2015 presidential race hots up Jonathan, Atiku, Kwankaso get endorsement

The race for Aso Rock in 2015 is revving up across the states even with no aspirant yet to formally declare his interest.

But endorsements are already rolling in for those eyeing the office.

 Thirty four members of the  Kano State House of Assembly, yesterday  endorsed  Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso for the race .

The assemblymen  and the governor are all of the All Progressives  Congress (APC).

President Goodluck Jonathan and former Vice president Atiku Abubakar were separately    endorsed  by two groups in the Southsouth –De Servants for Jonathan and South South Youth Forum for Atiku.

The Kano Assemblymen told reporters  in the city that  only a  “ resolute,  competent and detribalized leader” like Kwankwaso can deal with the  prevailing security challenge and other socio-political problems  in the country.

Alhaji Yusuf  Babangida Sulieman, Deputy Majority Leader of the Assembly, who spoke for his colleagues  said that  with the fast rate at which Nigeria is sinking,only a very capable hand can rescue it from total collapse.

According to them,the security of life and property, which ought to be the most cardinal responsibility of any government in power, has depreciated to a record low while  governance is  reeling under the weight of corruption.

They said that until Governor Kwankwaso took over the reins of power,the situation in the state was as bad as what  currently prevails  in the country at large.

The governor,they claimed has turned things around and sanity restored .

The assembly men also described General Muhammadu Buhari as another  good candidate  and pledged  that whoever the APC picks between them would enjoy their support.

De Servants in throwing its weight behind President Jonathan  were confident that he would soon come out to declare his re-election bid.

The group berated the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) for  giving President Jonathan an ultimatum to rescue the Chibok girls or forget his re-election in 2015.

 Leader of the group, Mr. Kime Engozu, said it was the responsibility of all Nigerians to fight insecurity in the country and asked the Northern elders to exhibit  the kind of  patriotism displayed by their Niger Delta counterparts when the region was ravaged by militancy.

He recalled that   Niger Delta elders moved into the creeks to resolve the problem and  succeeded in restoring  the peace to  the region.

He said the group’s  endorsement of Jonathan for a second term was to enable him  consolidate on his achievements  so far including the convening of the just concluded National Conference.

He said: “We  acknowledge the constitutional right of Mr. President to seek re-election and any other person with similar or other ambition to contest without intimidation.

“We resolve that having been satisfied with the monumental achievements of Jonathan, we have no option but to urge him to exercise his constitutional right to seek reelection into the exalted office of the President.

“Therefore, he should declare his ambition openly as soon as possible.”

The South-South Youth Forum said  Alhaji Atiku Abubakar fits the bill of

a qualified and experienced  candidate needed by Nigeria  in 2015.

Chairman of the committee, Mr. Benjamin Simialayi said: “after wide consultations and deliberations, former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar stood out amongst other candidates, based on his experience and wide network, major criteria that will better the lots of Nigerians.

“Atiku was unanimously adopted and endorsed by the Central Planning Committee and the state Co-ordinators. It was pertinent for the organization to set in motion its structures in the state, local governments and wards to mobilize support for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and other credible candidates in the next general elections.

He said the forum which is the largest youth political network in the South-south is a transformation network that has structures in all the cells, polling units, political wards local governments across the six states in the region.

“We are inaugurating our new central planning committee and state coordinators to drive and give the good people of the South-south region a direction to bring in new generational leadership,” he said.