Jonathan’s declaration to hold in six world cities

 

President Goodluck Jonathan’s declaration to contest for second term will hold on Tuesday (tomorrow) in six cities in Africa, United Kingdom and the United States of America, The PUNCH learnt on Sunday.

Our correspondent learnt that while Jonathan would mount the podium at the Eagle Square in Abuja, a replica of the event would be staged in Johannesburg, South Africa; London, UK; and in four American cities of Washington DC, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Houston.

The global dimension added to the President’s declaration was said to have been sponsored by his supporters and members of the Peoples Democratic Party in the Diaspora, under the aegis of the One Nigeria Coalition.

As of the time of this report on Sunday, security had already been beefed up in and around the Eagle Square, venue of the President’s declaration.

Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Prof. Rufai Alkali, has said it will be unfair to deny Jonathan the right to seek re-election on account of the insecurity in the North-East.

Alkali said this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja on Sunday. He spoke at an event to mark the President’s planned official declaration.

He was reacting to claims in some quarters that the President was insensitive to the plight of Nigerians, who had been under siege by the Boko Haram sect in the North-East.

The President’s aide said his principal felt the pains of all Nigerians and had been doing everything within his powers to deal with the situation and that it was uncharitable for anyone to use the security situation in the country to deny the President the right to seek re-election in 2015.

Alkali said, “The President took his time to say he will declare well after many others have done so.

“I feel that if others were not dissuaded by the security challenges from showing interest to contest, then I think there is no valid reason that will stop a sitting President from contesting.

“It does not make sense for you to say Mr. President should not declare or should not contest because there is crisis or security challenges but you, immediately INEC releases the time-table, rush to your party secretariat to purchase the form, organise a huge rally and dance around. I think what is good for the goose is good for the gander.”

Reacting, the National Publicity Secretary of the opposition All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said Alkali ought to advise his boss to protect Nigerians instead of trying to sell “a bad product”

“How many of our aspirants are today commanders-in-chief? Whose job is it to protect us all? Who has failed to perform this basic task of governance? I feel sorry for the presidential aides; they are labouring to sell a bad product. If I were him (Alkali) I will recommend the book ‘stopping a terrorist’ to the President,” Mohammed said.