Goodluck Jonathan begins 2015 reelection campaign

President Goodluck Jonathan has kicked off the campaign for his 2015 reelection bid subtly despite his claims that he has not declared his ambition. Indications to this effect emerged on Saturday at the South-West sensitisation rally organised by the Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos.

Although the President who attended the rally with members of his cabinet, PDP governors and national leaders of the party, said it was not a political campaign, he used the platform to make a strong case for his reelection come 2015, even as he stressed the achievements of his administration.

While Jonathan was cheered on by the crowd, Vice-President Namadi Sambo, the PDP National Chairman, Adamu Mu'azu and other top members of the party told the crowd the President deserved a second term.

In his speech, the President who was adopted as PDP's 2015 presidential candidate, thanked the leadership of the party for choosing him as its candidate.

Adding that he had the right to refuse the offer, Jonathan said the decision to endorse him for the 2015 presidency was made by the party and that no member of the PDP could dictate who became what in the party.

He said, "I also have the right of refusal and I thank the party for giving me the opportunity. The idea of the rally is for us to come together; for us to see our faces and for us to dance and clap together, so that we will know that we all belong to one political party; the largest political party in Africa."

At the Lagos rally, President Jonathan reeled out his achievements. He said he had established a Presidential Jobs Board and that the board would " create three million jobs in the next one year. That means in a few years, we would solve the problem of unemployment."

The President also scored his government high on the provision of infrastructure, as well as construction and rehabilitation of roads and railways.

He said his government had created opportunities for Nigerians to participate in the oil sector more than ever before.

He also thanked the leaders of the PDP in the South-West for winning Ekiti State governorship election, saying the party was working hard to win in all states in the zone.

Speaking at the event, Mu'azu said all members of the party were committed to Jonathan's second term bid and that it was a reward for the President's "achievements in the first term."

In the same vein, Vice-President Sambo, said the South-West, and Lagos State in particular, had benefitted a lot from the present administration in terms of infrastructural development.

He urged the people of the zone to support Jonathan in 2015 as they supported him in 2011.

Meanwhile The opposition All Progressives Congress however expressed its disapproval of the event.

The National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Lai Mohammed, said, "Whatever name that rally was held under, one thing is clear; it is a campaign. It is a violation of our electoral rules.

"And when you see a President becoming the chief law-breaker in a country, you cannot start talking about the rule of law in that country.

"It is unfortunate that the INEC has not got the courage to check this illegality. With what has happened, I don't see how we can then sanction any other party that does a similar thing.

"It is a pity because this President has no respect for any laws. And his desire for re-election has blinded him to all other things. It is unfortunate."

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