Buhari’s choice fuels anti- Jonathan sentiments in North

ABUJA — With less than two months
to the general election, the
campaign posters of President
Goodluck Jonathan are yet to be
mounted in many northern states
considered crucial for his re-election
victory, concerned loyalists of the
president have revealed to
Vanguard.
The situation is in contrast to the
pre-2011 season where the
promotional materials for Jonathan
had sprung up in virtually all the
northern states many months to the
presidential race.
Unlike the situation which presided
the last presidential poll, many
states appear cautious in openly
canvassing support for Jonathan
given the preponderance of most of
their leaders to throw their weight
behind Buhari.
The fear in openly identifying with
Jonathan, according to competent
sources, stems from the fact that
some radical elements, who feel
disappointed by the present
administration’s handling of security
challenges in the North-East are on
the prowl waiting to unleash
violence on suspected backers of the
Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
It was learnt that the hoisting of PDP
and Jonathan’s posters was being
taken with caution in some of the
PDP and All Progressives Congress,
APC, states in the north because of
those radical elements opposed to
Jonathan’s return in 2015.
A top PDP source explained to our
correspondent that it was difficult to
see many posters of the President
even in states controlled by PDP.
A Northern governor confirmed to
Vanguard, yesterday, that most of
the people were not keen on re-
electing Jonathan and had since
switched on their support to Buhari,
whom they see as their only hope of
returning to the Presidency after
many years of remaining at the
political periphery.
“If you like, take a tour of the major
highways from Yobe to Kano and
from Abuja to Kaduna and see how
many of the president’s campaign
posters are standing,” the governor
said.
“There are even those on the street
are so angry with anything Jonathan
that if they find anyone trying to
hoist his posters they would
immediately remove or deface
them.
“Other radical elements opposed to
Jonathan have even warned those
working for him in the north to
retrace their steps or risk being
attacked with their family members.
“I tell you that what is happening in
the north since the emergence of
Buhari has significantly altered the
political fortunes of Jonathan in the
North and it is going to be a tougher
fight than what obtained in 2011.
But a politician from Kaduna told
Vanguard last night that some
posters of Jonathan and Governor
Ramalan Yero in some strategic
places in Kaduna but unavailable in
many places suspected to be anti-
Jonathan and the PDP.
“What is happening in Kaduna is that
the posters of the President are
present in areas that support
Jonathan but you cannot find one in
the key areas that are against the
PDP and Jonathan.
“The situation on the ground here in
Kaduna is that it may be very difficult
for the status quo to be maintained,”
the Kaduna-based politician said.