Giant campaign posters, announcing President Goodluck Jonathan’s
readiness to contest the 2015 presidential election, greeted Nigerians in
Abuja, the nation’s capital, as they woke up to savour the dawn of the New
Year.
The all-glossy posters, which were strategically posted in the
high brow areas of the Federal Capital Territory, did not however indicate the
source or the sponsor of the advertisement.
The launch of the campaign materials contradicts the President’s
claim that he has not yet decided on the 2015 poll but concentrating effort on
transforming Nigeria in line with his manifesto to give the people a ‘fresh
air’.
It was not clear why the sponsors of the message decided to put it
out on the first day of the new year but a source familiar with the message
pointed out that it was to send a strong message to the opposition that
Jonathan was serious about contesting in 2015 and to test the reactions of the
Nigerians.
The campaign posters have been spread across the major areas of
ECOWAS, Peoples Democratic Party Secretariat in Wuse 5, and the Central
Business District, where major government offices are situated.
One of the posters, which had President Goodluck Jonathan’s
portrait read, 2015: No vacancy in Aso Rock. Let’s do more. One good term
deserves another. Support Dr. Goodluck Azikiwe Jonathan for 2015 Presidency.
Presidency disowns posters
When contacted the Political Adviser to the President, Alhaji
Ahmed Gulak disowned the posters saying that they did not emanate from the
presidency and that “the president has not authorised anybody to print any
campaign poster for him as regards 2015 elections”.
He declared that the president has been “pre-occupied with working
to fix Nigeria and did not want to be distracted by undue politicking about
2015”.
The presidential aide further said that the pasting of the posters
could be the work of mischief makers who want to deceive Nigerians.
Tags
Politics