*Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote yet to unveil contribution

Businessmen, multi-national organisations, interest groups and individuals dipped their hands into their treasury Saturday and splurged the sum of N21.27billion to support the second-term campaign of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Despite the hefty sum raised, some of the party chiefs expressed apprehensions about the 14 February election, saying it will be tough as Jonathan faces an old electoral foe, Maj. General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress.

The fund raising for the president took place Saturday at a dinner at the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Mr. Tunde Ayeni, chairman of Skye Bank and chairman of the occasion was the first to announce a donation of N2billion, for himself and friends.

The Chairman of the fundraising committee, Prof. Jerry Gana, said his friends and associates in the power sector were donating N5billion.

The PDP Governors Forum announced a total donation of N1.05billion, with each governor donating N50million. There are 21 PDP governors in the country.

Roll Call of other donors:
*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

Mr. Joseph Makanju, representative of the Chief Fund Raiser and Chairman of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote said his principal, who was outside the country, did not leave a mandate.

He, however, promised that as soon as Dangote returned to the country, he would personally see the National Chairman of the PDP, Adamu Mu’Azu, to offer his support.

Jonathan said the funds would not be wasted or misused.

“I thank everyone who made donation tonight,” said Jonathan.

The President stated that the money was for the PDP, stressing that the amount generated would help to run the PDP better.

‘2015 elections will be competitive’

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,”The Punch quoted him as saying.