Obasanjo is a Father to Me - Goodluck Jonathan

President Jonathan says despite former Pres. Obasanjo's recent verbal attacks on his administration, he still sees him as his father and his first Political son. GEJ said God used people, including the former president to make him become the President of Nigeria. President Jonathan said this in an interview with Tribune in Lagos

"First and foremost, Obasanjo is a father to me. By divine providence and the grace of God, I am the President of Nigeria today. It is not by my strength. But God uses human beings to actualise His own blessings on human beings. And He used so many Nigerians, including former President Obasanjo, to play one role or the other for me. I became the deputy governor of a state, became the governor, the vice president and president. I have no issues with him, and I really don’t want to join issues with President Obasanjo.

I think it is not necessary. But I will use this opportunity, because you asked, to just plead with my father that he is a leader, a former president of the country. He has led the country more than anybody, eight years of democratic governance and almost four years of military governance. No other person has that kind of record. The stability of this country is critical in terms of the economy of this country. Rating agencies downgrade countries that are going into elections because the feeling is that there would be crisis. When you paint the colour of instability for your own nation, you are doing so much injustice to the country because it affects the economy of the country, not just affecting the country in terms of security and social issues alone. It affects the economy directly. So, I plead with very senior citizens that Nigeria is dear to us; we don’t have any other country than Nigeria. So, actions and inactions, or utterances, should be guarded so that we don’t expose our country to the international community as if it is a country in danger, a country that is about to collapse. You are frightening investors, especially those who invest hot cash, to pull out their money from the country and that would affect the stock market and it would affect the economy. For one reason or the other, Obasanjo may disagree with me as his first political son. You can even disagree with your own biological children, as a human being, not to talk of disagreeing with your political children. So, he can agree or disagree with me, but the utterances have to be managed in a way that it does not affect the economy and security of this country"he said.

On how he felt watching Chief Obasanjo destroy his PDP membership card on the television, Jonathan said the incident had no effect on him because the attacks had been consistent.

Jonathan Fires Reno Omokri, Replaces Him With Obi Asika

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has kicked out his controversial social media point man, Reno Omokri and has replaced him with Obi Asika who takes over as the new senior special assistant on social media.

According to SaharaReporters, Mr. Jonathan move is seen as an apparent maneuver to re-energize his social media image following a growing slide in his electoral fortunes, as well as a series of scandals involving Reno. Until now, Reno Omokri ran the office, heading the President’s campaign social media team.

Article By Etcetra: Election Fever

The growing speculation that the elections might be postponed speaks volumes of someone’s election jitters. But who will it benefit most between Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) and President Goodluck Jonathan if the elections are postponed? The Independent National Electoral Commission had four years to prepare for February elections. How come it waited till the 11th hour to start distributing PVCs? Nawa ooo.

People should know that no amount of scheming and manoeuvring can stop Nigerians now. The much clamoured change must be achieved, especially now that the masses have become more politically conscious and every discuss around the country over the past few weeks has been centred on politics. Politicians who have been blinded to the plight of the people should realise that mere rhetoric won’t cut it for them anymore. Nigerians are demanding for a change. The people are not smiling anymore. Whether it is a new regime taking over or a return of the incumbent, whoever takes the seat better know that a better Nigeria is non negotiable anymore.


It is a shame it took us this long to realise the power we have as a people. But it will be the funeral of any politician who’s dumb not to realise that it won’t be business as usual and that their campaign for re-election is by providing the dividends of democracy from the very minute they are sworn into office. I guess if someone told President Jonathan that Buhari is going to have a huge support from the masses, he would have done more to secure his place for another term by providing the basic amenities demanded by the people. Getting re-elected shouldn’t be difficult for any public office holder who has the interest of the people at heart.

Elections are zero-sum affairs. The more the Nigerian people perceive the incumbent as successful the less likely they are to vote for the opposition in the next election. And delivering democratic dividends (not just on billboards or on pages of newspapers), undercuts the whole logic of the opposition’s campaign against any incumbent or the incumbent’s party’s continuation in office.

