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 Published
January 17th, 2011
London, UK, January 17, 2011 - President Goodluck Jonathan has made
history by beating Alhaji Atiku Abubakar for the PDP
nomination and becoming the first South –South personality
with a possible prospect of winning the Presidential
election in April 2011. Four year ago, it was very hard to
imagine that Jonathan, a young politician without a strong
political base in the six Geo Political zones in the country
with little known popularity to the public can defeat Atiku
Abubakar, the heir-apparent of the PDP Party.
Jonathan's victory successfully brought to an end Atiku's
bid of becoming the Nigeria President for the next four
years. It also confirms Jonathan's reputation as a political
underdog, who after less than ten months in Aso Rock brought
down Atiku’s most powerful political machine.
Jonathan will now face other Presidential candidates from
other parties for the prize of the presidency in the April 9
general election. After five-month-long fight, the contest
between Jonathan and Atiku is believed one of most
competitive presidential primary elections in the Nigeria
history. In fact Jonathan won based on the public perception
and his youthfulness and vision to carry the political
development of the nation to a greater height. Prof. Tunde
Adeniran, the Chief Returning Officer of the party who
declared the result said out of the total valid vote of 3,
542, Dr Jonathan pulled 2, 736 while his closest rival
Alhaji Atiku scored 805. Dr Sarah Jubril got only one vote.
The long and fierce battle between the two candidates,
however, has alienated supporters from both sides. The
division was apparent at a meeting of the PDP National
Executive Committee held in Abuja recently. There are
indications that some of Atiku supporters were nursing the
hope that they will deflect the party and vote for CPC
candidate Gen Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) in April if Alhaji
Atiku can not get party nomination. But the immediate
challenge facing the party is uniting the party in time to
campaign for the April presidential race.
For Jonathan, the top priority is to mend fences with Atiku
and defeated party members and unites the party as soon as
possible. The PDP seem to stand a good chance to beat any
other Presidential candidates in the next presidential
election and that boosts Jonathan's odds against his
opponents.
Mr Peter Eledan, the chairman of Goodluck Jonathan Global
Campaign Team and who is also the Vice Chairman of Nigerians
In Diaspora Organisation Europe UK Chapter (NIDOE) speaking
to the newsmen in London yesterday stressed “that although
Dr Goodluck Jonathan has spent months to court the Nigerian
youths, and other electorates, his efforts would still need
collective support. However, there is still a lot of work to
be done in mobilising the youth to register and vote in
forthcoming general election”. Hence we are working
extremely hard with Dr Dalhatu Tafida, Director-General of
Goodluck/Sambo Campaign Organisation through the website
http://www.goodluckjonathanfor2011.com and various online
channels to drive Jonathan’s message across to the voters in
the forthcoming General elections.
Our Research Analysts said if Jonathan wants an overwhelming
victory over other opponents and formidable rivals there is
need to re strategise our plans and policies to meet the new
challenges and battles ahead.
We wish to congratulate Dr Goodluck Jonathan, and to say
that when all was said and done he ended victorious. We are
so proud of you that you didn't lower esteem to shenanigans
to win this nomination.
Closing Remark
Peter Eledan, MSc, MBA - Chairman, Goodluck Jonathan Global
Campaign Team (GJGCT).
The website,
http://www.goodluckjonathanfor2011.com ,
provides news and updates on Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign
activities, information about his vision for Nigeria’s
development, news on Nigerian Politics and lots more.
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