There are strong indications that former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, may emerge the director general of President Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation which will be unfolded next week.

Sources close to the workings of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the government confirmed that pressure is being mounted from within the party and the emerging campaign structure to ensure that the president names el-Rufai as the director general of his campaign.

Some members of the inner core of the emerging campaign group had earlier proposed Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom (UK), Senator Dalhatu Tafida, as director general of the Goodluck/Sambo Campaign Organisation.

It was gathered that while the president’s strategy team met to analyse the implications of Tafida, a former Senate Leader, heading the campaign, some other strategists came up with el-Rufai’s name.

Those who canvassed against Tafida’s choice were said to have raised the question of his age as a barrier. They were said to have claimed that Tafida’s age could constitute an impediment because he may be unable to sustain the rigours of political campaign.

Those opposed to the choice of Tafida were also said to have insisted that the campaign needs an energetic young man, who could traverse the whole length of the country without possibly breaking down.

Sources also confirmed they also raised the need to galvanise the support of the teeming youth in the North who are desirous of supporting Jonathan, because of the advantage that his choice would guarantee generational change in the nation’s power configuration.

“The fact remains that notwithstanding whatever reservations anyone may hold against el-Rufai, the man still has a large following. It shows clearly on the face book and even in Nigeria. He performed creditably and acted courageously as FCT minister and that is why a lot of youths see him as somebody they can rely on,” a source close to the PDP quoted one of the strategists as saying at a meeting earlier in the week.

Again the issue of his absence from the country in the last three years, which they claimed has denied him the chance of being an active participant in the polity was raised.

But those who spoke in his favour were said to have argued that as campaign DG, all Tafida would need is to support himself with a number of young strategists who would do the job for him.

However, those who canvassed for the choice of Mallam el-Rufai insisted that a younger person who could be on ground in most of the venues of campaign would be preferred to an old man who could face health challenges as a result of the rigours of the campaign.

Besides, it was disclosed that Tafida, being an elderly man and a diplomat, would speak tongue in cheek on critical issues, while somebody like el-Rufai would not beg the issue.

It was confirmed that President Jonathan would announce himself as an aspirant for the 2011 presidential race on September 18.

Sources close to the administration confirmed that the date was picked at a meeting of the strategy committee which was held at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday.

It was gathered that the president actually delayed his declaration as a result of the fact that he wanted to conclude the ongoing Ramadan fast, which he is observing alongside Muslim faithful and the need to put in place some key aspects of the deliverables targeted by his administration.

“President Jonathan has resolved that after due consultations with all strata of the Nigerian polity, he has decided to offer himself for service for four years, after which he would retire and face his lifetime ambition as a scholar and researcher. He will declare his ambition on September 18 and he has ordered that a series of activities will herald the declaration,” a source close to the PDP said.

It was gathered that the president intends to market his campaign on these and other giant steps of his government, while he is also insisting that what Nigeria needs for 2011 election is issue-based campaign.

In that wise, a source said that the president would adopt the slogan: People Defeat Poverty (PDP) to underscore his desire to banish poverty, lack and squalor from his countrymen.

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