Jonathan Finally Declares for Presidency, Appoints Haliru Declaration Committee Chairman

President Goodluck Jonathan has finally laid to rest the secrecy concerning his interest to contest for the 2015 presidential with a declaration to chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), that he will indeed run, Aso Rock sources have disclosed.

It was gathered that the president made the declaration on Thursday at  a meeting  in  House 7 of the Presidential Villa which he  presided over.

Until today, Jonathan who has just one week to declare his presidential ambition following the October 30 deadline fixed by the leadership of the PDP for all aspirants to obtain their nomination forms has remained silent on whether or not he will contest.

The PDP rose from its National Working Committee (NWC), meeting yesterday stating that all aspirants to elective offices in 2015 from the party, including President Goodluck Jonathan, must purchase their forms of intent latest by October 30.

The party said that all aspirants, including those angling to become the President, governors, senators and others, must show interest in the race by purchasing forms before they could stand for election or the party’s primaries.

Already, Jonathan is working towards a formal declaration .During Thursday’s meeting,  a couple of  decisions  were reached and committees were set up to actualize the president’s formal declaration.

Insiders said  the Presidential Declaration Committee  has Dr. Bello Halliru Mohammed  from Kebbi state  ?as Chairman; Sen. Ken Namani from Enugu will serve as Deputy Chairman .Others are Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim (Secretary), Ebonyi; Prof. Rufa’i Ahmed Alkali (member), Gombe;Julius Imagwe – SSA – Youth – (member), Edo and  Dr. Baraka Sani (SSA -NSAP) – Kano, (member).

The list of Governors  representing zones working towards the president’s formal declaration include: Liyel Imoke, Cross River (South South), Theodore Orji, Abia (South East), Olusegun Mimiko, Ondo (South West), Dr. Mua’zu Babangida Aliyu Niger (North Central), Ibrahim Shema, Katsina (North West) and Ibrahim Dankwambo, Gombe (North East).

Representatives of the  National Assembly include  Sen. Hosea Agbola , (Oyo), Sen. Ahmed Makarfi (Kaduna), Hon. Bitrus Kaze (Plateau) and Hon. Salmas Badru (Ogun).

Sources further said that Federal Executive Council shall also be represented in the committee by  Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Dieziani Allison-Madueke ?(Bayelsa), Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Abduljelili Adesiyan (Osun), Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Zainab Maina (Adamawa), Minister of Federal Capital Territory and Sen. Bala Mohammed (Bauchi).

PDP’s official representatives in the committee include  Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus? (Rivers), Benue State Chapter Chairman, Chief Emmanuel Egbo, (Benue) National Women Leader,  Kema Chikwe (Imo) and North West Zonal Chairman, Amb. Ibrahim Kazaure (Jigawa).

Party members  also  have their represenatives namely  Sen. Stella Umo (Delta), Sen. Walid Jibirn (BOT Secretary, (Nasarawa), Ibrahim Bunu (Borno), Rev. Jolly Nyame (Taraba), Sen. Aneta Okon (Akwa Ibom), Peter Obi (Anambra), Mrs. Remi Adiuku Bakare (Lagos), and Gen. A. B. Mamman (PDP National Youth Leader) – FCT.

Sources said the president also appointed  other  people into the committee on his discretion. This category includes Barr. Halima Alfa (Kogi), Nigeria Ambassador to Netherland, Dr. (Mrs.) Nimota Nihinlola Akanbi (Kwara), FCT ALGON Chairman, Hon. Micah Yohanna Jiba ?(FCT) and Hon. Sam Ikon (Akwa Ibom).

Insiders gave a summary of members representing the zones in the committee thus: south south (6), south east (5), south west (5), FCT (1), North West (5), North East (6) and North Central (6).

President Jonathan is not expected to face any opposition within his party as all the stakeholders within  have endorsed him long before his formal declaration.

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