Obasanjo, others warn PDP govs against backing IBB
By Niyi Odebode and Friday Olokor
Thursday, 29 Jul 2010

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and other South-West Peoples Democratic Party leaders have warned governors in the zone against supporting the presidential ambition of former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (retd).



A source at a meeting of the PDP leaders told our correspondents on Wednesday that the elders of the party were aware that some of the governors had been holding clandestine meetings with Babangida and his supporters.



The source at the PDP meeting, which was held in Abeokuta on Saturday, said that the governors were told of the consequences of such a support which was against the wish of the Yoruba.



Our correspondents learnt that although the zone was yet to announce its position, the leaders were aware that public opinion in the region is against zoning and they were not ready to go against it.



But it was gathered that the zone could support President Goodluck Jonathan in next year’s presidential race.



One of the South-West leaders, who pleaded anonymity, said, “What Babangida did is still fresh in the memory of the Yoruba. He annulled the June 12, 1993 election won by the late businessman, Chief Moshood Abiola, and he has not repented. The popular opinion in the South-West is not in support of the former military dictator.



“Any South-West governor who supports Babangida, will be swimming against the tide. We are not ready to incur the wrath of the Yoruba. Any attempt to back the former military president will make the PDP more unpopular in the South-West.”



An investigation by our correspondents showed that at least, three governors in the zone were supporting Babangida’s presidential ambition.



It was gathered that they had not openly declared their support for the former military president because of the fear that their popularity would worsen.



“While their counterparts in other zones have condemned zoning, most South-West governors have tactically kept quiet because of their relationship with Babangida,” the PDP leader said.



According to him, the governors plan to keep their support for IBB to themselves, until they get to the PDP national convention, where they will direct their aides to vote for Babangida.



He added, “They have confided in their commissioners and aides. They plan to surprise the leaders during the convention by mobilising support for IBB.



“Their thinking is that if elected president, the former military leader will not only give them a soft-landing, but also shield them from any investigation by anti-graft agencies.”



Meanwhile, a socio-political organisation, New Nigeria Initiative for Goodluck and Sambo, on Wednesday condemned the silence of the South-West governors on the zoning of the presidency.



It said that since South-South governors and their northern counterparts had made their views on zoning known, South-West governors should disclosed their stand.



The group, at a press conference addressed by its national leader, Chief Omenife Izuegbu, and member, Board of Trustees, Alhaji Abubakar Jada, supported the call on President Goodluck Jonathan to contest next year’s presidential election.



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