Polls: President orders ministers to relocate to states

President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered members of the Federal Executive Council, especially ministers, to relocate to their states of origin ahead of the March 28 presidential election, The PUNCH learnt on Wednesday.

President Jonathan

Our correspondent learnt that the decision was meant to enable the ministers to improve the President’s electoral fortunes in their various states.

A top government official, who spoke with our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, said the decision was part of the strategies adopted by Jonathan’s handlers for the maximum utilisation of the time frame provided by the recent poll shift by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

“That directive is not strange. It is meant to allow ministers to work more on people of their states on the need to support the President ahead of the elections,” the official said.

Part of the strategy is for the ministers to engage community and opinion leaders as well as traditional rulers, among others, during the period.

The official added that the possibility of holding town hall meetings was also on the agenda.

He however refused to comment on whether money was budgeted for the assignment or the ministers were expected to fund the project from their personal accounts.

A minister from one of the states in the North Central, who is privy to the arrangement, told our correspondent that he had already instructed his aides that he would not be receiving visitors in his office in Abuja until after the general elections.

He said, “I have told my men that I won’t be receiving visitors in the office until after the elections and this is true.

“We have been told to return to our states to work for the victory of our boss and the party.

“It is a task that we must carry out. Those who want to see me in the office should also first return to their states and deliver for our boss first.”

Also, ministerial nominees whose names were recently forwarded to the Senate for approval, might have been asked to also start work for the President in their various states pending their ratification.

This, another official said, was aimed at ensuring that no state was left behind in the renewed efforts to get more support for the President across the country.

The PUNCH had reported last week that the Peoples Democratic Party would embark on another round of campaigns that would be based mainly on “consultations and penetration” in some states.

A few days after the publication, Jonathan relocated to Lagos where he spent about four days.

During the period, he had consultations with traditional rulers, Yoruba Council of Elders, trade unions and clerics, appealing to them to support his re-election.

He also took his consultation to the palaces of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III; the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Oladunni Oyewunmi Ajagungbade III; and the Alara of Ilara Epe, Oba Akeem Adesanya.

He also met with some traditional rulers from Ogun State at the Olorunsogo II Power Station in Ogun State after commissioning the 750MW Nigerian Integrated Power Project.

The traditional rulers at the Olorunsogo meeting, numbering about 20, were led by the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Oyebade Lipede, who is also the Chairman of the Ogun State Council of Traditional Rulers.

Others at the meeting included the Akarigbo of Remo, Oba Michael Sonariwo; and the Olowu of Owu, Oba Adegboyega Dosunmu.

Polls: President orders ministers to relocate to states