The Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje faction of the
ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
yesterday reminded President Goodluck
Jonathan of his alleged statement made in
Ankara, Turkey two years ago that he would
not go for a second term. Baraje, therefore,
advised the President to shelve his plan to run
in 2015.
Baraje quoted the President as speaking to
Nigerian professionals and diplomats working
in the United Nations Economic Commission
for Africa (UNECA) and the African Union (AU)
in Turkey then.
Alhaji Baraje’s warning was the highlight of his
reaction to our report yesterday in which
President Jonathan addressed Nigerian
professionals in New York, United States on
Sunday. The President said the constitution
allows him two terms of eight years.
According to Jonathan, “ already, we have a
constitution that makes provision for a
maximum of eight years for anyone who wants
to become a president or a governor.”
But Baraje in a statement yesterday expressed
concern over Jonathan’s declaration as he
claimed that his ambition could precipitate
chaos and ultimately, the disintegration of
Nigeria.
“As a patriotic group that cares about the
present and future of our great country and
which wants President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan
to succeed, the Abubakar Kawu Baraje-led
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after reviewing
the state of the nation and the pulse of
Nigerians, wishes to advise President Jonathan
to abandon his plan to seek re-election in
2015 as this ambition is not in the best
interest of the country,” he said.
Though he has yet to categorically declare his
intention to run, President Jonathan has given
enough clue that he is working towards doing
so. The latest of such clues came last Sunday in
New York.
“We are worried that Mr. President is intent on
running despite his earlier promise not to do
so and in spite of the wise counsel of well-
meaning Nigerians, including respected elder
statesmen,” he said
Baraje also claimed that Sunday’s declaration
by the President was a volte face as he claimed
that the latter had in 2011 committed himself
to one term.
“In February, 2011 while interacting with
Nigerians and diplomats working in the United
Nations Economic Commission for Africa
(UNECA) and the African Union (AU) in Ankara,
Turkey, President Jonathan clearly stated: “I
would have loved that the Nigerians in
Diaspora vote this year (2011) but to be frank
with you, that is going to be difficult now.
“Presently, the law does not allow voting
outside Nigeria and so, this year, Nigerians in
Diaspora will not vote but I will work towards
it by 2015 even though I will not be running
for election.
“Four years is enough for anyone in power to
make significant improvement and if I can’t
improve on power within this period, it then
means I cannot do anything even if I am there
for the next four years,” Baraje quoted the
President as saying.
But taking on the President, the PDP faction
boss said: “This is a historical fact which Mr.
President himself cannot deny now since he
had two years to deny that statement but never
did so. How does Mr. President want Nigerians
and the entire world to see him for this volte
face? Why can’t he not keep his words as a
man of honour instead of allowing himself to
be misled by selfish advisers to go back on his
words, thereby overheating the polity?
“Mr. President should heed the advice of well-
meaning distinguished personalities such as
constitution expert, Prof. Ben Nwabueze (SAN)
and Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic
Archdiocese of Lagos, His Eminence, Anthony
Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie, all of whom have
advised him to correctly read the handwriting
on the wall and stay away from the 2015
presidential race.
“By 2015, President Jonathan would have
served our nation for six solid years. This,
surely, is enough time for him to achieve
whatever he is capable of doing for Nigeria.
What else is he looking for that is making him
desperate to participate in 2015 presidential
election despite warnings that doing so may
spark a chain of events capable of culminating
into the country’s disintegration, thereby
bringing to pass, the predictions of Lord
Lugard that Nigeria as a nation by 2014 may
be history, which was later confirmed by the
USA Think-Tank that Nigeria may disintegrate
by 2015,” Baraje said.
The factional PDP national chairman said that
the 2015 aspiration of the sitting President
was against the provisions of 1999
Constitution.
“Apart from all these, should President
Jonathan contest and win by 2015, it means he
would have spent 10 years in office and will be
sworn in three times as the President of
Nigeria against the provisions of the country’s
constitution.
“We wish to appeal to Mr. President to
abandon this ill-advised move and save our
nation from catastrophe.God has been
merciful to you, Mr. President, lifting you
from being a university teacher to President of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria in so short a
time is something you should be grateful and
be contented with.
“We urge you Mr. President to listen to the
voice of reason and avoid overstretching your
good luck. A word is enough for the wise!”, he
advised.
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to succeed, the Abubakar Kawu Baraje-led
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after reviewing
the state of the nation and the pulse of
Nigerians, wishes to advise President Jonathan
to abandon his plan to seek re-election in
2015 as this ambition is not in the best
interest of the country,” he said.

Baraje review my pulse? I can't remember that happening, wonders will never end.

Baraje! Pls stop making noise. U ar disturbing our peace. can't we hear word? U can only stop gej by constitution and by vote from contestin 2015 general election

una go settle, wetin concern ordinary citizens 4 una matter? our own n my own be say make God give us better leader no be juz good one oh i mean better one. God bless 9ja n its gud people

Ignorant cowards! Stop boring us with all this pleas. GEJ will contest because we're in a democracy. Whether he wins or loses will depend on how convinced we are that he is inefficient and you're better. So far, comments of all the new PDP folks make them look ugly and not anywhr close to GEJ's decency. Shameless brats!

What are these people afraid of? It's obvious they won't win thats why they resort to blackmail