Jonathan targets Lagos

Despite suffering a string of losses in the South West recently, the Peoples Democratic Party is determined to wrest Lagos State from the tight grip of the Action Congress of Nigeria which has ruled the state since 1999.

President Goodluck Jonathan at the weekend in Ibadan urged leaders of the party in the South-West to work at winning the gubernatorial election in Lagos, or the PDP will always rue its inability to take over a state so strategically located.

Speaking at a parley with delegates at the Mapo Hall in Ibadan the president said, “If you don’t get Lagos we will continue to be tormented. I have discovered that Lagos as a result of its strategic position has the capacity to intimidate other South West states. We have more political weight in Lagos State. Our analysis proves that if a clean election is conducted PDP will win.” He added that, “The figure of supporters I have of other ethnic groups in Lagos show that PDP can beat any other party. We are more prepared and confident that we can win ahead of any other presidential aspirant now. I assure you that we are committed and I encourage you to work harder to win South West clearly especially Oyo, Ogun and Lagos”.

The President and Vice President Namadi Sambo, had at the weekend visited the South-West region in a bid to lobby delegates for the presidential primaries of the PDP slated for January.

Kinship with Ibadan

The president and his vice flew into Ibadan, the Oyo State capital yesterday afternoon to have consultations with various groups in the party and notable South West elders.

Mr. Sambo, in his speech, noted that the President and himself both served in Ibadan during their National Youth Service Corps’ days and so must be considered “Ibadan boys.”

According to him, “I served in the Ministry of Works in Ibadan so I am an Ibadan boy. President Jonathan has all the experience, the first to have served as deputy governor, governor, vice president and now the president. He is transparent, patient and a patriotic Nigerian and we are working together to develop, construct and transform this country.’’

In his remark, the Oyo State Governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala said Ibadan was the heart of the South West, and no matter the court pronouncements in Ondo, Ekiti and Osun, PDP remains strong in the South West and will soon claim Lagos State.

The Zonal Coordinator of Jonathan/Sambo Campaign and Ogun State Governor, Gbenga Daniel, said the 585 delegates’ vote from the south west that was promised the president would be delivered.

“What we are doing is not speculative but a definite operation and total delivery does not mean operation work at ease”.

He assured the president that 51 delegates of Lagos, 60 of Ekiti, 80 of Ondo, 108 of Ogun, 153 of Oyo and 133 of Osun states will deliver the south west vote for the Jonathan/Sambo ticket during the January 13th primaries.

All for one

Speaking for the south west Mr. Daniel said, “If we do it well we will stand before our President and demand our rights in terms of development. South west stands for true federalism and we agree that the Jonathan/Sambo ticket represents that concept. We have a candidate who has everything other candidates are looking for, he is already the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, our job is to reconfirm what we already know that come 2011 election we will give our vote to Mr. President”.

Also speaking on behalf of the party chairmen in the region, Dayo Dairo, the PDP chairman of Ondo State affirmed the promise that all delegates from the region will give their votes to Mr. Jonathan.

The leader of the South West branch of the Association of Chairmen of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), John Obafemi, of Ogun State said, “For us the election has been concluded. This is our own project to ensure we deliver the Jonathan/Sambo ticket. All ALGON chairmen in the country had agreed to vote Jonathan/Sambo and we in the South West are looking forward to seeing you sworn in on May 29th 2011”.

Speaking on behalf of the members of the House of Representatives in the region, Duro Fasheyi said, “we have resolved in our meeting, our word is our bond. We won’t change our vote. We are reaffirming our vote on January 13th and all we ask is that we need you to stand by us”.

Speaking on behalf of women in the region, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Patricia Etteh, assured the duo of the women’s vote in the south west, since they had all been sensitised by the president’s wife, Patience Jonathan through the Women for Change Initiative and Jonathan’s support for women.

She said, “We assure you of our vote since you have promised us 35 per cent affirmative action, you have our votes but keep your promise”.

Iyiola Omisore, a Senator, moved the motion that the 585 delegates in the region should pledge their total votes to the Jonathan/Sambo ticket come January 13th.

Some of the PDP leaders expected to hold consultations with the President include Alao-Akala, Mr Daniel; former Ondo State governor Olusegun Agagu, the sacked Ekiti State governor, Olusegun Oni, Mrs. Etteh, Richard Akinjide and Raji Rasaki.

Mr. Jonathan and Mr. Sambo also visited the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana Olugade.

Other notable personalities include the Minister of Defence, Adetokunbo Kayode, Minister of Youth, Akinlabi Olasunkanmi, Minister of Special Duty, Taoheed Adedoja, Minister of Commerce, Jubril Martins Kuye, the Head of Service of the Federation, Oladapo Afolabi, Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory, Caleb Olubolade, and the Director General Jonathan/Sambo Campaign Organisation, Dalhatu Tafida.