Jonathan denies supporting any candidate in Bayelsa

Okey Muogbo, Abuja - 18.02.2008

Vice President Goodluck Jonathan has denied that he is sponsoring some of the aspirants seeking elective offices in his home state, Bayelsa. He has also expressed disappointment in the reported cases of politicians in the state using his name for the purpose of achieving political favour from the electorate.

“I have no choice candidates for any election,” Jonathan insisted and warned that he would henceforth not tolerate name dropping. Senior Special Assistance (Media and Communications) to the Vice President, Mr Ima Niboro, who issued the statement on behalf of the vice president, insisted that the vice president had no anointed candidate for any position.

The vice president, the statement added, has “been inundated with requests for clarification from well meaning Bayelsans, especially in view of the ridiculous situation in which even aspirants for the position of councillor routinely drop the name of the vice president as their ‘sponsor.’

“I wish to state straightaway that these assertions are absurd, unfounded and misleading, and that the vice president has no choice candidates, and cannot have choice candidates, when the entire Nigeria is his constituency,” the statement further said.

“As a leader who believes in the sanctity of the electoral process, Dr. Jonathan has always insisted that the will of the people must prevail in elections. He similarly abhors the “godfather” syndrome and has consistently advocated its rout, and in its stead, a fair contest for the hearts and minds of the people.

“I wish to restate, for the avoidance of doubt, that the vice president will not be party to the imposition of candidates, and will vigorously resist those who seek to, by innuendo and name dropping, drag his name into the politics of Bayelsa State.”