Jonathan can contest in 2015, OPC leader, Gani Adams, says

The OPC boss, Gani Adams, said that the Yorubas have been marginalised
by the Jonathan administration.
The Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) has added its voice to the race for
the 2015 presidential election saying President Goodluck Jonathan has
the constitutional rights to contest.
The National Coordinator of the Congress, Gani Adams , made this known
to journalists in an interview shortly after his condolence visit to
the Awolowo family in Ikenne Town of Ogun State over the death of
Oluwole Awolowo.
He argued that it was wrong for anybody or group to regard his
(Jonathan) tenure as Acting President after the demise of late
President Umaru Yar'Adua as the incumbent's first term in office.
Mr. Adams said that the only time Mr. Jonathan contested for the
Presidency was in 2011 and he won the election for that term.
"He (Mr. Jonathan) still has the right and if Nigerians still want him
to be their leader in 2015, he has the right to contest as the
president in 2015," Mr. Adams declared.
On the alleged marginalisation of the Yoruba race by the Jonathan
administration, the OPC leader said Yorubas have already said a lot
about it and it is very clear for anybody to see.
"In the history of governance in this country, we have never been
marginalised like what we are experiencing from 2011 till now. If you
look at the protocol and the portfolio in the country today, you will
see that the Yoruba race has been relegated. We lost the Speakership
position, we lost the Secretary to the Government of the Federation,
we lost the Chief Whip of the House and at the end of the day, we were
also denied of the opportunity of being the Chief Justice or the
Attorney General and even most of the juicy Ministerial positions was
not also allotted to the Yoruba people. So, it's so sad," Mr. Adams
emphasised.
"If we should go back memory lane and recall how Mr. President
attained that position, you'll discover that agitation to swear him in
as Acting President consequent upon the sickness of former President
Yar'Adua, when it became too obvious that he couldn't continue again,
came from the West," he added.
"Even before the Niger Delta people started their clamour, it was
people like me and other progressives that began it, calling that the
power that be must swear him in as Acting President. Even at the last
April 2011 general election, the Yoruba people voted for President
Goodluck Jonathan without minding the political party that was on
ground then. Even the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) voted for him
against Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. That showed how progressive the Yoruba
people are and voting the person they want.
"So, I believe Mr. President has to flash back on what happened and
address the injustice done to the race. A particular governorship
candidate even lost his ward to President Jonathan and till date,
there is nothing to show for that or for the President to justify that
we do not deserve to be within the first position to the 6th in the
hierarchy of position in Nigeria," Mr. Adams declared.
Speaking on late Oluwole Awolowo, the OPC chieftain said, "It is
rather unfortunate that we lost him at this time because of mama (HID
Awolowo). My concern is for her age; for losing a son at this time.
Yoruba leaders must come close to her so that she can have a long life
till her time comes.
"Uncle Oluwole was a nice man, very reserved person. He was a person
that believed in God, an Evangelist and one of the proud sons of
Oduduwa land."
Mr. Adams also expressed the congress' gratitude to the president for
honouring the Awolowo family.

Culled from: Premium Times