Northern Groups Threaten To Dump Jonathan Campaign

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, Politics Sunday, February 16th, 2014

Five northern non-partisan groups campaigning for the reelection of President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday threatened to quit for what they called “obvious insensitivity on the part of the President’s handlers.”

Nigeria President Goodluck Jonathan

The five groups led by the Northern Emancipation Network, NEN, based their grievances on the selfish and insincere manner those purported to be handling the Jonathan campaign go about the business.

Rising from a joint meeting in Abuja, coordinator of NEN, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman warned that while their members have come under intense pressure, Jonathan’s team on the other hand does not appear to appreciate their efforts.

“Instead of recognizing and incorporating genuinely committed groups, Jonathan’s men prefer to do business with old inconsequential politicians of the north that are incapable of adding value to the campaign,” Suleiman said.

He said the Jonathan team has failed to appreciate that there is a fresh thinking in the north today that has forced the old political order crumpling.

“We have on several occasions tried to make them understand the need to identify these changes and to utilize them for the success of the Jonathan project in the north which obviously, is going to be the main battle field in 2015,’ Suleiman explained.

He added that since politics is a matter of interest, and people cannot waste their time, resources and effort on people that do not appear to appreciate that effort, they will soon open discussions with other political groups that have shown interest in their activities.

The groups warned that those close to the President are not telling him the truth on the enormity of the task of selling his ticket in the north.

“Rather they give the President the impression that they are in control whereas they merely hide behind the fireworks we provide and our domination of the propaganda space on media and social networks.

“The people that support us cannot continue to be exposed to the antagonistic risk associated with the project in the north while some clearly unproductive elements continue to take the credit,” Suleiman said.