Contrary to claims by the Presidency that President
Goodluck Jonathan’s surprise visit to Maiduguri, the Borno state
capital, on Thursday was to identify with Nigerian troops and displaced
people in the state, insiders in the president’s campaign team have
revealed the real reason Jonathan visited the hotbed of Boko Haram
insurgents.
According to a source who does want his name published because he was not authorised to talk on the matter, Jonathan’s journey to Maiduguri was packaged to prepare the ground for the President’s campaign in the troubled Northeast region beginning next week.
It was reported on Thursday that the President, accompanied by the Chief of Defence Staff, Service Chiefs, the National Security Adviser and the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency, visited officers and men of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army at Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri.
It was gathered that the President thanked the soldiers for their service to the nation and telling them the nation was proud of them and grateful for their dedication and commitment to the defence of the civilian population against terrorists.
However, those familiar with Jonathan’s political strategies as he campaigns for re-election across Nigeria, told Premium Times that the President was talked into the trip by his political advisers and officials of his campaign council as a way of neutralising criticism over his refusal to visit the region despite an upsurge in attacks by Boko Haram militants who have massacred civilians and security officials.
Only recently, the Peoples Democratic Party announced that Jonathan would visit the troubled zone to canvass votes despite failing to visit the towns where the insurgents have continued to murder and abduct hundreds.
Another source informed that Jonathan became concerned after
widespread criticism trailed the announcement that he would be
campaigning in the region.
“The president was advised to try and make at least one non-political visit to the region to shut up critics,” the source said.
“Everyone agreed that taking campaigns to the zone without this kind of initial visit might expose the President to ridicule. That’s essentially why he visited today, and I’m telling you this authoritatively.”
Another source said Jonathan has scheduled campaign stops for Bauchi (Bauchi) on January 22, and Maiduguri (Borno) on January 24.
By the schedule read out to newsmenThursday night, the president’s campaign train plans to be in Yola (Adamawa) on January 29 and Gombe (Gombe) and Damaturu (Yobe) on February 2.
“With today’s visit to Maiduguri, we believe the ground is now better prepared for campaign stops,” an official said.
READ MORE: http://www.naij.com/363244-real-reason-gej-visited-maiduguri.htmlAccording to a source who does want his name published because he was not authorised to talk on the matter, Jonathan’s journey to Maiduguri was packaged to prepare the ground for the President’s campaign in the troubled Northeast region beginning next week.
It was reported on Thursday that the President, accompanied by the Chief of Defence Staff, Service Chiefs, the National Security Adviser and the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency, visited officers and men of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army at Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri.
It was gathered that the President thanked the soldiers for their service to the nation and telling them the nation was proud of them and grateful for their dedication and commitment to the defence of the civilian population against terrorists.
However, those familiar with Jonathan’s political strategies as he campaigns for re-election across Nigeria, told Premium Times that the President was talked into the trip by his political advisers and officials of his campaign council as a way of neutralising criticism over his refusal to visit the region despite an upsurge in attacks by Boko Haram militants who have massacred civilians and security officials.
Only recently, the Peoples Democratic Party announced that Jonathan would visit the troubled zone to canvass votes despite failing to visit the towns where the insurgents have continued to murder and abduct hundreds.
Jonathan in Maiduguri.
“The president was advised to try and make at least one non-political visit to the region to shut up critics,” the source said.
“Everyone agreed that taking campaigns to the zone without this kind of initial visit might expose the President to ridicule. That’s essentially why he visited today, and I’m telling you this authoritatively.”
Another source said Jonathan has scheduled campaign stops for Bauchi (Bauchi) on January 22, and Maiduguri (Borno) on January 24.
By the schedule read out to newsmenThursday night, the president’s campaign train plans to be in Yola (Adamawa) on January 29 and Gombe (Gombe) and Damaturu (Yobe) on February 2.
“With today’s visit to Maiduguri, we believe the ground is now better prepared for campaign stops,” an official said.
No comments:
Post a Comment