Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Nigerian President Announces Candidacy on Facebook

   VOA News 15 September 2010
   Nigeria  president Goodluck Jonathan, front, on his arrival at Entebbe
   International Airport Uganda for the African summit, 23 Jul 2010 (file
   photo)

Photo: AP

   Nigeria  president Goodluck Jonathan, front, on his arrival at Entebbe
   International Airport Uganda for the African summit, 23 Jul 2010 (file
   photo)

   Nigerian  President  Goodluck  Jonathan has used the social networking
   site [1]Facebook to announce publicly for the first time his candidacy
   in the upcoming presidential election.
   Mr.  Jonathan  pledged  to Nigerians in his Internet post Wednesday to
   "always  do  right  by  you."Â  He said he will tell the truth "at all
   times"  and  promised,  in  his words, "most importantly, to listen to
   you."
   The  president  said he made his decision after consultations with top
   Nigerian leaders.
   A formal declaration is expected Saturday in Nigeria's capital, Abuja.
   More  than 1,300 people have commented on the president's statement on
   Facebook.  Close to 1,000 people also clicked the "Like" button on the
   social media site to show their approval.
   Mr.  Jonathan  told leaders in the People's Democratic Party last week
   in  a closed-door meeting he would seek the party's nomination for the
   upcoming presidential election.
   Mr.   Jonathan's   candidacy  is  controversial.   A  Christian  from
   Nigeria's  south,  he  took office in May after the death of President
   Umaru Yar'Adua, who was a Muslim from the north.
   Some  members of the PDP have argued Mr. Jonathan should step aside to
   allow another Muslim to hold the highest office.
   Mr.  Yar'Adua  died  about  three years into what was expected to be a
   two-term, eight-year presidency.
   The  party  has  an  informal  rule of rotating the presidency between
   Nigeria's  mainly  Muslim  north  and mainly Christian south after two
   terms.
   Former  military  ruler  Ibrahim  Babangida  and former vice president
   Atiku  Abubakar  -  both Muslims - have said they will seek the ruling
   party's nomination.

   Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.

References

   1. http://www.facebook.com/jonathangoodluck

.