Business mogul Aliko Dangote, telecoms magnate Mike Adenuga and Kwara State Governor Bukola Saraki, among others, yesterday made the campaign team of President Goodluck Jonathan.
Former Director-General of the Jonathan/Sambo campaign organisation heads the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), which will be inaugurated by acting National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Dr Bello Haliru Mohammed in Abuja today.
Also on board are loyalists of former presidential aspirants Ibrahim Babangida and Abubakar Atiku. Atiku lost the party’s ticket to Jonathan at the January 13 convention after Babangida, Saraki and Aliyu Gusau stepped down for him following his emergence as North’s consensus candidate.
He was picked by the Northern Political Leaders Forum (NPLF) headed by Mallam Adamu Ciroma.
Babangida’s and Atiku’s loyalists may have been appointed in line with Jonathan’s promise to accommodate his opponents in his campaign.
Former Director-General of the Babangida Campaign organisation, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, is a member of the PCC Publicity Committee. He will also serve as one of the resource persons for the presidential campaign.
Saraki is the chairman of the Reconciliation Committee with pro-Atiku campaigner and former Senate President Ken Nnamani as member.
The wife of the leader of the NPLF and PDP’s National Woman Leader, Hajia Ina Ciroma, is also a member of the Reconciliation Committee. Former Governor of Ondo State Olusegun Agagu and former Minister of Information Prof. Jerry Gana are also members.
Others in the committee are Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Alabo Graham Douglas, Senator Ladan Shunni and Ambassador Aminu Wali.
The Publicity Committee also has some prominent publishers including Comfort Obi of the Source Magazine and Dennis Sami of Nigeria Pilot as members.
Names of some aides of the President feature on the list, but former Director of Media of the Jonathan/Sambo Campaign organisation, Sully Abu is missing on the list.
Dangote, Adenuga, Femi Otedola, Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu, Tony Elumelu, Alhaji Kashim Bukar; Chief Emeka Offor; Alhaji Sayyu Dantata; Jim Ovia; Dahiru Manga and Kola Salako are on the donor’s list.
Former Chairman of PDP’s Board of Trustees (BOT) Chief Tony Anenih will serve as the Campaign Adviser. Former PDP national secretary Chief Ojo Maduekwe is Secretary.
The six geo-political zones will be co-ordinated by governors that did the same job for Jonathan before the January 13 convention.
They are Governors Liyel Imoke of Cross River State (Southsouth), Martin Elechi, Ebonyi (Southeast), Gbenga Daniel, Ogun (Southwest), Gabriel Suswam, Benue (Northcentral), Isa Yuguda, Bauchi (Northeast) and Ibrahim Shema, Katsina (Northwest).
Senate President David Mark, Speaker Dimeji Bankole, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekwerenmadu and the Deputy Speaker Usman Nafada are all expected to co-ordinate the National Assembly for the PCC.
Former Inspector-General of Police Mike Okiro heads the security committee; leading industrialist Oba Otudeko chairs the Finance and Fund Raising Committee.
The Inter-Party Relations Committee to handle affairs concerning parties that adopted Jonathan as their standard-bearer is headed by Chief Ebenezer Babatope.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
We’ll not negotiate with Boko Haram, IG vows
As the wave of violent attacks by Islamic fundamentalists, Boko Haram, in some states in the northern part of the country continues, the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Hafiz Ringim, declared in Kano yesterday that the Police would not negotiate with them.
"We would not negotiate with criminals," the police boss said.
Ringim disclosed this while reacting to questions from reporters at the Police Academy, Wudil, shortly after the passing out parade of 414 cadet officers, comprising 203 Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASP) and 211 inspectors, who underwent an 18-month training course at the academy.
The fundamentalists had claimed responsibility for violent clashes in Jos, Plateau State and the spate of killings in Maiduguri, Borno State.
One of the most prominent of such cases was the assassination of the gubernatorial candidate of All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), AlhajiModu Fannami Gubio and six others.
