President Goodluck Jonathan has finally let Nigerians know things he would consider before he accepts the call by various Nigerians on him to seek a second term in office.
“In deciding on an appropriate response to such calls, I will place the greater interests of national harmony, cohesion, unity, security, political stability, progress, equity, justice and fairness above any personal ambition or sectional agenda.”
President Jonathan, who used the opportunity of the celebration of Eid-el-Kabir to thank “the many individuals, stakeholders, groups, associations, non-governmental organizations, unions and political leaders from across the country who have, in recognition and appreciation of our efforts and commitment to repositioning our dear nation for more rapid growth and development, urged me to seek a second term in office.”
He said in a statement signed by him that with this week’s issuance of a formal notice of the impending general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), another national campaign season is now truly upon us.
Jonathan urged all political leaders in the country to place the overriding interest of the well-being and progress of the fatherland above all other considerations in the coming campaigns and elections.
He said that administration has done its sincere best in the past four years to implement its agenda for national transformation and move the country forward on several fronts, even as he asked all other political leaders rise above unedifying, unpatriotic and selfish personal interests and divisive sectional agenda in the coming national elections.
“Let us also commit ourselves more to the sustenance of democracy and political stability which are essential prerequisites for the advancement of good governance, inclusive economic growth and rapid development.
“In spite of the significant progress we have made in the past four years, our dear nation continues to face critical challenges in some areas. I am convinced however that if we persevere and continue to build diligently on what the present administration has achieved, we will surely overcome all hindrances and fully establish a stronger, more united and prosperous nation that meets the aspirations and yearnings of all of our people.”
President Jonathan said that as Nigerians celebrate the Eid-El-Kabir, they should rededicate and commit themselves to the Holy Prophet’s injunctions of piety, honesty, charity and generosity to the less privileged, impartial leadership and true justice for all.
“These virtues and lessons will surely stand our nation in good stead as we continue our journey towards the fulfillment of our founding fathers’ vision of a great nation.”
He sent goodwill message to all Nigerians Muslims who are celebrating the Eid-El-Kabir.
“I also congratulate all believers who have successfully undertaken the Hajj this year as enjoined by Prophet Mohammed (May Peace Be Upon Him).
“As they conclude the rites of the Hajj and prepare to return home, let us all join them in offering special prayers for greater security, peace, unity and progress in our dear country as well as for the peaceful and successful conduct of next year’s general elections.
“May Allah’s blessings be upon all our compatriots who have undertaken the Hajj this year and on our dear country.
“I wish all Nigerians currently in the Holy Land a safe journey back home.”

[myad]

The Ondo state governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko has formally defected from Labour Party (LP) to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), giving reasons why he left the party in 2006 and why he has returned with members of the LP on which platform he was elected twice as governor.
Governor Mimiko, who was formally received into PDP today by Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo at the Presidential Aso Villa, Abuja, recalled that he left PDP in the first place because, at some time in history, the room for democracy in the party got greatly conscripted.
“Thus, some eight years ago, when we had need to run for office and the space for internal democracy within PDP had considerably shrank, we chose to leave, but then, not to align with the then emergent opposition party in the land, the ACN.
“Precisely, on December 14, 2006, we publicly announced LP as our choice of platform. To the glory of God, four months later, in the April 14, 2007 election, we got the mandate of our people go govern Ondo state. Although our election was stolen by the political tendency in power in Abuja at that time, thanks to a judiciary that continues to be profoundly alert to its duty in a democracy, we managed to retrieve our mandate two years later.”
Governor Mimiko said that he is aware that Nigeria has always ended up as two-party state and that the current dispensation has thrown up PDP and what he called “fledgling APC.”
He said that in the process, smaller parties are constrained at operating only at the fringe of the political process with all the restrictions thereto for greater political involvement and action.
“Historically, every attempt to build a third force in this bipolar environment has not only been quite expensive bu actually met with muted success. What is more, the argument is unassailable that the two party dominant system has always worked to enhance national unity and facilitated the process of nation-building as all key players are invariably compelled to work within either of the two dominant parties without regard to religious, regional and ethnic specificities.”
Governor Mimiko said that for him and the LP chieftains to want to align with either of the two dominant political forces in the current dispensation is, in the circumstance, the correct democratic position they have to take at this historical juncture.
The governor made it clear that he and his LP chieftains have always supported the Jonathan Presidential project, recalling that in 2011, even from LP platform, “we endorsed, worked for and voted massively for Jobathan.
“This did not prevent us from working for LP candidates where it fielded candidates in subsequent polls. With the 2015 INEC time table, which put Presidential and National Assembly elections on the same day, it has become obvious that the type of support we need to give President Jonathan without creating conflict of interest is better canalize through the President’s political party, the PDP.”
The governor stressed that the target of the LP chieftains who defected to PDP is to help the process of getting President Jonathan elected in 2015, adding: “we hope to be part of the process of creating, especially in the South West, a solid and robust platform of involvement in the election of the President, governors and legislators and post election governance structure which will help to engender rapid socio-economic development.
Senate President, David Mark, Delta state governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, National Deputy National Chairman of PDP and
Chief of Staff to President Jonathan were on hand to welcome governor Mimiko back to PDP even as the former governor of Osun state, Chief Gbenga Daniel was among those that accompanied Mimiko to Aso Rock. [myad]