posters in the city of Abuja, another group has again flooded the streets of the Federal Capital Territory with the President’s campaign posters, canvassing for his 2015 presidential ambition.
It was observed that the posters, sponsored by a group, Nigerians Unity Project, were noticeably decked on walls in Wuse, Garki and bus stops in and around the Federal Secretariat, Abuja, on Monday.
The posters had a picture of the His Excellency donned in a black bowler hat over a black apparel,a costume that has become an emblem of the Niger Delta people.
Above the poster, which is on a white and green background, was a boldly written inscription, “To keep Nigeria’s Unity, Jonathan for Continuity in 2015.”
Beneath the President’s photograph is written, “Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (North East) was given a second term in 1964; Alhaji Shehu Shagari (North West), was given a second term in 1983; Chief Olusegun Obasanjo (South West) was given a second term in 2003, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan (South South) deserves a second term in 2015.”
The group left the following phone contacts: target=”_blank”>08120001166, target=”_blank”>08188112221 and 07066640488.
When contacted, a man, who identified himself as Igwe Kala Leo-Ugomaduefulle and National Leader of the group, said the group did not need the support of either the President or the ruling People’s Democratic Party to do what they felt was a patriotic duty in the pursuit of justice and fairness.
He said, “We don’t need anybody’s prompting to do this. The President has not said he is going to contest or not but we are concerned about the unity of this country. It is the birth right of Mr. President to seek a second term if he so desires.
“To keep Nigeria one, we must ensure justice and fairness to all irrespective of where they come from, if you look at our posters very well, you will see the historical facts about those who were elected into office, why should President Jonathan’s case be different?”
However, the Executive Secretary of the Civil Society Legislative and Advocacy Centre, Mallam Awual Musa, said it was shocking that the issue was coming up at a time Nigerians were expecting improvements in their lives.
“I can’t understand our politicians, 2015 is two years away and already elected officials are strategizing on how to get power when they are yet to deliver on their existing mandate. If the Presidency is not behind this, it must find a way to stop it.”
In her reaction, the President of Campaign For Democracy, Dr. Joe Odumakin, said, “This does not augur well for the polity, the posters are clearly distractive for an apprentice President even a President with focus and capacity would be put under serious pressure with posters littered everywhere. He should halt it and let sanity prevail in our polity.”
It would be recalled that President Goodluck Jonathan disassociated himself from the first posters which flooded the streets of Abuja last month, saying that those behind it were only doing on their own and not acting as his political agents.
According to the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, Jonathan is focused on delivering on his Transformation Agenda and not 2015 elections, which is still far away.
