“Most of the candidates of the opposition are serial failures. Atiku has tried twice and has failed, Buhari has done it four times and he has failed," Okupe furthered. “The President is going to contest against serial losers. People who never win election. People who have no leadership quality and it is even now worse for them because this President has been given four years platform with which he has demonstrated his administrative capability, efficiency and delivery.”
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, today gave a slight nod to the idea that President Jonathan may in fact seek re-election next year.
The Punch reports that in an interview with State House correspondents, Okupe reported that though Jonathan has not formally declared his interest in the 2015 presidential contest, the "biggest masquerade always comes out last".
He said, “You know Yoruba people have one proverb which says it is the biggest masquerade that comes out last. The declaration by the opposition is not really something new.
Okupe further went on to allege that many of those who have formally expressed interest in the 2015 contest are "serial failures", referencing former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and General Buhari, who contested for the presidency three and four times respectively.
“Most of the candidates of the opposition are serial failures. Atiku has tried twice and has failed, Buhari has done it four times and he has failed," Okupe furthered. “The President is going to contest against serial losers. People who never win election. People who have no leadership quality and it is even now worse for them because this President has been given four years platform with which he has demonstrated his administrative capability, efficiency and delivery.”
Okupe also aggressively questioned the ambition of Buhari, who declared his intent today.
“What is Buhari going to tell Nigerians now? What is the new thing? He was a former military Head of State and that is what he has done; but since then and now, what is the new story? You cannot compare ‘I will do’ to ‘I have done.’ It is not possible,” he added.
Okupe also rebuffed a report published by SaharaReporters Tuesday, which exposed allegations that Jonathan will try to add two additional years to his term and the terms of other public office holders across the country, saying it was not part of the President's plan.
[story_link align="left"]35540[/story_link]Offering no concrete evidence to the contrary, Okupe claimed these reports were generated by the opposition to try to mar public opinion of Jonathan.
Finally, Okupe gave the intimation that Jonathan might actually declare his intent soon, saying that pressure has mounted on the President to contest but a declaration would come after "due consideration".
"It is my belief that it will be after due consideration that he will take an appropriate decision that would be of the larger interest of the party and the country, but I don’t see this being too long from now,” Okupe said.