PDP ticket: Lamido to dare Jonathan

The race for the Peoples Democratic Party’s ticket for the 2015 presidential election will be interesting in the weeks ahead as the Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, is set to challenge President Goodluck Jonathan for the ticket.

Saturday PUNCH learnt in Abuja on Thursday that the governor, who had so far resisted the temptation of making an open declaration, was putting finishing touches to his plans to launch his bid for the top job.

It was, however, gathered that Lamido had been engaging in secret consultations with like-minds on how to actualise his ambition.The governor was said to have the backing of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who is considered as his political godfather.

Lamido was non-committal when asked about his plans beyond 2015.

While responding to a question about whether he was considering seeking election to the Senate like some of his colleagues, Lamido said, “Sule Lamido is a whole. I cannot be one third of what I am today.

“If I go to the Senate, I will be representing one third of what I am today. I would rather remain as I am or look for something else.”

He, however, declined to specifically address the question as to whether or not he would contest for the 2015 Presidency and on which platform.

The Jigawa State governor had at various times claimed that no member of the PDP, who is qualified to seek the party’s ticket for the Presidency, should be criminalised based on his desire.

According to him, it is not a crime for anyone to seek to provide leadership for the nation because the Presidency of Nigeria “is not the personal property of any individual.”

He explained that any Nigerian who has something to offer should be allowed to contest provided it was not based on ethnic, religious of cultural sentiments.

Lamido equally said as a Muslim, he believes strongly that his future is in the hands of God.