The plan by the northern elite to produce a consensus presidential candidate from the zone may be under threat by the individual ambition of the aspirants from the zone, investigations by THE PUNCH have revealed,
Our correspondent gathered in Abuja, on Tuesday, that the task of the 17, set up to pick a consensus candidate for the zone to confront President Goodluck Jonathan in the primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party was being hampered by the four aspirants who have indicated their interest in the north with all considering themselves as the best for the job.
The four are the former military dictator, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd.); former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; a former National Security Adviser, Gen. Aliyu Gusau(rtd.); and the Governor of Kwara State, Dr. Bukola Saraki.
Babangida, at the party’s headquarters where he submitted his nomination form, on Monday night, vowed not to step down for any of the candidates. When prodded further, he pointed to one of the reporters and said “I will only step down for you.”
Also, while Atiku was quoted in a newspaper report (not THE PUNCH) to have said that he would abide by the decision of the committee, he also told our correspondent on Tuesday that he was the best candidate out of all the aspirants. According to a statement from his campaign office, which was sent to our correspondent via email, Atiku was quoted as saying he remained the only candidate out of all the aspirants that had managed a successful business. According to him, “Of all the aspirants that have declared interest in the presidential election, so far, I consider myself the most qualified to address the daunting economic challenges facing the country.
“I am the only one who has successfully managed a business and you need extensive knowledge of the private sector to combine its potentials with the authority of the public sector to address this challenge.”
Since he left power in 1993, after annulling the June 12 presidential election, Babangida has not been associated with any viable business, either as a sole owner or a co-owner.
Also, sources close to Saraki, who is serving his second term in office, said he too has said that he would want to face the delegates at the primaries.
Saraki is said to be claiming that being the youngest of all the aspirants, he should be the one to be considered as the consensus candidate that will be acceptable to both the young and old.
One of the sources said, “This is the only person that was born after independence. So, if we are considering a younger person with a vision, energy and vision, then it is Saraki that we are talking about.
“He is the only one that was born after independence. So, you can see that he is the person that knows where the shoe pinches. If we talk of generational change, then he is the one.”
The source claimed that Saraki, before becoming the governor, was a director in a commercial bank.
“So, what parameter will be used by the elders to screen him out? If we talk of business experience, he has it. He also does not have any baggage tie around him. He is not tainted, unlike some old leaders,” the source added.
Also, Gusau has said that he would continue to pursue his personal ambition irrespective of the efforts aimed at arriving at a single candidate from the zone.
He said he was one of the few people who had been in public service for over 40 years without having any debilitating baggage associated with him.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, on Tuesday, the Director-General of his campaign organisation, Sen. Ben Obi said the former Chief of Army Staff would not relent in his determination to win the party’s ticket.
Obi said, “As the talks for a consensus continue, please note for emphasis that we are relentlessly pursuing the cardinal objectives that will expectedly culminate in General Gusau clinching the presidential nomination of the PDP. His rich antecedents evidently attest to his competence. The fact that there is no debilitating baggage associated with him over the forty years of untainted public service, speaks volumes about the moral and intellectual force of the candidate as a person and as a presidential aspirant.”
http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201009224554048
We dey sing one yoruba song like this:
emi o ma yo,
emi o jo,
ota mi o ma sare kiri |
. . .And we know Gusau is only in the contest, because IBB is there. Gusaus has stated forcefully that he, IBB and Abacha had reached an agreement to rule Nigeria in turns, but his own "turn" has always been scuttled. He feels bitter against IBB for this and will do anything to thwart his ambitions. . . That includes not stepping down.
We have 4 Fulani men in a quandary (IBB is half Fulani). |
