Governors, businessmen, others donate N21.27bn for Jonathan campaign

Governors, businessmen, various interest groups and individuals on Saturday night donated a total of N21.27bn to support President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign bid for the 2015 presidential election.

The donations were made at the Peoples Democratic Party’s fund raising dinner held at the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The first donation was made by the chairman of the occasion, Tunde Ayeni, who announced a donation of N2 billion.

He announced that the donated sum consisted of N1 billion donated by him and his partner, and another N1 billion contributed by their unnamed friends.

Some players in the oil and gas sector announced a donation of N5 billion; real estate and building donated N4 billion; transport and aviation, N1 billion; food and agriculture, N500 million; power, N500 million; construction, N310 million; road construction, N250 million; National Automotive Association, N450 million; while Shelter Development Limited announced N250 million.

Jerry Gana, the chairman of the fundraising committee, said his friends and associates in the power sector were donating N5 billion.

The PDP Governors’ Forum announced a total donation of N1.05 billion, while the Bauchi State governor, Isa Yuguda, who spoke on behalf of the PDP governors, said each of the 21 governors would donate N50 million each.

The SIFAX Group announced N100 million donation, while the PDP stakeholders in Rivers State supported Jonathan’s bid with N50 million.

The states on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission donated a total of N15 million, amongst others.

Joseph Makanju, representative of the chief fund raiser and chairman of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, said his principal who was outside the country, did not leave a mandate and would see Adamu Mu’azu, the national chairman of the PDP, to offer his support upon his return.

Donation pledge forms were made available to guests at the event to make their personal donations.

In his remarks, Jonathan thanked the donors, while assuring them that the funds would not be wasted or misused.

“I thank everyone who made donation tonight,” he said.

The president noted that the money was for the PDP, adding that the amount generated would help to run the PDP better.

Meanwhile, Gana also admitted that the 2015 general elections would be highly contested and warned the leadership of the party not to underestimate their opponents.

He said it would be competitive because it is going to be more of a two-party contest.

He said, “Therefore, the PDP must not take things for granted. We must campaign very well. We must not underestimate the opponent. Because we have been in power for 16 years, we are at a disadvantage. We need to spread the message of our achievements diligently.

“The campaign should be issues-driven. While the other side will be talking of theory, we shall be showing what we have done.”

Adamu Mu’azu, the national chairman of the PDP, in his speech encouraged those who have won in the primaries to carry other faithful along.

“Power and glory come from God and nobody else. Those who have won should involve everybody in their campaigns in order to make them family campaigns.

“For the losers, I pray for you that God will answer you at a later date. Join us to campaign for all our candidates at all levels to have success”, he said.