Jonathan’s men

He has denied this, but if he truly harbours any agenda, then he has more than enough delegates whom he nominated to help him achieve that.Of the 492 delegates, the president appointed 37 elder statesmen and dozens others under the Federal Government, zonal and interest group delegations.Of the 37 delegates under the elder statesmen category, […]

He has denied this, but if he truly harbours any agenda, then he has more than enough delegates whom he nominated to help him achieve that.
Of the 492 delegates, the president appointed 37 elder statesmen and dozens others under the Federal Government, zonal and interest group delegations.
Of the 37 delegates under the elder statesmen category, about half of them are Jonathan loyalists.
Prominent among them include Chief Edwin Clark, former Governor of Rivers State Peter Odili, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, former Information Minister Professor Jerry Gana, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, Peoples Democratic Party national chairman Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu, Professor Jubril Aminu, former women affairs minister Mrs Josephine Anenih, Chief Ayo Adebanjo and Senator Jim Nwobodo.
From the geopolitical zones delegations, the president’s supporters include Senator Ibrahim Mantu, Chief Sergeant Awuse, Muhammad Umara Kumalia, Amb. Hassan Adamu, Amb. Yusuf Mamman, retired General Jeremiah Useni, former Nasarawa Governor Aliyu Akwe Doma, Mr Johan Dara, Senator Gbemi Saraki, among others.
Under the Federal Government delegates’ list, there are Chief Mike Ozekhome, Ms Annkio Briggs, Col. Tony Nyiam, Senator Nimi Barigha-Amange, Chief Asara A. Asara, Mr Atedo Peterside and Mr Ledum Metee.
Other president’s men include Chief Emeka Ezeife, former PDP national chairmen Ahmadu Ali, Chief Bode George, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, former Bayelsa Governor Diyepreye Alamieyeseigha and Professor Nsongurua J.Udombana.
There are also former House of Representatives speaker Ghali Umar Na’Abba, Chief Chibudom Nwuche, former Akwa Ibom Governor Victor Attah, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, Hajiya Bola Shagaya, General Zamani Lekwot, among others.
The president has men even among the traditional rulers. Some of them include Chief Edmund Daukoru, the Amanyanabo of Nembe kingdom, and Chief Jacob Gyang Buba, the Gbong Gwom Jos.  
Many of these president’s men, it seems, were brought in to specifically futher whatever agenda Jonathan has.
Strategically, some of the president’s men are heading key committees at the conference.
For instance, Attah is the co-chair of the crucial devolution of power committee that deals with resource control.
The second most important committee, political structuring and forms of government, which deals with tenure of executives among others, is being co-chaired by Kumalia, a strong ally of the president from Borno State.
The committee on politics and governance is being co-chaired by Prof. Gana.
Apart from heading the committees, the president’s men are also in sensitive committees.
For instance, Mantu, Briggs, Attah, Prof. Aminu, Gbemi Saraki, Prof. Udombana, Ahmadu Ali, Adebanjo, Chief Asara, are all in the devolution of power committee.
The national security committee is has Generals Useni and Lekwot, Col. Nyiam, Doma, Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) factional leader Chief Gani Adams, among others.
President’s men like Hassan Adamu, Prof. Gana, Na’Abba, Nwuche, Bode George and Mittee, are all in politics and governance committee.
Already, some of the president’s key allies have started strategising. For instance, a new group, the National Unity Forum, emerged the conference under the leadership of Mantu.
Daily Trust has seen a letter personally signed by Mantu, inviting some selected delegates to the inaugural meeting of the group just weeks into the conference.
It remains to be seen whether the president’s men would work collectively up to the end of the conference.