2015: SAMBO FIGHTS BACK

In a bid to step up survival battle to remain in position ahead of the 2015 elections, Vice President Namadi Sambo has launched a drive to mobilise support for both President Goodluck Jonathan and himself across the North West zone and other parts of the north.
This is in response to recent calls from some northern youth groups and a clique politicians, who believe the Vice President has neither helped the north with his position nor promotes the interest of the region, as the most senior northerner in Jonathan’ administration.
Sunday Independent gathered that already some northern youth groups and politicians, regardless of party affiliations have tipped Katsina State governor, Ibrahim Shema for simple reason that he hails from late Umaru Yar’Adua’s State, Jigawa Governor, Sule Lamido, for his doggedness and popularity and Niger governor, Babangida Aliyu, due to his position as the Chairman, Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF).

DEFECTION: SAMBO IN CRUCIAL MEETINGS WITH N/WEST PDP LEADERS

WORRIED by threats to his political survival, Vice President Namadi Sambo has launched series of moves to stop defection of members from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna State and the North-West geopolitical zones.
A gale of defections had reportedly rocked Kaduna State in the last two weeks, with Sambo’s local government area said to be affected.
The party’s majorit in the state House of Assembly was also under threat, due to the cross-carpeting by some members of the legislature.
This came as unconfirmed reports indicated that Governor Usman Dakingari of Kebbi State was under pressure from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to dump PDP.
Governors of Zamfara and Sokoto states were said to be leading the pro-APC lobby, while Vice President Sambo and Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State were pressuring Dakingari to stay in PDP.

YAKOWA’S ANNIVERSARY: VP SLAMS EL-RUFAI

Abuja—The Vice President, Namadi Sambo, yesterday, lampooned the former Minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai for alleging that he (Sambo) prevented him from speaking at the one year anniversary of the former Governor of Kaduna State, Patrick Yakowa, in Kaduna recently.
Sambo said that he did not prevent El-Rufai from speaking at the occasion, pointing out that it was indeed, the late Yakowa’s family which organised the event, single-handedly, that did not want him to speak.
His reaction was contained in a statement by his special adviser on Media and Publicity, Alhaji Umar Sani, who described El-Rufai’s allegation as the ‘’rantings of an accidental politician’’ to attract attention to himself.

2015: INTRIGUES AS YUGUDA, SHEMA EYE VICE PRESIDENCY

Indications emerged at the weekend that no fewer than three political camps are at present arrayed against Vice President Namadi Sambo, moving to replace him as veepee, in the build-up to the 2015 presidential election.

In the first group, according to THISDAY checks, are two Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors, Ibrahim Shema (Katsina) and Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), who believe that in the event President Goodluck Jonathan picks the party’s ticket, he should anoint one of them as running mate for the election.

Some senior officials in the presidency are also said to have promised either of the two governors the veepee job in a bid to shore up support for President Jonathan in the North.

HOW SAMBO IS LOSING GROUND IN ASO ROCK

Vice President Namadi Sambo’s inability to lead the way in tackling the numerous crises in the North has brought to question his relevance to the region

Alhaji Sani Zangon Daura, a former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and later Minister of Environment in the cabinet of President Olusegun Obasanjo spoke the minds of many northern leaders on the Desmins Independent Television (DITV) in Kaduna last Monday. On the programme, Alhaji Daura lamented the status of Vice President Namadi Sambo under President Goodluck Jonathan, describing him as powerless. According to him, apart from the fact that Architect Sambo is not given many powers under the 1999 Constitution, Alhaji Daura remarked that, compared to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, the current Vice President is in a pathetic situation because governors do not rally around him.

2015: JONATHAN TO RETAIN SAMBO AS RUNNING MATE

In the face of plot against Vice-President Namadi Sambo by some vested interests in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, President Goodluck Jonathan has foreclosed dropping him as running mate in the 2015 elections.

As such, those lobbying to replace Sambo as running mate to President Jonathan may be disappointed after all.

In the past weeks, Katsina State Governor Ibrahim Shema has been pushing to be named as a replacement for Sambo in the 2015 presidential election. A source in the Presidency told National Mirror that Shema has enlisted the support of the Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Oghiadhome, in pushing the agenda.

SAMBO, POWERLESS NORTHERN LEADER – ELDERS’ FORUM

The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has said that while Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo being the highest public office holder from the region is the leader of North, he is however powerless because he has no constitutional powers as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.

Former minister of Agriculture and a member of the Forum, Alhaji Sani Zangon Daura, stated this on behalf of the forum during an interview

with DITV monitored in Kaduna yesterday.

2015: PDP LEADERS MOVE TO DUMP SAMBO

• Another Northern governor emerges Jonathan’s favourite

The shape of the battle for the 2015 presidential ticket in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seems to be manifesting by the day.

Some powerful forces in the party are pushing for a replacement of Vice President Namadi Sambo as running mate to President Goodluck Jonathan on the party’s ticket.

Their choice is a serving Northern governor, who, in the opinion of those pushing his case, has more clout in the region than Sambo.

They regard their candidate as the ultimate joker the party needs to win the North.

But a few other leaders are wary of the backlash of dropping Sambo and they are weighing the options.

SAMBO HEADS JONATHAN’S RE-ELECTION TEAM

Amidst intrigues and unending crises rocking the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), President Goodluck Jonathan appears set to roll out his campaign for the 2015 Presidential election, as his inner caucus members have decided that “silence for too long” will be inimical to their principal’s ambition.

Against this backdrop, Daily Independent learnt that the President’s men, led by Vice President Namadi Sambo, have set up a “closely-guarded team” with only trusted associates of the President in the know.

Other members of the team, it was gathered, include former Works Minister and the President’s favourite for the position of PDP’s Board of Trustees (BoT), Tony Anenih, former Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Bode George, and four PDP Governors, two of whom are from the South-South, and one each from the North East and North Central.