By Nigerians Abroad staff writer
Top Nigerian business men - with interest in major sectors of the Nigerian economy such as Oil and Gas, Communication and Banking - made the list of President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-inaugurated electioneering campaign council released on Monday in the nation’s capital, Abuja.
The list which has former Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the U.K, Alhaji Dalhatu Tafida as the Director-General also include Jonathan’s staunch rivals - loyal to Northern Consensus - during the primary election held in January.
Among the country’s top business moguls that have been recruited to work for Jonathan’s election success come April include: Aliko Dangote, Nigeria’s richest man according to Forbes; Femi Otedola, Chairman of African Petroleum; Mike Adenuga, Chairman of Globacom; Oba Otudeko, former Chairman of First Bank; Jim Ovia, Founder of Zenith Bank; Tony Elemelu, Ex United Bank for Africa, Chief Executive and Sayyu Dantata, a prominent northern petroleum tycoon.
The inclusion of who is who in Nigeria’s business environment - rooted in political patronage and favours - is expected to help the Jonathan’s presidential campaign raised incredible amount of funds and other logistics needed to out do his rivals.
Back in October, last year, the same group of entrepreneurs kicked off Jonathan presidential ambition with a fundraiser - each person contributed at least N1 million each.
On the political front, some of the big wigs recruited for the council include Ken Nnamani, former Nigerian Senate president; Bukola Saraki, Kwara State Governor and one of the contestants under the failed Northern Consensus Candidacy; Raymond Dokpesi, Rtd. Gen Ibrahim Babaginda’s campaign coordinator; Ebenezer Babatope, former Minister of Transportation and Aviation; and Mike Okiro, Nigeria’s former Inspector General.
Raymond Dokpesi, owner of Nigeria’s largest private media organization - Daar communication - was arrested and later released by the State Security Service (SSS) back in October last year over the suspicion of orchestrating twin car bomb-blast that struck the nation’s capital, Abuja on Nigeria’s fifty years of independence anniversary.
“The list of Presidential Campaign Council shows that the president men are willing to pursue the campaign with all seriousness and not leave anything to chance. It also guarantees the election of President Jonathan in April,” said a political commentator based in Abuja.
Since 1999, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has successfully cruised to victories in any major elections across Nigeria - with feeble resistant from the opposition - despite perceived anger from the generality of Nigerians over the state of the nation.
Increased insecurity, poor education and healthcare, wide gap between the wealthy and the poor, high unemployment and gross misappropriation of the country’s resources continued to plaque Africa most populous country.
President Jonathan has promised a free and fair election in April, but observers say the culture of corruption and manipulation of state resources to advance the interest of the incumbent remains a major threat.
Sad news. Sad development.Can Jonathan win election without these BIG guys.Yes He can.If Jonathan becomes the next President, can these BIG brothers highjack his administration and throw the whole country into slavery,high prices of commodities. YES. Who will help us?. Only GOD.We must be prayerful. I know GOD can do it and He will.
They are all rogues. Jonathan is going to ruin Nigeria economy. He’s surrounded by big time fraudsters, rogues, looters. Its time to carry out real revolution if PDP win april election. We need to watch our for PDP cause they are proffetional riggers. Nigerians stand & wake up for your right. The world is watching what we going to do by voting out rogues party call PDP. Mr Jona sleeper is in competent to rule & he should be probe how he has been spending Nigeria reserve money. Mr Jona sleeper with Phd have nothing to offer than to deceive & manipulate Nigerians.