[CLUMSY RACE TO 2015: THE JONATHAN/AMAECHI FACE OFF]

------------------- Obviously shaken and scared, the presidency, with an incumbent who already seemed to have burnt his fingers too early in the governing of Africa’ most populous, diverse nation, midway to the end of first tenure in 2015, he is at daggers drawn with perceived political opponents in the same party. Elected as President in 2011, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, who claimed to have attended school without shoes while growing up, made promises on spreading dividends of democracy the people with his programme of Transformation Agenda, job creation, reduction of poverty, corruption, improved electricity and enhancing infrastructure among others. But widespread insecurity particularly in the north, had blurred his vision and focus. Several thousands, mainly Christians have been killed, while properties worth billions destroyed. Almost torn apart by internal crises within the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governors elected on the ticket of the party, under the aegis of Nigerian Governors’ Forum, NGF led by Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State were politically dicey and unpredictable. Aso Rock was jittery, worried about NGF becoming a political power bloc, likely determining the future of Mr. president in 2015. Meanwhile, the national Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, had a running battle with the governors, but enjoyed absolute support of Jonathan, who feared his re-election bid in 2015 could be scuttled by the governors who had some grievances to settle with him. Governor Rotimi Amaechi, as the NGF chairman, was seen as the arrowhead of the governors resistance to the imperial and dictatorial tendencies of the presidency more so as he was being alleged as having presidential ambition to be running mate to Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State in the 2015 race.