It is no more news that the Northern League of Professionals, NLP, yesterday, threw its weight behind Jonathan, saying the former President would be the best option to consolidate Nigeria’s democracy and advance the course of development for the country come 2023 but a close ally of the former President told Vanguard in confidence that the North is deceiving Jonathan to contest.
The PDP leader, from the South said: “He would be under pressure to run but the truth of the matter is that it is to the advantage of the North.
“They (North) are deceiving him to run for only four years. The minimum term any Nigerian can run is eight years. He has done six years and they (North) are asking him to do one term; the moment he is two years in office, he will be dragged to the Supreme Court and they (North) own the Supreme Court.
“By the time the Supreme Court rules, he would be ousted and his Vice will be asked to be the substantive president. So, he should not allow himself to be deceived. He has to be careful.”
Spokesperson of the APC in Ogun State, Mr. Tunde Oladunjoye said Jonathan is free to contest because “it is his personal decision.”
On him joining the APC, Oladunjoye said: “I cannot speak on behalf of the party at the national level because with the calibre of the former president, he will be admitted first at the national level before going to his ward to register.
“Article Nine of the APC Constitution states that ‘membership of the party shall be open to any citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who has attained the age of 18 years and who accepts the aims and objectives of the party, provided that such a person is not a member of any other political party or any organisation whose policies and programmes are inconsistent with those of the party.’”
