We are strongly behind you! The words coming from various individuals, groups, multi-national organisations, and businessmen as they dipped their hands into their treasury and splurged a whooping sum of N21.27billion to support the second term campaign of President Goodluck Jonathan.
Some of the party chiefs however expressed apprehensions about the February elections despite the hefty sum raised, saying that it will be tough as Jonathan faces an old electoral foe, Major General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress.
The fund raising for the president took place at a dinner held in the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Saturday.
First to set the ball rolling was Mr. Tunde Ayeni, chairman of Sky Bank who announced a donation of N2billion, for himself and friends. Prof. Jerry Gana, the chairman of the fundraising committee, pulled in N5billion on behalf of friends and associates in the power sector.
PDP Governors Forum came up with total donation of N1.05billion, with each of the 21 PDP governors donating N50million.
They are also, other donors as outlined below:
Oil and Gas sector :N5billion;
*Real Estate and Building: N4billion;
*Transport and Aviation, N1billion;
* Food and Agriculture, N500million;
*Power, N500million;
*Construction, N310million;
*Road Construction, N250million;
*National Automative Association, N450million;
* Shelter Development Limited, N250m.
*SIFAX group: N100m
*Rivers PDP Stakeholders: N50million
* Niger Delta Development Commission: N15million
Dangote group did not leave a mandate, but the representative of the chief fund raiser and chairman of the Dangote group, Mr. Joseph Makanju, promised that his principal would personally see the National Chairman of the PDP, Adamu Mu’Azu, as soon as he returns to offer his supports.
The president promised that the funds would be judiciously utilized for the progress of the party and thanked everyone who made donation tonight.
President Jonathan stated that the money was for the PDP, stressing that the amount generated would help to run the PDP better.
Gana also admitted that the 2015 general elections would be keenly contested and warned the party not to underestimate the opposition.
“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.”
Gana, who once headed a mobilisation agency for the Federal Government about 30 years ago, warned the party against fielding unpopular candidates.
But it appears that the National Chairman of the PDP, Adamu Mu’azu is satisfied with the array of candidates that have emerged from the party’s primaries, despite disputes and controversies in as many as 16 states.
Mu’azu said, “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 was quoted as saying.