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By Henry Umoru ABUJA- 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 1...

BY HENRY UMORU ABUJA— The Presidency yesterday declared that the crisis in Rivers State does not pose any threat to the nation’s democracy. It said Nigeria remains peaceful and cannot in any way be threatened by political developments in the State. Addressing newsmen in Abuja yesterday, Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, Dr Doyin Okupe, said Rivers State is peaceful and calm with residents going about their activities under peaceful atmosphere. The position of the Presidency on developments in Rivers State icame in spite of the lingering political logjam in the state that resulted in near-impeachment of the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Otelemaba Amachree and a free-for-all in the House penultimate week. The House Leader, Chidi Lloyd; and two other lawmakers — Michael Chinda and Martins Amahule sustained injuries during the fracas. The Presidency also carpeted the five Northern governors who paid solidarity visit to Governor Rotimi Ama...

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor, Umoru Henry & Daud Olatunji ABUJA— President Goodluck Jonathan, last night, met the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and major party stakeholders as a follow-up to the meeting he had with former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo weekend. The meeting was aimed at resolving the grouses of senior members of the party. The confusion in the party has led to some Northern governors threatening to leave the party. Govs to meet IBB, others Meanwhile, five of the disaffected Northern governors are meeting today with two former heads of state, General Ibrahim Babangida and General Abdulsalami Abubakar as part of their consultations with statesmen on the alleged drift of the party. A meeting with General Theophilus Danjuma is also on the cards, it was learnt. [caption id="attachment_402483" align="alignnone" width="412"] President Goodluck Jonathan (centre) inspecting parade durin...

By Bisi Lawrence Notice was given earlier in the week that President Goodluck Jonathan would soon announce his interest in contesting the presidential ticket in 2015. Well, I could have sworn he had already done that to the satisfaction, or dismay, of all his actual and perceived foes included, as well as his cronies and lickspittles. Or else what have all the upheavals and alarums been about? The toe-to-toe stance between him and the Rivers State Governor, Amaechi, emerging from the grounding of the governor’s plane in Akure, was clear for all to see. It even overflowed to Governor Adams Oshiomhole in Edo State when his own chartered aircraft was suddenly not found airworthy, once the governor was on board. It came to a head with the improper overt attempt to disrupt the Rivers State legislative assembly. The plan was not really to install a new leadership in the house, since no Nigerian, sane or irrational, would be expected to accept such a brutish and crude scenario offering of a “...

By Rotimi Fasan EVIDENTLY President Goodluck Jonathan, as the Yoruba proverb goes, has eating his fill of his food  and is now actively looking for what will deflate his round belly. In other words, trouble  sleep yanga go wake am . This is another example of weak breed leaders Nigeria routinely throws up; men heedless of the lessons of history and are therefore doomed to repeat it. [caption id="attachment_402483" align="alignnone" width="412"] President Goodluck Jonathan (centre) inspecting parade during the Nigerian Army Day Celebration in Abuja On Saturday (6/7/13)[/caption] His ambition to continue in office beyond 2015, a legitimate one if he so pleases, but without prejudice to the right of other people to the same office- Jonathan’s post-2015 ambition has blinded him to the necessity of recognising he does not hold the patent to the presidency. But he is gradually going for broke, given the unfolding chaos in Rivers State where a minority of five l...