Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan has used his Facebook page to announce his candidacy for presidential elections next January, ending months of speculation over his intentions. He will make a formal declaration at a rally on Saturday.
On Wednesday, he wrote on his Facebook page, "Today, I confirm that after wide and thorough consultations spanning the six geo-political zones that make up Nigeria, with members of my family, my party, the opposition, civil society, the Private Sector, members of the Labour Unions, religious leaders, youths and student groups and our revered traditional institutions, I Goodluck Ebele Jonathan by the grace of God hereby offer myself and my services to the Nigerian people as a candidate for the office of President in the forth coming 2011 elections."
At the last count, Jonathan had 212,865 fans on his Facebook page, and also had 1,501 personal friends on the social networking site.
The ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP), dominant in Nigerian politics since the country returned to civilian rule in 1999, is divided between backing Jonathan or a candidate from the country's mainly Muslim north. Unwritten party policy has long dictated that it rotate its candidates between the north and predominantly Christian south every two terms. The rule serves as a way of smoothing over ethnic, religious and social divides in the vast west African country of 150 million people and over 250 tribal groups.
Jonathan, a former vice-president, who was dubbed the "accidental president" when he took office after the death of Umaru Yar'Adua in May this year, could face a rebellion within his own party as his candidacy breaks an unwritten rule that the top office should alternate between the Muslim-dominated north and the predominantly Christian south, the Independent reported.
Jonathan promised, "In presenting myself for service, I make no pretense that I have a magic wand that will solve all of Nigeria’s problems or that I am the most intelligent Nigerian. Far from it. What I do promise is this – If I am elected President in 2011, I will make a covenant with you the Nigerian people to always do right by you, to tell you the truth at all times, to carry you along and most importantly to listen to you, fellow citizens in our communities and also those of you on this page."
