2015: SOME NORTHERN GROUPS ENDORSE JONATHAN

AHEAD the 2015 Presidential election, Northern elders and youths yesterday stormed
the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Abuja to endorse President
Goodluck Jonathan for the exalted position, just as they pleaded with him to make himself
available and vie.
The elders and youths came under the aegis of three groups, Northern Elders Forum, North/
South New Nigeria Forum, Fresh Air Continuity Group of North West and Northern PDP Youth.
The groups – led by a former Education Minister under the late Gen Abacha’s regime and
former Presidential Aspirant of All Nigerian Peoples Party, ANPP, Dr Dauda Birmah, on a
solidarity visit to the PDP national Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur – declared that the
North would ever be grateful to the PDP led Government of President Jonathan for creating a
conducive atmosphere that made the release of the former Chief Security Adviser to late Sani
Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha possible after over 14 years of incarceration.
They however hailed Jonathan over the release from prison of Major Hamza al-Mustapha, just
as they promised to get most voters in the north, especially North West to support and vote
for him.
Dauda Birma, said “Goodluck Jonathan’s leadership has been rated as the best administration
so far. With what Jonathan has done in Maiduguri, I can affirm that the city is now safer than
most parts of the country”.
According to him, Major Mustapha’s release would not have been possible by the ordinary fiat
of the court if not for the underground work of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and the consent of the
executive of the President Jonathan led administration, adding that the Groups decided to
come out openly to appreciate the exemplary leadership qualities of the President Jonathan
since assumption of office which had been unprecedented in the anal of Nigeria.
He said they were also at the PDP National Secretariat to correct insinuations that the People
of the North especially the North- West Zone were against his Presidential ambition come
2015, adding that the release of Major Al-Mustapha had further fuelled the supports of the
North for the re election of President Jonathan come 2015.
The leaders of the three Groups, Hajia Nana Abdulkadri, Mallam Mohammed Omeri and Ibrahim
Mohammed in their remarks expressed their appreciation for the release of the former CSO and
acknowledged the roles of the leadership of the Party and the President and as well
dismissed the wrong notion that the North in general was against the Presidential ambition of
Dr Jonathan come 2015.
Responding, Alhaji Tukur said that it was a thing of joy for him for three different Groups to
come at the same time to appreciate openly the achievements of the PDP led administration of
President Jonathan at this point in time when wrong impressions were being created that all
was not well in the country.
According to him, “to me, this is democracy in action, people will agree with you,people will
also disagree with you, we can not see things the same way at all times, when we see good
things we should celebrate like these groups are doing now, celebrate good things, celebrate
democracy, celebrate justice, don’t be intimidated by others, this is your country, hold it
firmly”.