Following President Goodluck Jonathan’s official announcement to contest for the highest office, the National Working Committee of Turaki Vanguard has expressed reservations as they describe it as an act carried out contrarily to what many expected, who were of the view that such step ought not to have been taken, given its implication for the nation’s nascent democracy and bearing in mind of the pleas and submissions from numerous groups to him and his handlers on the danger it would herald.
Because of this, NWC of Turaki Vanguard recently in Abuja had meeting with its legal team who were given the mandate to study pertinent provisions of Nigeria’s Constitution and that of the PDP with a view to bringing what it tagged “misadventure” to an end.
Chief Oladimeji Fabiyi, National Coordinator of Turaki Vanguard who briefed the Senior Advocates on the dangers inherent in the illegal declaration stated thus “What we are trying to achieve is to prove that no Nigerian can just wake up one day to dishonor or annul a gentleman agreement aimed at keeping the nation intact and united no matter how powerful or desperate such a person may be to rule this country. Let it be clear to all and sundry that we as a movement have nothing against President Jonathan as a person but for him to have succumbed to the pressure by some self serving politicians devoid of principles and decorum to put our country on the edge by taking a step capable of endangering the unity of the nation, it is our duty imposed on us by the Almighty God and the underprivileged masses to save our country from ruin.
For avoidance of doubt let it be on record that this step has nothing to do with the candidature of Atiku Abubakar or any of the other aspirants because Nigeria as a nation is bigger than any individual but rather must be seen in the light of a patriotic step for the love of our country”.
Chief Oladimeji Fabiyi, while expressing his appreciation for SANs who volunteered their services for this purpose, assured them of the utmost confidentiality to ensure their safety and security in the course of this exercise. The National Coordinator further stated that should Jonathan for any reason clinch the PDP ticket and the court rules after the primaries that he is not a candidate for the election then it simply means that PDP will not have a candidate for the 2011 Presidential election as it will be too late to field any other candidate considering the INEC tight schedules.
It is left therefore he stated “to the PDP leadership as advised by some Northern elders in their letter to stop Jonathan formally from contesting the party’s primaries or the PDP’s delegates to ensure that he is voted out during the primaries or else we will ensure that the court rules that he is not a candidate for the 2011 election under the platform of PDP. The fact remains that President Jonathan is free to contest the 2011 general election according to the constitution under any other political party but not under the PDP umbrella that has zoning as its main driving force.
In a release made available by the Directorate of Media & Public Affairs of Turaki Vanguard, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze has it that “The NWC of Turaki Vanguard finally condemned equivocally the statement credited to Abba Aji the legislative Adviser to late President Yar’Adua and the incumbent President Jonathan that Jonathan can contest the 2011 election as it is a continuation of Yar’dua/Jonathan ticket. It is sad such a fellow with a seemingly low IQ should be allowed as Adviser to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He has been quoted as saying that Atiku and IBB’s presidential ambition will supposedly shortchange the north.
We are however of the opinion, that his premise that should Jonathan rule for four years, by 2015 power will return to the north is a pointer to the fact that not only is he delusional but also his calculation which shortchanges the North also exposes his political naivety. All aspirants from the north have stated their commitment to one term tenure of four years, which is in accordance to the zoning provision in the PDP constitution”.
The Legal Team gave their words to expedite action on their report before PDP’s primaries to ensure that the zoning agreement is honoured.
Nwaorgu Faustinus, writes from Igboetche,
Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Email: fausteness at yahoo.com. Tel: 08035601312
NGEX welcomes and encourages reader comments. Permission to post reader comments is assumed, and we reserve the right to excerpt or edit for clarity any comments that are posted. We won't be able to publish all comments. And we can't vouch for the accuracy of posts from readers. Nickname or Name will be used to identify your post.
"The views and opinions expressed in these comment(s) or article(s) do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of NGEX, its partners or its affiliates."
