Ahead of general elections in April, northern political leaders have the task of backing a strong presidential candidate from the region to run against President Goodluck Jonathan. This was part of decisions reached at a strategic meeting last week in Abuja, following Jonathan’s victory over former vice president Atiku Abubakar, a northerner, in the Peoples Democratic Party presidential primary held recently. The northern front runners are Mallam Nuhu Ribadu (Action Congress of Nigeria), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (Congress for Progressive Change) and Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau (All Nigeria Peoples Party).
The Nation learnt that the president is not taking the challenge lying low, and his loyalists have stepped up efforts to foil the alleged northern gang-up.
At the northern strategic meeting, it was learnt that the leaders analysed the strengths and weaknesses of Jonathan.
A reliable source confirmed that the leaders also considered the possibility of a run-off in case a winner did not emerge after the first ballot.
The source said: “At the meeting, the leaders isolated Ribadu, Buhari, and Shekarau but they have not reached any conclusion on who to back.
“In the next few weeks, the leaders will embark on mass consultations in the region on why the North must secure the presidency in 2011.
“I am sure that by February ending, the northern leaders would have defined their direction.
“What they agreed on is that a regional mobilisation should begin on the need for power to shift to the North in April especially in the light of the outcome of the presidential primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party which favoured the President.
“If you observe, there is an intense campaign of blackmail, even in mosques and through text messages, against most of the Northern governors that supported Jonathan during the primaries.
”Although the Chairman of the Northern Political leaders Forum, Mallam Adamu Ciroma and a former Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji M.D. Yusuf had cautioned against blackmail of pro-Jonathan governors and others, the situation has become tense in some northern states.
“Apart from mobilisation, the leaders also resolved at the meeting that the pro-zoning suit should be pursued to the Supreme Court.
“The North is really prepared for battle to the finish against Jonathan although the contest might not be easy.”
Sources close to Jonathan’s camp said the northern gang-up must be neutralised to unite the country and ensure that the president wins the contest.
One of them said: “I can tell you that there is a counter-move against the gang-up. Jonathan’s camp will not pretend that it has no challenge in the North.
‘‘We are aware of the gang-up but they cannot go far. The outcome of the PDP presidential primary has shown that there is a new thinking in the North and all parts of the country.
“But we are not relaxing because the forces coalescing are different from those we fought against during the primary.
“While we may not get most of the votes from the North, Jonathan is banking on about eight to 10 states in the North. Some of the states are Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue, Taraba, Kaduna, Adamawa, and Katsina.
“Everything is also being done to address politics of hate, religion and ethnicity against the President, who has shown that he is a national leader in all his comments and actions”.
The Nation learnt that the Northern leaders also conceded that there might be last-minute negotiations with some power blocs in the South-West and South-East.
Another source said: “The appraisal indicated that neither Jonathan nor any of the northern presidential candidates can earn a comfortable lead in 24 out of the 36 states.
“So, they are also planning ahead for a run-off where it is difficult to concretise realignment pact with any power bloc in the South-West or South-East.”
Source: The Nation Newspaper – www.thenationonlineng.net
Power,wealth,religion,fame,intellect,earthnicity and good health can not take one to the political seat,but God does,irrespective of who you are.
Do they really believe they will be able to get a worthy competitor for Jonathan?
If only our votes count come April, then we have nothing to fear.
I simply want let all who are heads of the northerners to know that, its not a matter of getting someone to run against president Jonathan. Rather getting a competent leader and not the other way round. I’ll also advice that the selection is made without been bias, based on the person who offers a higher amount of money of gifts of any sort.