Don’t contest in 2015, Baraje tells Jonathan

…It would lead to chaos – Factional chairman

From TAIWO AMODU, Abuja
The Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje faction of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday reminded President Goodluck Jonathan of his alleged statement made in Ankara, Turkey two years ago that he would not go for a second term. Baraje, therefore, advised the President to shelve his plan to run in 2015.
Baraje quoted the President as speaking to Nigerian professionals and diplomats working in the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the African Union (AU) in Turkey then.
Alhaji Baraje’s warning was the highlight of his reaction to our report yesterday in which President Jonathan addressed Nigerian professionals in New York, United States on Sunday. The President said the constitution allows him two terms of eight years.
According to Jonathan, “ already, we have a constitution that makes provision for a maximum of eight years for anyone who wants to become a president or a governor.”
But Baraje in a statement yesterday expressed concern over Jonathan’s declaration as he claimed that his ambition could precipitate chaos and ultimately, the disintegration of Nigeria.
“As a patriotic group that cares about the present and future of our great country and which wants President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to succeed, the Abubakar Kawu Baraje-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after reviewing the state of the nation and the pulse of Nigerians, wishes to advise President Jonathan to abandon his plan to seek re-election in 2015 as this ambition is not in the best interest of the country,” he said.
Though he has yet to categorically declare his intention to run, President Jonathan has given enough clue that he is working towards doing so. The latest of such clues came last Sunday in New York.
“We are worried that Mr. President is intent on running despite his earlier promise not to do so and in spite of the wise counsel of well-meaning Nigerians, including respected elder statesmen,” he said
Baraje also claimed that Sunday’s declaration by the President was a volte face as he claimed that the latter had in 2011 committed himself to one term.
“In February, 2011 while interacting with Nigerians and diplomats working in the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the African Union (AU) in Ankara, Turkey, President Jonathan clearly stated: “I would have loved that the Nigerians in Diaspora vote this year (2011) but to be frank with you, that is going to be difficult now.
“Presently, the law does not allow voting outside Nigeria and so, this year, Nigerians in Diaspora will not vote but I will work towards it by 2015 even though I will not be running for election.
“Four years is enough for anyone in power to make significant improvement and if I can’t improve on power within this period, it then means I cannot do anything even if I am there for the next four years,” Baraje quoted the President as saying.
But taking on the President, the PDP faction boss said: “This is a historical fact which Mr. President himself cannot deny now since he had two years to deny that statement but never did so. How does Mr. President want Nigerians and the entire world to see him for this volte face? Why can’t he not keep his words as a man of honour instead of allowing himself to be misled by selfish advisers to go back on his words, thereby overheating the polity?
“Mr. President should heed the advice of well-meaning distinguished personalities such as constitution expert, Prof. Ben Nwabueze (SAN) and Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, His Eminence, Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie, all of whom have advised him to correctly read the handwriting on the wall and stay away from the 2015 presidential race.
“By 2015, President Jonathan would have served our nation for six solid years. This, surely, is enough time for him to achieve whatever he is capable of doing for Nigeria. What else is he looking for that is making him desperate to participate in 2015 presidential election despite warnings that doing so may spark a chain of events capable of culminating into the country’s disintegration, thereby bringing to pass, the predictions of Lord Lugard that Nigeria as a nation by 2014 may be history, which was later confirmed by the USA Think-Tank that Nigeria may disintegrate by 2015,” Baraje said.
The factional PDP national chairman said that the 2015 aspiration of the sitting President was against the provisions of 1999 Constitution.
“Apart from all these, should President Jonathan contest and win by 2015, it means he would have spent 10 years in office and will be sworn in three times as the President of Nigeria against the provisions of the country’s constitution.
“We wish to appeal to Mr. President to abandon this ill-advised move and save our nation from catastrophe.God has been merciful to you, Mr. President, lifting you from being a university teacher to President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in so short a time is something you should be grateful and be contented with.
“We urge you Mr. President to listen to the voice of reason and avoid overstretching your good luck. A word is enough for the wise!”, he advised.