The IG said the Police would not relent in its effort to rid the country of the remaining elements of the Islamic sect.
The Police chief further stated that efforts were being made to provide a level- playing ground for all contestants in the forthcoming general election.
He said: "The general election is the prerogative of the Nigeria Police Force and the Federal Government, headed by President Goodluck Jonathan, has said that what it wants is to conduct a free and fair election. My mandate is to provide a level-playing ground for all contestants, and that is what I am trying to do to the best of my ability.
"On its side, the Federal Government has done everything possible to train, equip, support and fund the Nigeria Police Force. We are doing the best we can to educate the members of the public on their rights.
"God willing, we shall provide and will continue to provide general security and a free and fair atmosphere for all to display their wares and be voted by the electorate.
"The election shall not be an exercise in futility but an exercise where every eligible voter will be allowed to come out and vote freely for people and parties of their choice."
Ringim also disclosed that a committee, made up of eminent Nigerians, including retired police officers, had been set up to draw a programme for the repositioning of the Nigeria Police Force, pointing out that he, as the Inspector General of Police, was doing his best to implement the recommendations of the reform committee.
He said: "So far, we have gone a long way in the implementation of the approved white paper by the Federal Government, and that includes training, infrastructure, logistics and orientation, and so far, as you can see, we are doing just that.
"Basically, this is to develop the Nigeria Police and make it function in line with the aspiration of the Nigerian society, as well as the good practice of law enforcement as it obtains all over the world.
"The ceremony you saw today is part and parcel of the Nigeria police reform, which is to develop and produce functional, actionable manpower that would go in line with democratic practices globally."
"We would not negotiate with criminals," the police boss said.
Ringim disclosed this while reacting to questions from reporters at the Police Academy, Wudil, shortly after the passing out parade of 414 cadet officers, comprising 203 Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASP) and 211 inspectors, who underwent an 18-month training course at the academy.
The fundamentalists had claimed responsibility for violent clashes in Jos, Plateau State and the spate of killings in Maiduguri, Borno State.
One of the most prominent of such cases was the assassination of the gubernatorial candidate of All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), AlhajiModu Fannami Gubio and six others.
The IG said the Police would not relent in its effort to rid the country of the remaining elements of the Islamic sect.
The Police chief further stated that efforts were being made to provide a level- playing ground for all contestants in the forthcoming general election.
He said: "The general election is the prerogative of the Nigeria Police Force and the Federal Government, headed by President Goodluck Jonathan, has said that what it wants is to conduct a free and fair election. My mandate is to provide a level-playing ground for all contestants, and that is what I am trying to do to the best of my ability.
"On its side, the Federal Government has done everything possible to train, equip, support and fund the Nigeria Police Force. We are doing the best we can to educate the members of the public on their rights.
"God willing, we shall provide and will continue to provide general security and a free and fair atmosphere for all to display their wares and be voted by the electorate.
"The election shall not be an exercise in futility but an exercise where every eligible voter will be allowed to come out and vote freely for people and parties of their choice."
Ringim also disclosed that a committee, made up of eminent Nigerians, including retired police officers, had been set up to draw a programme for the repositioning of the Nigeria Police Force, pointing out that he, as the Inspector General of Police, was doing his best to implement the recommendations of the reform committee.
He said: "So far, we have gone a long way in the implementation of the approved white paper by the Federal Government, and that includes training, infrastructure, logistics and orientation, and so far, as you can see, we are doing just that.
"Basically, this is to develop the Nigeria Police and make it function in line with the aspiration of the Nigerian society, as well as the good practice of law enforcement as it obtains all over the world.
"The ceremony you saw today is part and parcel of the Nigeria police reform, which is to develop and produce functional, actionable manpower that would go in line with democratic practices globally."
No One ’ll Manipulate Votes In My Favour, Says Jonathan
PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan says he will not allow the manipulation of votes during the forthcoming general elections.
The President, who made the declaration during his campaign rally in Makurdi recently said : “Nigerians’ votes must count.’’
