FOLLOWING PRESIDENT JONATHAN’S FORMAL DECLARATION – TURAKI VANGUARD COMMISSION’S LEGAL TEAM COMPRISING TEN SENIOR ADVOCATES OF NIGERIA (SAN) TO SAVE THE COUNTRY FROM THE DANGERS POSED BY THIS ACTION

It's no longer news that President Goodluck Ebelechukwu Jonathan on

Saturday 18th September 2010 in Abuja the Nation's Capital declared

formally his intention to run for the office of President at the 2011

polls. This act was done contrary to the expectations of many who thought

that such a step would not be taken considering its implication for the

Nation's nascent democracy especially following the pleas and submissions

from various groups to him and his handlers on the danger it would

portend.
In the light of this development the NWC of Turaki Vanguard on 19th

September at their National Secretariat, Abuja formally met with its legal

team comprising ten SANs saddled with the responsibility of studying the

relevant constitutional provisions of the Nation's constitution and that

of the PDP that would serve the purpose of bringing this misadventure to

an end.
Briefing the Legal Team, Chief Oladimeji Fabiyi, National Coordinator of

Turaki Vanguard who briefed the Senior Advocates on the dangers inherent

by the illegal declaration stated thus “What we are trying to achieve is

to prove that no Nigerian can just wake up one day to dishonor or annul a

gentleman agreement aimed at keeping the nation intact and united no

matter how powerful or desperate such a person may be to rule this

country. Let it be clear to all and sundry that we as a movement have

nothing against President Jonathan as a person but for him to have

succumbed to the pressure by some self serving politicians devoid of

principles and decorum to put our country on the edge by taking a step

capable of endangering the unity of the nation, it is our duty imposed on

us by the Almighty God and the underprivileged masses to save our country

from ruin. For avoidance of doubt let it be on record that this step has

nothing to do with the candidature of Atiku Abubakar or any of the other

aspirants because Nigeria as a nation is bigger than any individual but

rather must be seen in the light of a patriotic step for the love of our

country.
He thanked the SANs who volunteered their services for this purpose for

their patriotic zeal and assured them of the utmost confidentiality to

ensure their safety and security in the course of this exercise. The

National Coordinator further stated that should Jonathan for any reason

clinch the PDP ticket and the court rules after the primaries that he is

not a candidate for the election then it simply means that PDP will not

have a candidate for the 2011 Presidential election as it will be too late

to field any other candidate considering the INEC tight schedules. It is

left therefore he stated “to the PDP leadership as advised by some

Northern elders in their letter to stop Jonathan formally from contesting

the party's primaries or the PDP's delegates to ensure that he is voted

out during the primaries or else we will ensure that the court rules that

he is not a candidate for the 2011 election under the platform of PDP. The

fact remains that President Jonathan is free to contest the 2011 general

election according to the constitution under any other political party but

not under the PDP umbrella that has zoning as its main driving force.

For the jamboree in Abuja by the weekend during the President's

declaration which to us was a befitting send off party to our brother and

friend President Jonathan praying that he will learn something about the

politics showcased by most of the Governors in attendance and take the

honourable step and save his integrity before it becomes irreparable.

The NWC of Turaki Vanguard finally condemned equivocally the statement

credited to Abba Aji the legislative Adviser to late President Yar'Adua

and the incumbent President Jonathan that Jonathan can contest the 2011

election as it is a continuation of Yar'dua/Jonathan ticket. It is sad

such a fellow with a seemingly low IQ should be allowed as Adviser to the

President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He has been quoted as saying

that Atiku and IBB's presidential ambition will supposedly shortchange the

north. We are however of the opinion, that his premise that should

Jonathan rule for four years, by 2015 power will return to the north is a

pointer to the fact that not only is he delusional but also his

calculation which shortchanges the North also exposes his political

naivety. All aspirants from the north have stated their commitment to one

term tenure of 4years, which is accordance to the zoning provision in the

PDP constitution.
The Legal Team promised to expedite action on their report ahead of the

primaries to ensure that the zoning agreement be honoured.

Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze
National Director,
Directorate of Media & Public Affairs of Turaki Vanguard

20-09- 2010