FRIENDS OF JONATHAN EMERGE, ASK HIM TO CONTEST IN 2011

In what looked like a recap of the General Sani Abacha days when a group mnamed Youths Earnestly Ask for Abacha stormed the scene, organizing rallies and calling for the late head of state to succeed himself, some groups seem to be emerging in favour of Presient Goodluck Jonathan.

One of such group is the Friends of Goodluck Jonathan in Nigeria, which has come out publicly to ask Jonathan to contest the 2011 presidential election, because he deserves to participate in the contest as a bona fide Nigerian

Speaking to journalists shortly after its general meeting held at Le Meridien Hotel and Golf Resort, Uyo the Akwa Ibom State capital, the National President of the organization, Mr. Nseobong Umanah said the group was satisfied with the performance of President Jonathan since assumption of office; hence he should contest the 2011 presidential election.

Mr. Umanah said the group is a socio-cultural organization formed to promote good governance and sustainable democratic culture for Nigeria at all levels by encouraging purposeful leadership and true citizenship as well as greater sense of participation in all aspects of national life.

The national president who said the motto of the organization is transparency, democracy, peace and unity, maintained that if elected in 2011 as President Goodluck Jonathan would exploit God's divine anointing grace to liberate the Niger Delta and South South people out of second class citizenship.

According to Umanah the group is very sure of Jonathan's dynamism and quality performance and about 21 state caucuses of the organization have been inaugurated to rally support for Jonathan, whose membership span former chairmen of local government councils, national assembly members, commissioners, senators and top politicians.

Based on Goodluck Jonathan's performance in office, Umanah noted that the group had joined other men and women of goodwill to pray for his grand success on the saddle of leadership.

The Akwa Ibom State coordinator of Friends of Goodluck Jonathan in Nigeria Mr., Cosmas Akpan said the organization is gender friendly having visited other states and seen the level of patriotism in those states.

Friends of Goodluck Jonathan appear to be the only group which has so far come out publicly to urge him to run the next presidential race. Others have been speaking tongue-in-cheek; while other prefer to wait and see as the struggle continues.

But are they real friends of Jonathan's or those seeking to be friends, after all, as they say, success has friends.