Saraki hails postponement of PDP primaries
By Henry Umoru
ABUJA—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, said that the May 29, 2011 handover date to a new democratically elected government was sacrosanct, just as he stressed that he and the people of Nigeria would not compromise the date.

President Jonathan also challenged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Governor Bukola Saraki of Kwara State and others vying for the 2011 Presidential election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to run issues-based campaign rather than what he described as “attacking personalities”.

He spoke as Bukola Saraki hailed the PDP hierarchy’s indefinite postponement of the party’s congresses and primaries, saying it would make room for better elections.

Adams Oshiomhole’s threat

In two separate statements signed by the Director, Media and Publicity, Jonathan/Sambo Campaign Organization, Mr. Sully Abu, the campaign organization noted with dismay, threat by the Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, to stage a protest against the Federal Government if the May 29 handover date was tampered with.

Abu said: “We are taken aback by the largely speculative statements by Oshiomhole and the impression created that the request for more time by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, was masterminded by the Federal Government.

“We condemn the attempt by Oshiomhole to tar the President and the PDP-led Federal Government with the brush of complicity in the call for polls shift by the electoral body.

The majority of registered political parties, including Governor Oshiomole’s Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, are in favour of a shift in date to allow INEC more time to deliver on its promise of a free and fair election in 2011.

“Much as we believe in the capacity of INEC to deliver on credible elections, at all levels, we urge Governor Oshiomole to desist from playing politics with serious issues. Following the request by INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, the President had ordered the release of the N87 billion requested by INEC; he has also signed the amended Electoral Act 2010, despite some reservations.

“How else could the government have demonstrated good faith? Oshiomole’s attempt to insinuate ulterior motives in the present circumstance is simply preposterous.”

Issue based campaign

On issue-based campaign ahead of the party’s primaries, the Jonathan/Sambo Campaign Organization said the statement by Atiku Abubakar that President Jonathan was polarizing the country and that of Saraki that last Saturday’s declaration was witnessed by a rented crowd were not correct.

Abu said: “We call on all aspirants in the PDP to follow President Jonathan’s great example by running a campaign based on issues, on what they have to offer Nigerians to pull them out of the grip of poverty and underdevelopment rather than resort to throwing mud. Such old-style politics which has not got the country anywhere should not be the forte of political aspirants who want to be taken seriously.”

He noted that Jonathan’s opponents “were obviously taken aback by the degree of the sophistication and organization displayed in the massive turnout at his hitch-free Eagle Square declaration rally and by his message which has resonated exceptionally well across the land.”

Describing Saraki’s outburst that the President rented the crowd as a case of sour grapes, Abu said that with the actions of Saraki, he was that person who should not be taken seriously.

He added: “Saraki preaches zoning at the centre when it suits him, but obviously not in Kwara where the business of governance has been turned into a family affair. If nothing else, presidential candidates should be more principled.”

Saraki hails INEC

Spokesperson for Saraki campaign office in Abuja welcomed the decision by the PDP to postpone the primaries and the likely change to the election time table.

In a statement made available to newsmen and posted on Saraki’s campaign website www.voteabs.com, Media Campaign Director, Garba Deen Mohammed, stated that the development would allow for credibility and transparency in the electoral process and a much more informed choice for the voters in general.

He further asserted that this gives the candidates more opportunity to present their programmes to the stakeholders and emphasized that this election after all represents a positive turning point in our electoral process.

“The Saraki campaign office further appreciates the complexities involved in arriving at this decision and called on all stakeholders to use this as an opportunity to bring a new generation of energetic leadership to Nigeria,” he added.