The supposed inauguration of the campaign team of President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of the February general elections was cancelled Monday as a result of the death of the President’s younger sister.
Headed by former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ahmadu Ali, as its Director-General, the campaign organisation was to be inaugurated Monday, but this was cut short by the death of Mrs. Nancy Jonathan-Olei, 56, after a brief illness on Sunday.
The inauguration would now hold on Tuesday.
The inauguration was not cancelled until dignitaries and party chieftains had gathered at the Legacy House, Maitama, Abuja where the event was billed to take place.
While they waited, the Special Adviser to President Jonathan on Political Matters, Prof. Rufai Alkali, announced the postponement and apologised to those present.
“As you are all aware, His Excellency (the President) lost his sister, Mrs. Nancy Jonathan-Olei, yesterday in the morning. In view of this, he has decided to suspend this inauguration for today until tomorrow at 11am,” Alkali announced.
“Mr. President has asked me to convey his apologies for the inconveniences this postponement has caused, and to tell you it was due to circumstances beyond our control,” he told the guests after which he called for a minute silence for the deceased.
Alkali had earlier issued a statement announcing the event for Monday. In that statement, he had scheduled 2pm for the commencement of the event with the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the PDP, Tony Anenih, appointed as the National Campaign Adviser.
Tunde Adeniran, a former minister would serve as Deputy Director-General of the campaign’s head office while Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Turaki and former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, are to serve as Deputy Directors-General for North and South respectively.
A former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, is the Director of Media and Publicity, former Information Minister, Jerry Gana, is the head of the campaign’s contact and mobilization unit, Aliyu Umar, a former Minister of Information will head the Directorate of Administration and Logistics, and former minister and Senator, Nenadi Usman, will head the finance directorate.
Nick Eze is to head the Directorate on Civil Society and Support Groups, while Becky Igwe is head of Women Mobilization, Senator Nimi Amange is Head of the Directorate of Planning, Research and Statistics, Emmanuel Imohe is the head, Directorate of Security and Intelligence, while PDP National Youth Leader, Abdullahi Maibasira, heads Youth Mobilisation.