Is Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State the Director General of Buhari and Akin Ambode’s campaign group. As governor, he is the father of everyone in the state including Jimi Agbaje, Ambode and every other contestant. He shouldn’t be replying or throwing jabs at any contestant no matter the political parties they represent. With Agbaje’s tax issue, the governor should have directed the Lagos State Inland Revenue Service to look into the matter and if Agbaje is found wanting, he should be referred to INEC for appropriate sanctions.

Whoever is in charge of Ambode’s campaign team should be given a raise. A couple of weeks back, a lot of lagosians including myself didn’t know who Ambode is. In fact, I had to call friends in Alausa to inquire about him. But judging from the awareness his campaign has generated in just a few weeks, if the governorship election of Lagos State is decided by that, your guess is as good as mine.

Lagos State is officially looking like one big political photo album or the living room of a wall paper merchant. Every wall or fence in the state is covered with campaign posters of all sort. I thought Lagos State government placed a ban on pasting of posters in the state. Or is the ban meant for only entertainers? Well, now I guess those guys pasting those white tacky A4 size posters with “House-girl or Plumber needed” have gotten all the encouragement they need.

I think Buhari has attended more church services than many Christians in the past weeks. Is he not trying too hard to convince us that he is not a religious fanatic? At this age and time, we should be discouraging sentiments in politics. Using the church for political campaigns is not exactly doing that. One question is, is Buhari or Jonathan going to church to give their lives to Christ and be born again? Should the church be allowed for political campaigns? If a pastor chooses to hire out his church auditorium for campaigns, is the congregation supposed to be included as part of the deal? We attend church on Sundays to hear the unadulterated word of God and not to listen to manifesto recitals.


Did Buhari pull out of the presidential debate for the same reasons given by his party? Well, we are not buying all that gist. I think it is the soldier in Buhari that took that decision. Being a good soldier goes beyond matching to war. It is also knowing when to go to war and when to sit at home. Buhari’s decision was smart indeed and I would have done the same if I was in his position. As weird as it sounds, he doesn’t seem like someone who can beat Jonathan in a debate. I have already pictured Jonathan entering the debate with a confident grin on his face like a kid strolling to receive his report card in front of his parents, knowing he had come first in class. A debate between Jonathan and Buhari would have been like a boxing bout between Mike Tyson and Bash Ali. There’s only one outcome. TKO!

I Will Do Better in My Second Term - Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan while speaking to traditional rulers in Kogi state said he would do better if he gets a second term.

"Whatever we have done in the last four years, we believe that we will even do more in the next four years. Most governments all over the world do better in their second tenure. This is because the Presidents are more stable that time, especially in these two terms arrangement. They are more stable. They sit down and plan for the country and focus on key areas.” he said

Jonathan's Campaign Convoy Stoned in Yola?

This is a report being given by BBC

See The Massive Crowd That Came For Jonathan's Rally in Ondo

President Jonathan had his campaign in Akure today and this massive crowd turned up

You Can't Stop Me From Visiting Bayelsa - Patience Jonathan

It would be recalled that a group in Bayelsa has warned the first lady Patience Jonathan against visiting Bayelsa on the 5th of February for a PDP campaign.

President Jonathan Visits Mother of Late President Yar'Adua

President Jonathan paid a courtsey visit to the mother of the late president Umaru Musa Yar'Adua yesterday in Katsina. Another photo after the cut

Buhari and Jonathan Spotted Holding Hands

The president of Nigeria Goodluck Jonathan and his opponent in the forthcoming February elections were spotted holding hands and smiling at the 2015 election sensitization workshop on non-violence in Abuja this morning. This should at least let fanatics know that election is not a do or die affair, see the photo after the cut:

Buhari Visits Obasanjo At Home

Just a day after President Jonathan visited former president Olusegun Obasanjo, APC Presidential candidate Gen Buhari and other party leaders also visited him at his home in Ota, Ogun state. According to reports, here is what Obasanjo said to the group

President Jonathan Gives Orders Concerning Baga Killings

President Jonathan has given the National Security Adviser order to investigate the reported 2000 Nigerians killed in Baga by Boko Haram members last week.

The killings is reported as Boko Haram's deadliest attack ever and the findings of the NSA will be made known to the general public.