Jonathan To Declare For Presidential Race Tuesday

President Goodluck Jonathan will Tuesday at the Eagle Square in Abuja, declare his bid to vie for a second term in office, the committee set up to prepare the framework for his declaration stated Sunday.

A key part of the declaration by the president will be the unveiling of a new campaign slogan, “Nigerians First, Nigerians Always. Let’s Do It Together”.

Making this known at a briefing in Abuja, the Chairman of the Media and Publicity Sub-committee, Senator Aniete Okon, however refused to disclose the cost of the declaration, stating that it was private and secret to the president.

Okon, who is a former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said the president’s declaration would be attended by more than 2,000 pro-Goodluck Jonathan groups, members of the PDP, women’s groups, as well as members of the civil society.

He said the occasion would be momentous, as the president would use it to launch his new campaign slogan whose essence is to identify with Nigerians who are central to the desire of the president to seek a second term in office.

The message of the slogan, he said, seeks to eradicate poverty and raise the bar on improving the living standards of all Nigerians.

“This is the central issue to the declaration. Also, it is expected to help rejuvenate the efforts of government and re-dedicate the goals of an egalitarian society for the nation and the people of Nigeria.

“That is the essence of the declaration which is to inspire government to do what is always good for the people. Government is all about improving the welfare of the people, so the essence is to seek a fresh mandate on this basis.

“Before 2011, the life expectancy of all Nigerians was low. But now, things have greatly improved in all spheres of life and we are making great and steady progress,” Okon stated.

On why the president is declaring without a resolution in sight on the 219 Chibok schoolgirls still held in captivity by Boko Haram, he asked: “Are you therefore saying that he should not declare until we find the kidnapped girls. Are you saying that he should not renew his mandate with the Nigerian people?

“By and large, with the declaration, the president is set to pursue the path of transformation to ensure every Nigerian has hope and believes there is a caring and listening government that has raised the bar and quality of lives for Nigerians.”

He refused to open up on the source of funding for the declaration, stating: “The cost is secret and private to the president and it is not for public consumption. We all contributed towards the declaration.”

According to Okon, six foreign capitals would air the president’s declaration live. The initiative, he explained, is being spearheaded by the president’s supporters in the Diaspora under the banner, One Nigeria Coalition.

The cities are Washington DC, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston, London and Johannesburg.

Cities whose time zones are close to Nigeria like London and Johannesburg, are expected to transmit from the nation’s capital, while others are expected to hook up later.

In Abuja, security around the Three Arm Zone and Eagle Square has been beefed up, with security personnel taking over the entire landscape of the area.