Nigeria Content Online

The presidential ambition of Goodluck
Jonathan for the 2011 elections has received a boost from the National
Reformation Party (NRP) led by Anthony Enahoro, which said the need for
a renewed obligation to nation-building and his constitutional right
empowered him to contest.

In a communiqué issued and signed by
Soni Chukwumah at the end of its National Working Committee (NWC)
meeting in Benin City, the NRP said it foresaw a glimmer of hope in
President Jonathan’s personal conduct and devoted approach so far
exhibited in critical sectors of energy and power generation, as well
as his restated global commitment to conduct free, fair and credible
elections in our country in 2011.

The party recalled that its foundation
was based on the desire of patriots drawn from all parts of Nigeria and
the diaspora to arouse reforms that would transform the country into a
modern nation-state as envisioned by the founding nationalists.

“To this end, it affirmed its position
that parliamentary federalism was the driving force for the growth of
critical regional sectors that came before unitary system was imposed
on the country to the country’s collective disadvantage till date,” the
party said.

The meeting, which was presided over by
Mr Enahoro, said any patriotic leadership with practical commitment to
advancing the course of true federalism and welfare of Nigerians would
bring fulfilment to Mr Enahoro’s lifetime persuasions.

Jonathan versus Babangida

Meanwhile, political tension is
building in Edo State, as supporters of Mr Jonathan and those of former
military president, Ibrahim Babangida trade words over the suitability
of their candidates for office.

Former Deputy President of the Senate,
Albert Legogie, had last Monday in Benin City, declared that Mr
Babangida was the best candidate of the PDP owing to his experience and
numerous achievements while he was military president of the country.

But the immediate past deputy governor
of the state and coordinator of the President Goodluck Jonathan
campaign in Edo State, Lucky Imasuen, described the claim as laughable.

“They are supporters of IBB; therefore, they have the right to
support him anyway. But Nigerians are very civilized now. IBB is a
great man, and he was president of this nation for eight years. But the
question is what else he wants to achieve for the nation. I read
Legogie saying that IBB helped in laying foundation for the nation’s
democracy, but I remember that this same man singlehandedly annulled
the freest and fairest election in this country,” Mr Imasuen said.