South-South’s endorsement: “Your kinsmen are deceiving you” – CPC, ANPP, SNG tell Jonathan

Ahead of 2015 general elections, Stakeholders in Nigeria were yesterday angry over the Thursday’s endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan for second term by his kinsmen under the platform of South South Peoples Assembly (SSPA).
Besides, two prominent political parties, the  Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) and a group, Save Nigeria Group (SNG) all claimed that the early endorsement of the President is a sign that Jonathan is being deceived by his people.

It will be recalled that, Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark; former Edo State governor, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; former Bayelsa governor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha; first civilian governor of Delta State, Olorogun Felix Ibru and some serving governors from the zone  resolved unanimously  at the Effurun, Delta State meeting that President Jonathan deserves another term in 2015.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar said he was not bothered by the decision, while a former military governor of Kaduna State, Col. Abubakar Umar (rtd), called the campaigners sycophants.

To the  Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), the endorsement constitutes a distraction while the Chairman, South East Economic Commission Steering Committee Board, Engr. Chris Okoye, said the country has too many problems to solve now than endorsement.

CPC National Publicity Secretary, Rotimi Fashakin, in an interview, said: “Truly, intra-regional interaction is good as a platform for galvanising the ambiance for incredibly unimaginable development. However, it is odious and utterly irresponsible when such meetings are used for unduly overheating the political firmament within the polity.
“With the array of eminent Nigerians present, comprising of past and serving leaders in the Nigerian state, it is utterly inconceivable that the endorsement of Dr Goodluck Jonathan for the 2015 election should be on the agenda in 2012. It was, at best, ill-advised, fawning and inflammatory!
“Do these South-South leaders desire a better Nigerian polity with their pugnacious stand? The drum beats of the politicking for America’s presidential election scheduled for November, 2012 started getting audible only a  few months ago!
“Are these SS leaders saying that the Nigerian state exists for elections alone? We just had one election last year, and the winner has not given the citizenry hope with his performance thus far. On the contrary, the performance of the Jonathan regime has been fumbling, wobbling and bumbling.
“What is the cogent, tangible and positive change that his presidency has effected on the Nigerian polity?
Undoubtedly, that call is borne out of the hypocritical and fawning posturing of these leaders.  Where were these SS leaders when leaders of the nation (from other geo-political zones) picked the gauntlet in ensuring the proper transition of VP Goodluck Jonathan to Acting President Goodluck Jonathan? At that time, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari delivered a letter to the Nigerian Senate, urging the upper legislative chamber to recognise the then VP as Acting President”.
The National Publicity Secretary of the ANPP, Hon. Emma Eneukwu, said: “The South-South leaders are deceiving President Goodluck Jonathan to run in 2015. They were hired to gather and decide it is Jonathan for 2015 or nobody. You and I know that development in the country shows that Nigerians will not support that and Nigerians are tired of Jonathan.
“The South-South leaders are causing more problems for Jonathan. Jonathan should not try running in 2015 because he  promised Nigerians to leave that position in 2015.