President maintains coy stance on re-election bid

President Goodluck Jonathan

Abuja - President Goodluck Jonathan has again declined to declare his intention to contest next year’s Presidential election.

It was expected that the President would make his intentions known during the Presidential Media chat he hosted late on Monday.

“I am the sitting President, if I tell Nigerians today I am not contesting there would be issues and if I said I am contesting there would be issues. So let leave the issue. The political atmosphere in the country is already tense enough,” a non-committal Jonathan said.


Even if today I am not contesting election, I will make sure I lead my party to victory, Jonathan says."

Meanwhile, the Ijaw ethnic nationality recently called on Jonathan to declare for 2015 Presidential election, saying it was his legal right to do so.

The Acting President of Ijaw National Congress (INC) Ebieridei Charles Ambaiowei made the remarks at the 2014 Ijaw Day celebration in Yenagoa.

He urged other ethnic nationalities to join forces with the Ijaws to persuade Jonathan to heed the call to seek re-election.

“Under r the auspices of this Ijaw day activity, we appeal to our sister ethnic nationalities to join us make a definitive declaration requesting President Jonathan to recontest in 2015 since it is his constitutional right.”

He said although the election of President Jonathan had helped to elevate the status of the Ijaws in the socio-political equation in Nigeria, it would be out of place for the Ijaws to be “content with just that.”

“It is true federalism we desire and seek to enthrone in Nigeria.”

9jawedey

9jawedey