2015: I Will Run --Jonathan

Less than 24 hours after an ultimatum from the Peoples Democratic
Party, PDP to him and others to purchase nomination forms within seven
days, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday swiftly moved to formalise
his re-election process with the constitution of a declaration
committee.

The declaration,Vanguardlearnt Thursday has been tentatively scheduled
for between the 7th and 15th November, 2014.

A highly placed presidency source disclosed yesterday that the
president would also pick the nomination form before the expiration of
the one week deadline given by the PDP to all aspirants to various
offices.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not
authorised to speak on the matter said the declaration committee,
which is to be headed by erstwhile national chairman of the PDP, Dr.
Bello Haliru Mohammed is composed of representatives of governors, the
National Assembly and other political stakeholders. The committee is
to choose a convenient date for the president to make a formal
declaration.

President Goodluck Jonathan
Before the decision was arrived at, the president met with some
prominent members of the party in and outside of government in the
Presidential Villa yesterday where he told them that following his
adoption by the governors of the PDP, the National Working Committee
and the Board of Trustees of the party, he has accepted to heed their
call to contest in the 2015 election.

Among those at the meetingVanguardlearnt were the national chairman of
the PDP, Adamu Muazu, the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the
party, Chief Tony Anenih, the president of the Senate, Senator David
Mark and other close aides of the president.

"President Jonathan met with key party members where he thanked them
for giving him the opportunity of first refusal. He thanked them for
adopting him as the candidate of the party and formally informed them
that he has accepted to run and would be purchasing the nomination
form before the expiration of the one week deadline given by the PDP
for all its aspirants to pick nomination forms within one week," the
source said.

According to the official, in order to ensure a smooth formal
declaration ceremony, the president has constituted a committee that
would prepare the logistics for his formal declaration which will be
between the 7th and 15th of November.

Similarly, it was gathered that the president has also constituted a
fund raising committee for the campaign proper, which is headed by
former Minister of Information, Professor Jerry Gana.

Other members of the fund raising committee have, however, not been named yet.

Members of the Declaration Committee include: Dr. Bello Halliru
Mohammed (Chairman) from Kebbi, Sen. Ken Namani (Deputy Chairman),
Enugu, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim (Secretary), Ebonyi, Prof. Rufa'i Ahmed
Alkali (member), Gombe, Julius Imagwe - SSA - Youth (member), Edo, Dr.
Baraka Sani (SSA -NSAP) - Kano, (member).

Governors representing the six geographical zones include; Liyel
Imoke, Cross River (South South), Theodore Orji, Abia (South East),
Olusegun Mimiko, Ondo (South West), Dr. Mua'zu Babangida Aliyu Niger
(North Central), Ibrahim Shema, Katsina (North West) and Ibrahim
Dankwambo, Gombe (North East).

Representatives of the National Assembly are Sen. Hosea Agboola ,
(Oyo), Sen. Ahmed Makarfi (Kaduna), Rep. Bitrus Kaze (Plateau) and
Rep. Salmas Badru (Ogun).

Members representing the Federal Executive Council include; Minister
of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Dieziani Allison-Madueke (Bayelsa),
Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Abduljelili Adesiyan (Osun),
Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Zainab Maina (Adamawa), Minister of
Federal Capital Territory, Sen. Bala Mohammed (Bauchi).

Representatives of the PDP in the committee include: Deputy National
Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus (Rivers), Chairman, PDP Benue State,
Chief Emmanuel Agbo, (Benue) National Women Leader, Kema Chikwe (Imo)
and North West Zonal Chairman, Amb. Ibrahim Kazaure (Jigawa).

Other members are Sen. Stella Omu (Delta), Sen. Walid Jibirn (BOT
Secretary, (Nasarawa), Ibrahim Bunu (Borno), Rev. Jolly Nyame
(Taraba), Sen. Aniette Okon (Akwa Ibom), Peter Obi (Anambra), Mrs.
Remi Adiuku Bakare (Lagos), and Gen. A. B. Mamman (PDP National Youth
Leader) - FCT.

Others appointed to the committee at the discretion of the president
were Barr. Halima Alfa (Kogi), Nigeria Ambassador to Netherland, Dr.
(Mrs.) Nimota Nihinlola Akanbi (Kwara), FCT ALGON Chairman, Hon. Micah
Yohanna Jiba (FCT) and Hon. Sam Ikon (Akwa Ibom).
--Vanguard