Sule Lamido opposes endorsement of Jonathan

Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State has opposed the endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan for second term by the north-west chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Lamido, who is believed to be getting ready to challenge Jonathan for the PDP presidential ticket, said the communiqué endorsing the president was prepared before the Sunday meeting of the north-west stakeholders.

Speaking in Dutse, the state capital, on Monday through his deputy, Alhaji Ahmed Gumel, the governor said Jonathan had not fulfilled his electoral promises to Jigawa and the state has no reason to back him for re-election.

It is yet the clearest signal that Lamido may join the presidential race.

The north-west stakeholders had, in a meeting attended by Gumel on behalf of Lamido, also resolved that Jonathan should declare his interest in seeking re-election.

The meeting was attended by Vice-President Namadi Sambo, and other senior members of the party from the zone.

“I am here to inform you categorically that the government and people of Jigawa State completely dissociate ourselves from the purported endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan for the 2015 presidential election.

“We are not part of it and we don’t support the endorsement. The communiqué was prepared even before the meeting started,” Gumel said on Monday.

He however said they remained loyal to the PDP.

Lamido was part of the rebel PDP group that eventually left for APC, but he said he would never leave the ruling party in which he was one of the founding members.