The presidential campaign train of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) arrived Abuja on Saturday March 26, pulling yet again another impressive crowd of party supporters. Group Politics Editor, Taiwo Adisa, chronicles the promises and frank talks that characterised the event.IT was primed as the grand finale of the presidential campaign by the Presidential Campaign Council of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), coming after long nights of campaigns in the 36 states of the federation. The partys presidential candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan, had transversed the states of the federation and the geopolitical zones in an attempt to preach his message of unity and transformation to his countrymen. He told the people what he needed to say on the podium, as far as campaign promises were concerned.But the party needed a final show of power to reiterate its readiness to win the coming election at the first ballot. Thus, last Saturday, its leaders, political office holders and chieftains across the country converged on the Eagle Square, Abuja, to showcase what was described as the grand finale of the campaigns.Not even the bomb blast hoax which domination the air on the eve of the rally, would deter members of the party from converging on the Federal Capital in their numbers. Party leaders said they had to restrict the figures of those who should be in Abuja to avert the type of tragedy that characterised the zonal rally in Port Harcourt, where some lives were lost during a stampede.Largely, the rally was more of an affirmation of the partys strength and spread in the country. One of the speakers was to remark that with the ease with which the PDP mobilised the sizeable number from the states, the presidents victory was assured.Women, youths, performing musicians and artists and political leaders all took turns to express their love and admiration for candidate Goodluck Jonathan and his running mate, Vice- President Namadi Sambo.As it was when Jonathan declared his intent to contest the presidency in September 2010, the governors took their turn to announce the readiness of their people to vote for Jonathan.A number of them spoke with passion and conviction. Akwa-Ibom State governor, Godswill Akpabio, told the gathering that Jonathan would win the coming election convincingly and that the people of Akwa Ibom State had also resolved to return all PDP contestants to enable them to continue to work with the president for the progress of the land.Rivers State governor, Chief Rotimi Amaechi, told the president and his running mate to take the votes of the people for granted, adding that since the president was an in-law of the people of the state, the people had assured him of their votes in large numbers.Cross Rivers State governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, said that the people of South-South were offering the country one of their best to help transform the nation, adding that the election would afford him the opportunity of turning the country around. His Kwara State counterpart, Dr. Bukola Saraki, also said that since elections were about choices, the Jonathan/Sambo choice was the best on offer for the presidential election.Niger State governor, Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu, said the next election was about equity and justice where, according to him, every Nigerian child could aspire to the top. He said the fear of a run-off being peddled among the opposition was a mirage.Jigawa State governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, equally assured the country that Jonathan would win. He said that the resolution of the issues that preceded his emergence as PDP candidate showed the dexterity of the party in handling its internal affairs. He said that he had earlier predicted that the party would give Nigeria a credible candidate for the next election and that the duo of Jonathan and Sambo had no political baggage.Those who said we are on our ownyes, we are on our own with God guiding us, he said.As the governors took their turns to deliver their solidarity messages, there was dancing, drama and merriment across the different spots at the Eagle Square. Some gubernatorial candidates of the party were also showcased, especially in states where the governors are either outgoing or where the party is challenging the incumbent.Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Dimaji Bankole, was to introduce another dimension to the show when he was called to make a speech. He in turn announced that since there is only one National Assembly, he would invite the Chairman of the Assembly, Senate President David Mark to speak for the lawmakers. It was a show that finally laid to rest the perceived acrimony between the House of Representatives led by Bankole and the Senate presided over by David Mark.The Senate President told the gathering that Jonathan is a product of the National Assembly and that the lawmakers are proud to be associated with him. He said that the president has been doing well in office and that a renewal of his mandate will only allow him to do more.After Marks speech came the moment of truth. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who is the Chairman Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party was called to the podium. Everyone knows him as an unpredictable man and he did not disappoint this time. Instead of following the usual vote for Jonathan speech, Obasanjo delivered a pungent speech, a food for thought for many in the polity.He said that he had cause to al-lay the fears of some distin-guished members of the party of the zoning issue before a recent meeting of the Board of Trustees (BoT) when the discussion came up again.To Obasanjo, the presidency of Goodluck Jonathan must be understood as an accident of history, which must be allowed to pan out as a mark of respect for national unity, equity and justice. He said the trio of former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, former National Security Adviser, General Aliyu Mohammed and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had raised the issue of zoning on the eve of the last BoT meeting and that he was asked to explain the situation and make a public report.He said: It (the zoning question) was raised by three distinguished members of our party at a meeting with the president a day before the BOT meeting. I was mandated to take up the position of the party with the three distinguished members of our party who raised the issue; they are General Ibrahim Babangida, General Aliyu Mohammed Gusau and Alhaji Abubakar Atiku.The following day, that was last Sunday, I took up the matter with Gen Ibrahim Babangida, who declared to me that the issue was not the accident of history but the issue of perception in some quarters that the issue of federal character, zoning and rotation as established and practised by the PDP has been jettisoned and permanently cancelled.I, on behalf of the BoT, allayed the fear and I promised a public report, while he briefed the other two party members with whom we informed the president on the eve of the BoT meeting.What I am I saying is that federal character, zoning and rotation in our party are alive and kicking.I do not know who will be the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria after Dr Goodluck Jonathan that is in the hands of Godbut with PDP policies and practices, I can reasonably guess from where in terms of section of the country the successor to president Jonathan will come and no internal democracy or competition will be hereby discouragedThe recent resort to sentiment and emotion of religion and regionalism is self serving unpatriotic and mischievous to say the least. It also plays on dangerous emotive issue that can ignite uncontrollable passion and destabilise if not destroy our country. This is being oblivious of the sacrifices others have made in the past for the unity, stability and democracy in Nigeria.Some have given up their lives, shedding their blood and in going to prison. I personally have done two out of these three sacrifices and I am ready to do the third if it will serve the best interest of the Nigerian dream. Let me appeal to those who have embarked on this dangerous road to repent and desist from taking us on a perishable journey.The former president received a loud ovation for the frank talk, something that would continue to dominate discussions for some time.When Vice President Namadi Sambo came to the stage, he simply laid the background for the coming of his boss. He said that the tow of them would continue to design and build until Nigeria was fully transformed.While not joining issues directly with any of his opponents, President Jonathan spoke of his vision for a new Nigeria and his determination to make the difference. He declared that his opponents were brandishing half-baked solutions to the Nigerian problem, while he had, in the last 10 months, demonstrated capability to take the country out of the woods.He enumerated his vision for each of the critical sectors and declared his readiness to ensure security, while promising hell to sponsors of violence.Jonathan told the appreciative crowd: Our opponents have done a very good job of reminding the populace about the problems that are still facing the nation, but many of the solutions they proffer are hopelessly inadequate.Some of them even sound as if they wish to turn the clock back and take us back to models that have failed repeatedly because they have not really assimilated investor demands and the new global focus on development and good governance.The president promised to continue the work he had started on power sector reforms, while also harnessing the opportunities that abound in the countrys oil and gas sector. He said that government would create 1.5 million jobs for the youth in the sector, and that through the implementation of the local content law, the government would provide another 300,000 jobs.Jonathan said that he would employ measures that had brought success to the reforms in the communications sector and power sectors, and continue to involve the private sector in the process of nation building.He asked the electorate to give him a national mandate through the April 9 election so as to enable him to pursue a vigorous development agenda which only the PDP could guarantee.He told the audience: I will clear any vested interest that stands in the way of quick policy implementation and rapid economic transformation. This is my message to the private sector, both formal and informal. This is also my message to all investors, both local and foreign.He also promised to fight corruption and further admonished Nigerians to shun violence during the forthcoming polls.He declared: I want to appeal to our political leaders and Nigerians in general to eschew violence in all ramifications. I have said it; neither my ambition nor any other Nigerian ambition is worth your blood.Though the President and the PDP have dropped the curtain on the formal campaigns, his aides said that the man had not foreclosed the need to reach out to critical stakeholders even ahead of the election, as according to them, in politics, 24 hours could look like a century.
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