2015: I will run – Jonathan

…Says constitution allows him to do eight years of two terms
 From JULIANA TAIWO-OBALONYE, New York CityAfter months of dodging the question, President Goodluck Jonathan in New York, United States on Sunday broke his silence on the 2015 presidential election when he said the Constitution allows him to do eight years of two terms This is even as he warned those fanning the embers of disintegration in the country to refrain from doing so as the interest of the nation was greater than that of any individual. He urged politicians to drop the “do or die” approach to politics and allow him to concentrate on his core mandate of governance.
He said that having been elected by Nigerians, he should be allowed to work, adding that they have the right to vote out anybody they are not comfortable with his style of work.
The President stated this on Sunday during lunch with Nigerian professionals in New York. He said, “already, we have a constitution that makes provision for maximum of eight years for anyone who wants to become president or governor. There is no president or governor that all citizens did not vote for, but at the end of the election if somebody emerges, you must allow the person to work. If you love your country, you would want your country to work. That does not mean that you will not vote against the person if you don’t like the way he works, but you must allow him to work”.
In apparent reference to the festering Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) crisis, which has resulted in the splinter group, headed by a former deputy national Chairman, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, and the criticism by the opposition parties, Jonathan said political leaders must be mindful of what they say or do in order not to undermine the sovereignty of Nigeria.
He appealed to those he described as colleague politicians that “no matter how you feel about the political situation, consider the interest of your country first before yourself.
“If you are struggling to enter a house, you must not put dynamite there to destroy the house. By the time you get there, there will be no house for you to stay. So, first and foremost, we must collectively build our country. Don’t bother about who is there now because power is transient, very, very temporary”.
Asked if his administration was doing enough to tackle corruption, he said, “so many people are saying we are not doing well in fighting corruption and before you say that, there must be a parameter for judging us. What are the yardsticks they are using to judge us?
“Before the advent of this government, the Federal Government was spending a whopping N25 billion on fertiliser with only a 11 per cent reaching the farmers, but since the coming on board of this administration, government now spends between N5 and N6 billion on fertiliser and we are getting 80 per cent reach. If we wanted to continue to steal money or look for money for election, we could have continued,” the President said.
On the privatisation of the power sector, he said the government conducted the over $3 billion exercise in the most transparent manner.  “Yes, we have not yet reached, where we want to reach, but we are making progress,” he said.
Jonathan told the audience that his administration has made significant progress in reviving the rail transportation, aviation, road construction and other infrastructure. “The team that I am working with, we are doing our best to make sure that our country works,” he said.

Anambra guber: INEC publishes candidates’ list, Ukachukwu Emerges

…Ukachukwu picked as PDP candidate

By JULIET EZE
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday published the list of governorship candidates for the November 16 election in Anambra State with Nicholas Ukachukwu emerging the standard bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In a statement  by Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Kayode Idowu, the publication was in line with the provisions of Section 31 (3) of the Electoral Act 2010, as amended.

He said:  “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has today, September 24, published the Form CF001 (Personal Particulars of Candidate) of candidates nominated by political parties for the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State. The comprehensive list as signed by the secretary to the commission is attached and has been placed on the commission’s website”.
He said 23 political parties nominated candidates for the governorship and deputy governorship slots but noted that All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the PDP had issues with the candidates they intend to sponsor before the closure of nominations on September 17. “

Idowu explained that the Federal High Court in Awka eased the contention over APGA’s nomination by vacating its order directing the commission to accept two governorship candidates from the party. He added that for the PDP, the commission resolved to list Nicholas Chukwuejekwu Ukachukwu as the governorship candidate in accordance with the latest order as delivered by the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, in Suit No. FHC/PH/CS/296/2013 – Nicholas Chukwuejekwu Ukachukwu vs. Dr. Tony Nwoye & 3 Ors.

According to him, the commission advised political parties and their members that only those on the list published would be allowed to conduct campaigns and that any violation of the rule would amount to an electoral offence and security agencies were  urged to intervene as such.

Two (2) killed in Delta cult war

From PAUL OSUYI, Asaba
At least two persons were feared dead in a renewed wave of violence unleashed by suspected cultists in parts of Obiaruku, the administrative headquarters of Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State.
Sources said the community was thrown into confusion at the weekend following a clash by rival cult groups.
According to the sources, there were sporadic gunshots by the suspected cult members, who also used other dangerous weapons as the combatants attempted to out-do each other.
Trouble allegedly started about two weeks ago when two middle-aged men met at a birthday party held at Ogbe-Aka quarters of the town and instantly drew the battle line.
“We had warned the organisers of the party that it should not extend into the night because of the precarious security situation and they gave the assurance that it will not spill into the night.
“But while music was still blaring at about 8p.m on that day, we heard gunshots from close quarters and everyone scampered for safety. It was later that we realised that there was a problem between those who attended the party,” a source stated.
Investigations revealed that a fight had broken out between the men over undisclosed issues.
It was further gathered that when the fight began colleagues of one of the brawling cult members joined the fray and in the process, one of them was hit by bullets.
Although, the clash occurred at Ogbe-Aka quarters, residents in neighbouring Ghana, Okusu and Umuegueze quarters fled their houses due to the fierce gun battle.
Hostility resumed last weekend as members of one of the cult groups whose colleague was hit by bullet during the previous fracas, in apparent reprisal attack, stormed the town, hunting for their opponents. They were said to have shot at a man suspected to be a member of the rival cult group.
However, the victim, who was said to be seriously wounded managed to leap into a nearby bush.
Contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the state Police Command, ASP Lucky Uyabeme said he was yet to get details of the incident.
But a competent source close to Obiaruku Police Station confirmed the clashes in the community but said he was not aware if any arrest had been made.