This is not the
best of time for many members of the Federal Executive Council and aides of President Goodluck
Jonathan.
He is angry with them for allowing the rival All Progressives Congress (APC) get the upper hand so early in the campaign leading to the February 14 election.
He is particularly irked by the perception of his government by many Nigerians as ‘non-performing’ which he blames on the opposition.
This was evident at the flagging off of his campaign in Lagos on of the day defending allegations of incompetence levelled at his administration
Consequently, PDP strategists have returned to the drawing board with a view to checking the APC onslaught. They are dabbling with the option of the PDP fighting ‘dirty’ if necessary. Sources familiar with the development said that the President was unhappy that public opinion was turning against his administration in spite of what his ‘good performance’. It was gathered that that the pressure from campaign issues being raised by the opposition accounted for the manner in which the President spoke at the flag-off of his campaign in Lagos. President Jonathan, it was also learnt, opted to beat his drum if no one would do it.
This is expected to serve as a template for the party’s Presidential Campaign Council, headed by Director-General Ahmadu Ali. Sources said that the President was disturbed that most Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) were not defending issues brought up for public discourse by the opposition. One of the issues being considered now is a minor cabinet reshuffle which will see a Minister posted to take care of Information and National Orientation to fill in gaps during the ongoing campaign. One source said that the President is not comfortable with the lack of input from the Mini.
“The President was talking with anger in Lagos because of pressure from critics who were trying to write off his administration. He was under tremendous pressure to clear his image to prove that he had performed in office,” one source said.
“The President believes the MDAs and their Ministers are not reeling out the facts and figures enough for Nigerians to appreciate the modest successes recorded by the administration.
“You can see that from the way he has been taking in on the opposition, he is desperate to match them tit- fortat. At a point, the President was fidgeting. He alleged that the figures being reeled out by his critics were just wrong.”
Another source said: “From the look of things, the PDP and the presidency may participate in dirty campaign because the heat is too much. “Henceforth, you will see the PDP and government officials firing on all cylinders to prove one point or the other.”
Responding to a question, the source added: “PDP and Presidency strategists have returned to the drawing board to reshape the campaign.” Meanwhile, there were signs last night that the Presidency might engage a substantive Minister of Information and National Orientation to put all issues about performance in “perspective.”
A third source said: “The Presidency is not too happy about the handling of the government image. A little swap of ministers might take place to sell the achievements of the government to the public and defend allegations from critics and the opposition. “The new media focus is to be on the offensive instead of being on the defensive on performance-related matters.
“Some cabinet members have been short-listed to man the Ministry of Information and National Orientation because the Supervising Minister, Dr. Nurudeen Mohammed is more of a diplomat than an information manager.”
The APC said last night described the February 14 Presidential election as a referendum to determine President Jonathan’s lackluster leadership and performance after about six years in the saddle as the President.
The party in a statement in Abuja expressed disappointment that the President could raise issues about what he intends to do for the country after wasting the mandate free
He is angry with them for allowing the rival All Progressives Congress (APC) get the upper hand so early in the campaign leading to the February 14 election.
He is particularly irked by the perception of his government by many Nigerians as ‘non-performing’ which he blames on the opposition.
This was evident at the flagging off of his campaign in Lagos on of the day defending allegations of incompetence levelled at his administration
Consequently, PDP strategists have returned to the drawing board with a view to checking the APC onslaught. They are dabbling with the option of the PDP fighting ‘dirty’ if necessary. Sources familiar with the development said that the President was unhappy that public opinion was turning against his administration in spite of what his ‘good performance’. It was gathered that that the pressure from campaign issues being raised by the opposition accounted for the manner in which the President spoke at the flag-off of his campaign in Lagos. President Jonathan, it was also learnt, opted to beat his drum if no one would do it.
This is expected to serve as a template for the party’s Presidential Campaign Council, headed by Director-General Ahmadu Ali. Sources said that the President was disturbed that most Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) were not defending issues brought up for public discourse by the opposition. One of the issues being considered now is a minor cabinet reshuffle which will see a Minister posted to take care of Information and National Orientation to fill in gaps during the ongoing campaign. One source said that the President is not comfortable with the lack of input from the Mini.
“The President was talking with anger in Lagos because of pressure from critics who were trying to write off his administration. He was under tremendous pressure to clear his image to prove that he had performed in office,” one source said.
“The President believes the MDAs and their Ministers are not reeling out the facts and figures enough for Nigerians to appreciate the modest successes recorded by the administration.
“You can see that from the way he has been taking in on the opposition, he is desperate to match them tit- fortat. At a point, the President was fidgeting. He alleged that the figures being reeled out by his critics were just wrong.”
Another source said: “From the look of things, the PDP and the presidency may participate in dirty campaign because the heat is too much. “Henceforth, you will see the PDP and government officials firing on all cylinders to prove one point or the other.”
Responding to a question, the source added: “PDP and Presidency strategists have returned to the drawing board to reshape the campaign.” Meanwhile, there were signs last night that the Presidency might engage a substantive Minister of Information and National Orientation to put all issues about performance in “perspective.”
A third source said: “The Presidency is not too happy about the handling of the government image. A little swap of ministers might take place to sell the achievements of the government to the public and defend allegations from critics and the opposition. “The new media focus is to be on the offensive instead of being on the defensive on performance-related matters.
“Some cabinet members have been short-listed to man the Ministry of Information and National Orientation because the Supervising Minister, Dr. Nurudeen Mohammed is more of a diplomat than an information manager.”
The APC said last night described the February 14 Presidential election as a referendum to determine President Jonathan’s lackluster leadership and performance after about six years in the saddle as the President.
The party in a statement in Abuja expressed disappointment that the President could raise issues about what he intends to do for the country after wasting the mandate free
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