All the doubts about President Goodluck Jonathan’s interest in the 2015 presidential race has been been laid to rest as he has told his party chieftains that he will indeed run, Aso Rock sources have disclosed.
Reports say Jonathan made the declaration to chieftains of Peoples Democratic Party on Thursday at a meeting in House 7 of the Presidential Villa which he presided over.
Already, Jonathan is working towards a formal declaration. During Thursday’s meeting, a couple of decisions were reached and committees were set up to actualize the president’s formal declaration.
Sources say, the Presidential Declaration Committee has Dr. Bello Halliru Mohammed from Kebbi state as Chairman; Sen. Ken Namani from Enugu will serve as Deputy Chairman.
Others are Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim (Secretary), Ebonyi; Prof. Rufa’i Ahmed Alkali (member), Gombe; Julius Imagwe – SSA – Youth – (member), Edo and Dr. Baraka Sani (SSA -NSAP) – Kano, (member).
The list of Governors representing zones working towards the president’s formal declaration 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 include Sen. Hosea Agbola , (Oyo), Sen. Ahmed Makarfi (Kaduna), Hon. Bitrus Kaze (Plateau) and Hon. Salmas Badru (Ogun).
Sources further said that Federal Executive Council shall also be represented in the committee by 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 and Sen. Bala Mohammed (Bauchi).
PDP’s official representatives in the committee include Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus (Rivers), Benue State Chapter Chairman, Chief Emmanuel Egbo, (Benue) National Women Leader, Kema Chikwe (Imo) and North West Zonal Chairman, Amb. Ibrahim Kazaure (Jigawa).
Party members also have their representatives namely Sen. Stella Umo (Delta), Sen. Walid Jibirn (BOT Secretary, (Nasarawa), Ibrahim Bunu (Borno), Rev. Jolly Nyame (Taraba), Sen. Anietie Okon (Akwa Ibom), Peter Obi (Anambra), Mrs. Remi Adiuku Bakare (Lagos), and Gen. A. B. Mamman (PDP National Youth Leader) – FCT.
The president also reportedly appointed others into the committee namely; Barr. Halima Alfa (Kogi), Nigeria Ambassador to Netherlands, Dr. (Mrs.) Nimota Nihinlola Akanbi (Kwara), FCT ALGON Chairman, Hon. Micah Yohanna Jiba (FCT) and Hon. Sam Ikon (Akwa Ibom).
Insiders gave a summary of members representing the zones in the committee thus: South South (6), South East (5), South West (5), FCT (1), North West (5), North East (6) and North Central (6).
President Jonathan is not expected to face any opposition within his party as all the stakeholders within have endorsed him long before his formal declaration.