According to him, the internal democracy witnessed at the Eagle’s Square in Abuja during the presidential primaries will reflect in the April polls.
“We must vote the people we want. We no longer want a situation where people are imposed on us.
“I promise Nigerians that even though I am contesting, nobody will manipulate any vote in my favour.
Jonathan said he was holding on to the promise he made to Nigerians and the world that their votes must count.
He said that was why he and his campaign team were working assiduously to convince the electorate to vote for him and other PDP candidates in the general elections.
“We have gone to the six geo-political zones and we are going from state to state.
“After that we will still go back to some of these states to tell the people what we stand for, to tell them that we stand for change, transformation, and that we are ready to create wealth in the country.
“We don’t believe that although we are the ruling party and we are in government, any governmental instrument be used in our favour,’’ he said.
The President also said that his government had a five-year plan to revolutionise agriculture and establish industries in the country.
“Benue is the home of food, so it is easier to create wealth here. We will complete the irrigation project we started in Oturkpo,’’ he promised.
“The governor (Suswam) also requested a bridge across the River Benue. We promise that the second Niger Bridge and the Benue Bridge are projects that we will work on in the next four years.’’
Jonathan further promised to operate an open administration devoid of discrimination irrespective of the people’s religion and ethnic persuasions.
“If a Nigerian wakes up, he should know that he can at least eat, we know that poverty does not speak any language, does not love anybody and does not belong to any ethnic nationality.
“You all know about my humble background, I came from a wretched home but look at where I am today. We have come to bring hope to the people,’’ he said.
Reports say that Vice-President Namadi Sambo, PDP Acting National Chairman, Haliru Mohammed, and Senate President David Mark, were among the leaders who gave goodwill messages at the rally.
Leaders of 10 political parties, including APGA, Mega Progressive People’s Party, Democratic People’s Party and Action Alliance, were at the rally to support the Jonathan/Sambo ticket.
The President, who made the declaration during his campaign rally in Makurdi recently said : “Nigerians’ votes must count.’’
According to him, the internal democracy witnessed at the Eagle’s Square in Abuja during the presidential primaries will reflect in the April polls.
“We must vote the people we want. We no longer want a situation where people are imposed on us.
“I promise Nigerians that even though I am contesting, nobody will manipulate any vote in my favour.
Jonathan said he was holding on to the promise he made to Nigerians and the world that their votes must count.
He said that was why he and his campaign team were working assiduously to convince the electorate to vote for him and other PDP candidates in the general elections.
“We have gone to the six geo-political zones and we are going from state to state.
“After that we will still go back to some of these states to tell the people what we stand for, to tell them that we stand for change, transformation, and that we are ready to create wealth in the country.
“We don’t believe that although we are the ruling party and we are in government, any governmental instrument be used in our favour,’’ he said.
The President also said that his government had a five-year plan to revolutionise agriculture and establish industries in the country.
“Benue is the home of food, so it is easier to create wealth here. We will complete the irrigation project we started in Oturkpo,’’ he promised.
“The governor (Suswam) also requested a bridge across the River Benue. We promise that the second Niger Bridge and the Benue Bridge are projects that we will work on in the next four years.’’
Jonathan further promised to operate an open administration devoid of discrimination irrespective of the people’s religion and ethnic persuasions.
“If a Nigerian wakes up, he should know that he can at least eat, we know that poverty does not speak any language, does not love anybody and does not belong to any ethnic nationality.
“You all know about my humble background, I came from a wretched home but look at where I am today. We have come to bring hope to the people,’’ he said.
Reports say that Vice-President Namadi Sambo, PDP Acting National Chairman, Haliru Mohammed, and Senate President David Mark, were among the leaders who gave goodwill messages at the rally.
Leaders of 10 political parties, including APGA, Mega Progressive People’s Party, Democratic People’s Party and Action Alliance, were at the rally to support the Jonathan/Sambo ticket.
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