2015: Jonathan disowns campaign posters

From JULIANA TAIWO-OBALONYE, Abuja.

President Goodluck Jonathan has distanced himself from the campaign posters declaring his interest for the 2015 elections that flooded Abuja in the early hours of New Year Day.

He described those behind the posters as people “doing their own thing” and not acting as his agents.

The campaign posters, announcing Jonathan’s readiness to contest in 2015, greeted Nigerians in Abuja, at the dawn of the New Year.

The all-glossy posters, which were strategically posted in highbrow areas of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), did not, however, indicate the source or the sponsor of the advertisement.

The launch of the campaign posters contradicts the President’s claim that he has not yet decided on the 2015 poll, but concentrating his efforts on transforming Nigeria in line with the manifesto to give the people a ‘fresh air’.

The posters appeared across the major areas of ECOWAS Secretariat in Asokoro, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Secretariat in Wuse 5, and the Central Business District, where major offices are situated.

One of the posters, which had the President’s portrait, reads: “2015: No vacancy in Aso Rock.” “Let’s do more.” One good term deserves another. “Support Dr. Goodluck Azikiwe Jonathan for 2015 Presidency.”

But the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, told State House reporters said that the President is focused on delivering on his mandate for Nigerians and would not be distracted by the politics of 2015.

According to Abati: ‘Those pasting the posters are trying to express their own view.

“The President had stated that he would talk about the presidency from 2014.

“Those doing these do not have the consent of the President.

“What is most important now is for the President to deliver on his electioneering promise to Nigerians and not to embark on the pasting of posters.

“It has not come from the President.

“Nigerians should take the President for his word and ignore any other information to the contrary.”

The presidential spokesman stressed that Jonathan “has not launched any campaign.

“He believes that those doing that are playing games.

“There is no reason for the President to engage in any form of scaremongering.

“He has said that by 2014, his position on the 2015 presidential race would be made public.

“Nigerians should wait till then.”

On whether the President would dissuade those behind the posters to stop, Abati said: “Since the posters do not have the names of those promoting it, there is little the President can do.

“We do not know those behind the posters so the President cannot do anything.

“Our appeal is that those behind this should allow the President concentrate on the job at hand.

“The President’s main pre-occupation now is to continue to provide service and quality leadership.”