Fundraiser: CNPP Got It Wrong; Ciroma Is Anti Party - GEJ Campaign

ABUJA, Nov 01, (THEWILL) - The Goodluck/Sambo Presidential Campaign Organisation today said the position of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) is ‘patentlly mischievous’ following its claim that corporate Nigeria donated N500 million to the Jonathan campaign and that the 2011 general election will be highly monetized.

The campaign organization also chided Mallam Adamu Ciroma for his continued opposition to President Jonathan’s bid to clinch the PDP presidential ticket for the 2011 presidential election.

Director of Media and Publicity, Mr. Sully Abu in a statement said the fund raising dinner of last Friday, was done with the entire presidential campaign in view and not solely for the prosecution of the battle for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential ticket at the primary election.

Abu said that well-meaning Nigerians like Oba Otudeko, Aliko Dangote, Abdulsamad Rabiu, Jimoh Ibrahim, Femi Otedola and co., whom the CNPP tagged as “the motley crowd of Corporate Nigeria,” came to the fund raising dinner in their individual capacity and made some donations.

“The CNPP even deliberately misrepresented the fact when it claimed that these individuals raised N500 million; whereas, other persons, including a number of governors, made donations at the fund-raising”, Abu noted.

“But then, the fact they came was indicative of the appeal of the Goodluck/Sambo ticket. These prominent Nigerians share in our vision of a leadership that is committed to socio-political and economic transformation of Nigeria”, he emphasized. Abu said rather than concocting claims as well as figures that cannot be substantiated and making innuendoes that tend to disparage innocent entities, the CNPP should organize its fund raising dinner where it could get similar support.

“As a Campaign Organisation, we are confident with our programme to transform our country. The Goodluck/Sambo ticket is the most attractive option for Nigerians”, Abu said.

Ciroma's same old song

Mr. Sully Abu said Mallam Adamu Ciroma has continued to go against the PDP's decision that President Goodluck Jonathan was entitled to contest in 2011 presidential election and has also continued to disparage the Office of the President. He was reacting to the declaration by Ciroma that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would lose the 2011 presidential election because it jettisoned the zoning arrangement to allow President Goodluck Jonathan to contest for the ticket of the party.

Abu said that the party in its wisdom resolved to throw the race open in line with constitutional provisions and democratic tenets, pointing out “the party decision does not preclude anybody from exercising his or her rights to aspire for the highest position in the land.”

He noted that Ciroma has, on account of the party decision, continued the old song to disparage President Jonathan who has decided to exercise his rights under the constitution to jostle for the presidential ticket of his party.Unhappy about Ciroma’s position that the party would lose at the polls in the circumstance, Abu urged Ciroma to learn to be a good party man. Once a decision is taken, he should learn to live with it. Elder Statesmen are expected to be forces of peace and unity, not of discord and disunity.