The takeover of the Social Safety Net Programmes of SURE-P by
the coordinators of Jonathan 2011 Presidential campaign across the states and
the empowerment of youths loyal to the party, sell the impression that the
president has set up a structure for his 2015 presidential dream.
Among unemployed school leavers in many rural communities across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), there is renewed excitement at the prospect of becoming gainfully employed – thanks to SURE-P. However, mixed feelings are being expressed about the scheme because the facilitators of the project are the same persons who coordinated the Goodluck Jonathan/Namadi Sambo Presidential Campaign Organisations in the states in 2011. Again, there are indications that youths from opposition blocs in the states are glaringly excluded from benefitting from the project – unless they are converted to the PDP. Thirdly, even within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), there is the suspicion that the campaign coordinators intend to set up grassroots structure for the 2015 campaign for Jonathan presidency. Angry PDP chieftains, local government chairmen and elements close to some state governors have begun to ask why the employment scheme is not channelled through them. Under this atmosphere, the programme is received with suspicion.
Among unemployed school leavers in many rural communities across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), there is renewed excitement at the prospect of becoming gainfully employed – thanks to SURE-P. However, mixed feelings are being expressed about the scheme because the facilitators of the project are the same persons who coordinated the Goodluck Jonathan/Namadi Sambo Presidential Campaign Organisations in the states in 2011. Again, there are indications that youths from opposition blocs in the states are glaringly excluded from benefitting from the project – unless they are converted to the PDP. Thirdly, even within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), there is the suspicion that the campaign coordinators intend to set up grassroots structure for the 2015 campaign for Jonathan presidency. Angry PDP chieftains, local government chairmen and elements close to some state governors have begun to ask why the employment scheme is not channelled through them. Under this atmosphere, the programme is received with suspicion.
