Since in our party, you start being a party member from the ward level, then to the state level, to the zonal level, you must be an active party member in whatever is being done at any of these levels. So I was there at the zonal meeting and whatever my party decides at that level I cannot say to hell.

There are reports in the media that, may be, you will not be backing the president again? .

I didn't see that because the media is a fool. The media that says that is either a fool or mischievous. I am the chairman of the party (BoT), whatever my zone does, I cannot disagree with it. But when we then have to meet as BoT, I chair that and then I direct the affairs of BoT at necessary.

God has given you the opportunity to rule Nigeria for 11 and a half years...

So you are counting the number of years?

...We will be 50 in a couple of days, how would you describe Nigeria at 50?

You will hear when we are 50.

How would you react to the fact that some politicians in the North are ganging up against Jonathan?

Ganging up or not ganging up, factions and alliances are normal parts of politics and there is nothing wrong, what matters is that at the end of the day, whatever the result, we will all accept it.
Read more…

Goodluck Jonathan declaration LIVE !

1128: President Jonathan begins walking towards the podium alongside his wife and the vice-president. The Kwara state governor, Bukola Saraki, appears to be conspicuously absent amongst the governors who just came in.jpeg&STREAMOID=y54AQxPCBVVJa3VVy1iJJi6SYeqqxXXqBcOgKOfTXxSxIa1rb4xKoAG98zYWyYxpnW_PgxgftuECOcfJwS6Jtlp$r8Fy$6AAZ9zyPuHJ25T7a9GKDSxsGxtpmxP0VAUyHL6IDcZHtmM2t7xO$FHdJG95dFi6y2Uma3vSsvPpVyo-
1125
: Jonathan Zwingina leads the Islamic prayers and asks God to ensure a PDP win and also to bless Nigeria with leaders who do not steal.

1122: Opening prayers start..

1120
: President Goodluck Jonathan arrives in Eagles Square in a bus with state governors.

1115: Some soundbites:

Bala Muhammed: Goodluck is a genuine inspiration to Nigerians irrespective of their bckground and we are very proud of him

Yayale Ahmed: "We thank God for everything"

Barnabas Gemade: " I'm highly delighted to see this mammoth crowd. he and Sambo are producing a good team. This will be a government of transformation."

Joseph Wayas: "What you can see in Eagle square represents what Nigerians are feeling. The candidature of Goodluck Jonathan is a popular one"

Don Etiebet: "Nigerians are ready for a new Nigeria. We have been walloing in the past and this is a new dawn. For the little period he has been here there has been a lot of transformation in power and finance."

Namadi Sambo: " We have come to make a statement to Nigerians that we have arrived. Let the opposition know today that come 2011 we will remain in Aso Rock."

Defence minister; I am happy that Nigerians have bought into the vision and I hope it gets better. Jonathan is for Transformation and stability.

Petroleum minister: I don't think Nigeria has seen this kind of crowd in a long time. I shows how much the people want him. Nigeria needs a leader that will give them their desire.

Information minister: Nigeria needs a young leader like the Obamas of this world. It will be tragic for Nigerians to allow those responsible for our past failures to come back and lead us.

Ima Niboro : The turn out is excellent: this is the man Nigeria has been waiting for and it is obviou

1105: As we wait for the President to arrive, a quick word on the traffic situation around town. In one word: gridlock. All the hotels in the city are also fully booked. There is no single room available. Yesterday evening it took about three hours just to drive in to the Transcorp Hilton hotel.

1100: The female compere appears to be reading out recharge card numbers to the crowd. Get your phones ready...

1056: The Vice-president, Namadi Sambo has arrived in a motorcade. Most of the senators and National Assembly members are also taking their seats.

1055
: All of the big wigs are trying to force their way into the VIP section which is causing a lot of unsightly scenes, lots of pushing and struggling. So far the security are managing to keep it under control. Many of the affronted agbada wearing guests are having to make other seating arrangements.

1040: Ojo Madueke, former foreign minister, arrives wearing a bizarre jumps suit which really needs to be seen to be believed. He is closely followed by the wives of the PDP governors and their deputies. The First lady has also arrived and taken her seat on the podium.

1030: Remember the PDP spokesman who said that the National Executive Council are "supposed to be neutral?" Well someone must have missed the memo. All the party leaders are arriving here. Okweselize Nwodo, et al are here to show their support. Significantly, none of them attended the Babangida declaration on Wednesday.

1004: Two more interesting faces in the crowd: Jerry Gana is here lending support to the Jonathan campaign. Mr. Gana was of course appointed chairman of Mass Mobilisation for Social and Economic Recovery under the Babangida regime and was subsequently a minister. His presence here means that it is unlikely that he will be supporting his old boss.

Femi Otedola is also here making his first public appearance in two months after the attempt on his life in July. The oil magnate had been on a self-imposed exile in America since the incident.

NEXT had previously revealed that Mr. Otedola is one of the chief bank-rollers of the President Jonathan campaign.

0959: Also spotted in the crowd are Matthew Tawo Mbu (former foreign minister) Pius Anyim (former senate president), Jonathan Zwingina (former Senator from Adamawa) Ibrahim Mantu (former Deputy Senate President) and Mohammed Abba Aji.

0945: As expected, most of the members of the Federal Executive Council are already showing up and taking their seats.

0933: An interesting banner by one of the President's supporters reads: "Goodluck darling, I will never let you go until you take me to the promised land. N.B. Sorry Dame Patience for sharing him with you. Signed The Goodluckers"

0915: President Jonathan's aide-de-camp arrives ahead of him to perform security checks on the area the president will sit.

0911: All 36 states of the federation are represented by delegations dressed in traditional attire. The ceremony is already laden with colour. There are lots of paramedics on view, each wearing pink reflector jackets to ensure that all medical emergencies are attended to.

0900: the Eagle square already close to capacity two hours before President Jonathan's official declaration ceremony kicks off. Security is heavy with armed guards everywhere.

Read more…

Blog Topics by Tags

  • in (506)
  • to (479)
  • of (339)
  • ! (213)
  • as (166)
  • is (157)
  • a (156)

Monthly Archives