I’ll still challenge Jonathan for PDP ticket –Tafawa-Balewa

Dr. Abdul-Jhalil Tafawa-Balewa, who is a son of the late Prime
-Minister of Nigeria, Tafawa Balewa, has promised to challenge
President Goodluck Jonathan for the presidential ticket of the Peoples
Democratic Party.
The aspirant spoke with journalists in Abuja on Friday when he
returned his presidential nomination and expression of interest forms
to the office of the National Organising Secretary of the party,
Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha.
He said he had filled the forms and was sure of defeating President
Jonathan, adding that the President had refused to do some basic
things needed to benefit the lives of ordinary Nigerians.
Apart from him, another aspirant who showed interest in the race
against the President was Prof. Akasoba Duke-Abiola.
They were initially turned back by the party's leadership, who claimed
that the only presidential form it printed was meant for President
Jonathan.
However, Prof. Duke-Abiola was yet to be sold the form, even though
she had also paid for them. But she had filed a suit to challenge the
decision of the party for its refusal to sell the form to her.
Speaking on his aspiration, Tafawa-Balewa said it was true that he
visited the home of a foremost Ijaw Leader, Chief Edwin Clark in Abuja
on November 6, where he claimed he was stepping down for the
President.
He nevertheless claimed that he didn't know that journalists had been
planted in the house and that he was not there to speak with the
journalists.
Tafawa -Balewa said that it was because of the respect he had for the
former minister of information that made him to concur with all he
said concerning his alleged withdrawing from the race for the
President.
He said, "I'm here to submit my form for the presidential race. Did I
ever tell anyone that I have withdrawn from the race? I went to the
house of Clark for another thing and he said another thing during his
press conference. It was Clark who said I was withdrawing. We need a
change as too many people are suffering and are in poverty."