2015: Jonathan’s loyalists counter Northern govs’ plot

President Goodluck Jonathan’s loyalists have begun moves to neutralise the plot by northern governors to stop the President’s alleged 2015 ambition.

The Niger State Governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, had in an interview with journalists at the Northern Governors’ Forum’s meeting in Kaduna on May 17 vowed that the North would ensure that it got the presidency in 2015.

SUNDAY PUNCH’s investigation on Friday however showed that Jonathan’s allies were already working on ways to ensure that the northern governors don’t succeed with their plan.

It was learnt that one of their major strategies was to ensure that the President maintains his stronghold on areas that voted massively for him during the 2011 presidential election.

In the 2011 poll, Jonathan won clearly in the South-West, South-South, South-East and the North-Central.  He got at least 25 per cent of votes in many states in the far North (North-East and North-West).

Already, plans are underway to woo these regions by giving them more political appointments in the months ahead.

A top member of the Peoples Democratic Party, who preferred anonymity, said, “As part of moves to shore up support for the PDP and the president ahead of the 2015 poll, the party in the next few months will dwell on the weaknesses of the Action Congress of Nigeria’s governments  in the South-West.

“Also, attention will also be given to all federal roads in the zone. We have already started work on Apapa-Oshodi Road.”

PUNCH NEWSPAPER