NIGERIA: President leader Goodluck Jonathan launches his re-election campaign at a rally in the capital
Record ID:
234586
NIGERIA: President leader Goodluck Jonathan launches his re-election campaign at a rally in the capital
- Title: NIGERIA: President leader Goodluck Jonathan launches his re-election campaign at a rally in the capital
- Date: 19th September 2010
- Summary: ABUJA, NIGERIA (SEPTEMBER 18, 2010) (REUTERS) NIGERIAN PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN ACCOMPANIED BY HIS WIFE, PATIENT JONATHAN AND VICE PRESIDENT, NAMAN SAMBO, DANCING / WAVING TO SUPPORTERS SUPPORTERS CHEERING JONATHAN, HIS WIFE AND SAMBO DANCING AND WAVING TO SUPPORTERS CAMPAIGN POSTER READING (IN PIDGIN ENGLISH): "WHO WILL LEAVE GOODLUCK AND CHOOSE BAD LUCK" (SOUNDBITE) (English) NIGERIAN PRESIDENT, GOODLUCK JONATHAN, SAYING: "In the circumstances and after a thorough (inaudible) and prayer session with my family, I Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, I've decided to humbly affirm myself as a candidate in the presidential primaries of our great party the PDP." WIDE OF PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (English) NIGERIAN PRESIDENT, GOODLUCK JONATHAN, SAYING: "I have come to launch the campaign of ideas, not one of accomplice, I have come to preach love not hate, I have come to break you away from divisive tendencies of the past, which have stopped our drive to true nationhood. I have no enemies to fight, you are all my friends and we share a common destiny." CROWDS HOLDING PLACARDS FOR GOODLUCK JONATHAN VARIOUS OF SUPPORTERS ATTENDING RALLY (SOUNDBITE) (English) NIGERIAN PRESIDENT, GOODLUCK JONATHAN, SAYING: "Let all kidnappers, criminal elements and miscreants at giving us a bad name be ready for a fight that I shall give them. Let all Nigerians be assured that President Jonathan will have zero tolerance for corruption. Let the international community hear that today, I have offered myself to lead a country that will engage them with mutual respect and co-operation for the benefit of our people and achieve international peace and stability." VARIOUS OF SUPPORTERS ATTENDING RALLY JONATHAN AND WIFE DANCING WAVING AS THEY LEAVE PODIUM VARIOUS OF RALLY
- Embargoed: 4th October 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Nigeria
- Country: Nigeria
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA9UNEGAYHJMN7515TQNZAR7R9N
- Story Text: Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan showed the power of incumbency on Saturday (September 18), mustering the support of more than two thirds of powerful state governors for the launch of his re-election campaign.
Thousands of supporters gathered in Abuja's central Eagle Square to hear Jonathan proclaim his candidacy for the January election, shaping up to be the most fiercely contested since the end of military rule.
"I Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, I've decided to humbly affirm myself as a candidate in the presidential primaries of our great party the PDP, " Jonathan told supporters.
The election bid by Jonathan, from the oil-producing Niger Delta in the south, faces resistance from some parts of the north as it breaks an unwritten agreement that power should rotate between the country's main regions every two terms.
But analysts predicted Jonathan would only announce his candidacy if he was sure of winning enough support from within the ruling party. Saturday's rally seemed to demonstrate he had built up that confidence over recent weeks.
"I have come to launch the campaign of ideas, not one of accomplice, I have come to preach love not hate, I have come to break you away from divisive tendencies of the past, which have stopped our drive to true nationhood. I have no enemies to fight, you are all my friends and we share a common destiny," said Jonathan.
Jonathan inherited the presidency when president Umaru Yar'Adua, a northerner, died this year during his first term, and some powerbrokers in the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) have said the next leader must be a northerner.
Key to Jonathan's fortunes at the mid-October primaries will be the state governors, who form a powerful caucus within the PDP. Twenty-six of the country's 36 governors, including several northerners, spoke at Jonathan's rally in support of his bid.
But three of them were also at the Eagle Square parade ground on Wednesday (September 15) when former military ruler Ibrahim Babangida launched his rival election campaign.
Analysts say Jonathan is the front-runner but Northern rivals might hope to deny him more than 50 percent of delegates and take the primary to a run-off, and as things stand that would be quite an achievement.
Jonathan told his supporters he would bring law and order and integrity to Nigeria which has suffered set back due to rampant kidnapping and corruption within the police force.
"Let all kidnappers, criminal elements and miscreants at giving us a bad name be ready for a fight that I shall give them. Let all Nigerians be assured that President Jonathan will have zero tolerance for corruption," he said.
"Let the international community hear that today, I have offered myself to lead a country that will engage them with mutual respect and co-operation for the benefit of our people and achieve international peace and stability," he added.
The PDP nominee has won all three presidential races since the end of military rule in 1999, making the outcome of past elections a foregone conclusion and bringing Africa's most populous nation close to being a one-party state. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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