Sunday Tribune learnt that the collaboration meeting was being anchored on behalf of President Jonathan by the National Unity Group (NUG), one the support groups canvassing for his re-election.
Though the identities of the candidates and their political parties were not known as of press time, it was gathered that the meeting, which took place at a location in Abuja and lasted for several hours, with the nine candidates and the officials of NUG reportedly adjourning it till today for the candidates to brief their different political parties.
A competent source at the meeting told Sunday Tribune in confidence that after today's final meeting, the nine candidates would make their decisions to step down from the race and team up with President Jonathan.
Confirming the development at a news conference in Abuja on Saturday, National Secretary of NUG, who is also the National Vice-Chairman of the PDP (South-South), Dr Cairo Ojougboh, said the meeting with the nine presidential candidates was with the aim of collaborating with President Jonathan and that it was cordial and fruitful.
According to him, "we are still incubating the process. What has happened today is very encouraging. We made appreciate progress. They have gone back to discuss with their political parties. The core of the meeting is collaboration for the unity and progress of the country.
"For now, it will not be proper to start naming the nine candidates involved."
Presidents do better in 2nd term –Jonathan
In a related development, President Jonathan observed on Saturday that elected presidents perform much better in their second and final tenure because it is devoid of the usual election distraction.
He spoke when he was received by Kaduna State traditional rulers, led by the Emir of Zauzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris, at the General Hassan Katsina House before attending the Kaduna leg of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential rally.
He told the traditional rulers that he was with them to receive their blessing as he vied for a second term, saying that if elected, he would be able to consolidate on his transformation agenda.
Jonathan said modern rail corridor was one of the many projects his administration had implemented in Kaduna State.
According to him, most presidents got distracted in their first tenure, but performed better during their second and final one as distraction would have drastically reduced.
He pledged to bring more development to Kaduna State and the nation in general, if voted back into office.
Speaking at the occasion, the Emir of Zauzau, Alhaji Idris, charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure adequate provision of logistics for a smooth conduct of the elections.
He advised the electoral body to ensure the timely distribution of election materials to polling stations.
He also called on security agencies to provide adequate security in order to prevent violence and other vices capable of marring the election.
While noting that traditional institutions and religious bodies had been praying for the nation, he admonished politicians not to take election as a do-or-die affair, while they should adhere to the rules of the game.
He said the unity and survival of the nation ought to be preserved, adding that there was need for all to work together.
APC rented crowd for Kaduna rally –Yero
Meanwhile, Kaduna State governor, Alhaji Ramallan Yero, has observed that the crowd that attended the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally in Kaduna was rented, contrary to its claim of being popular.
He, however, gave the assurance that in spite of the antics of opposition, the PDP would win the election.
No comments:
Post a Comment