JONATHAN’S CAMPAIGN TEAM READY •AMINU WALI MAY EMERGE CAMPAIGN DG

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THE campaign structure of President Goodluck Jonathan for the 2015 presidential election is said to have been composed, following the conclusion in the president’s camp on the re-election bid.

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Sources in the administration confirmed to the Nigerian Tribune that a serving minister had been pencilled in as the director-general of the campaign team.
Though the president was said to have intensified consultations at the weekend, sources said it was certain that Jonathan would contest the 2015 election.
Sources confirmed that the presidential campaign would be anchored on consolidation of the achievements so far recorded by the administration.
It was gathered that the presidential team had concluded that he needed to continue in office beyond 2015, so as to consolidate his achievements.
It was also gathered that the team had reviewed series of cases being sponsored against Jonathan in a bid to stop his ambition and concluded that he was entitled to two terms of eight years.
“The fact that he was sworn in 2010 does not amount to having been elected twice. The constitution says you must have been elected twice into the office of president or governor to be ineligible to contest again. He has only been elected once,” a source said.
It was gathered that the slot of the director-general of the campaign had, once again, been ceded to the North-West, with Ambassador Aminu Wali being touted for the position.
Sources, however, said the president was not in a hurry to declare his re-election plan, in order not to obstruct the national conference which kicks off on March 17.
It was also learnt that Vice President Namadi Sambo had survived the plot to replace him, following peace moves among political leaders of the North-West.
Leaders of the zone had taken offence against Sambo in January, after he was accused of hijacking a courtesy visit to Jonathan.
Some of the leaders, it was gathered, had vowed to push for his ouster, but the aggrieved parties, according to information, had agreed to sheathe their swords.
It was also gathered that the president had intimated his loyalists that he was not disposed to replacing Sambo, because both of them had worked together without rancour.
“In a game, you don’t change a winning team. You only perfect the areas you notice that need to be strengthened, that is the situation between the president and Sambo,” a source said.
Presidency official accused of being ‘friendly’ with opposition
An official in the presidency has been accused of being ‘friendly’ with the opposition and thereby sharing classified information with key opposition figures.
The said official was also suspected of sharing vital information on President Jonathan’s strategies to the opposition figures, said to be his friends.
It was learnt that security reports on the affected official informed the sweeping reform carried out by the president at the Villa recently.
Findings revealed that the said official had been unrelenting in his covert romance with opposition leaders.
The same official, who goes on errands for the president, was said to be instrumental to the return of some opposition leaders from exile.
“He had used his closeness to the president to make sympathetic pleas for his erstwhile friends, some of whom were among the cabal of yesteryears,” the source added.
Investigation also revealed that the affected official paid nocturnal visits to the homes of key opposition leaders in Maitama and Asokoro, particularly to the opposition leader from his home state.
The development, it was learnt, informed the choice of a retired Brigadier-General as Chief of Staff.
“The Villa is actually worried about this particular official. Looking at developments in the last couple of months, some forces in the presidency are disturbed about how sensitive government information, as regards 2015 political scenarios, get to opposition leaders and parties.
“This is why a discreet investigation is being conducted on this official, suspected of sharing privileged information with his childhood friends whom he had everything in common with,” another source stated.
It was gathered that shake-up of key officials in the presidency was imminent, because the president wanted 100 per cent loyalty.
“We are aware that the opposition is desperately infiltrating the presidency, but they cannot succeed at all.
“Those who collaborate with the opposition to destroy this government will be shown the way out.
“This official is certainly under watch. The era of working with moles or tolerating them is gone,” the source added.




REF  http://www.tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/top-stories/item/1025-jonathan-s-campaign-team-ready-aminu-wali-may-emerge-campaign-dg-presidency-official-accused-of-being-friendly-with-opposition