Atiku is Northern Consensus Candidate

ABUJA- AFTER months of permutations, speculations and political intrigues, the Mallam Adamu Ciroma led ‘’17-wise men’’ to get a consensus candidate for the north finally came up with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the ‘’anointed aspirant.

Briefing Journalists Monday at the Yar’adua Centre, Secretary to the Consensus Committee, Mallam Abdulkadir Sabo Bello reiterated the north’s position on zoning and completing the four year tenure of late President Umaru Yar’Adua.

With the announcement of Atiku Abubakar as the northern candidate, he would then wrestle with President Goodluck Jonathan at the primaries for the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

I am humbled. says Atiku
The former vice president and beneficiary of the consensus arrangement, Atiku Abubakar has declared that he was humbled by his endorsements by the consensus committee saying that this time calls for a sober reflection on the challenges facing the country while expressing the hope that the conclusion of the concensus process would bring to an end the divisive politics that had trailed the exercise from its opponents.

In a statement issued after the exercise today , Atiku Abubakar commended members of the committee for their patriotism and sacrifice saying their decision was a product of wide consultation across the length and breadth of the country.

More details later

Ribadu, Tofa Declare, Atiku Writes All PDP Delegates •‘EFCC never investigated Jonathan’s wife’

Former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFFC), Mallam Nuhu Ribabu, has finally confirmed his intention to contest in the 2011 presidential election, saying he wants to “remake” Nigeria.

He also dismissed the long-held belief that the EFCC investigated the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, for money laundering.

Today, the presidential candidate of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC) in the June 12, 1993 election, Alhaji Bashir Tofa, will launch his presidential bid on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP),

And in a novel gesture to woo support for his aspiration, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar yesterday wrote letters to over 3,400 statutory delegates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including President Goodluck Jonathan, urging them to give him their votes in the party’s primary election.

Ribadu promised that Nigeria would become a new country within two years if he is elected. Although, Ribadu said he was yet to decide on which platform he would run, he passionately said he had a dream for a new Nigeria. He said he wants to see a "new thing, a fresh thing" and build a nation out of the country.

The former anti-corruption Czar made these known when he met with journalists in Abuja yesterday, promising a formal declaration later.

“I have a dream of a new Nigeria, a changed Nigeria; I want to see if there is a possibility of opening a new chapter and those who are in charge somehow certainly need to give chance for the country to move forward," he said.

His areas of priority, he said, would be security, fighting corruption, providing electricity, improving education, building hospitals and helping Nigeria become an industrialised nation.

Giving reasons why he is running at the federal level in spite of his little or no experience in politics, Ribadu said: “I have experience in public service. I put 25 years of my life into service to the Federal Government of Nigeria in the executive capacity. After that, of course, I served outside Nigeria, I worked and have acquired international experience.

“I had the chance to set up an agency and ran it for five years and I was in the economic team as well as a federal prosecutor, probably more than any other person in that capacity. I was a police officer, a public worker, I put all my life to service in the federal level and it is really natural for you to put all of that into where the experience best fits, yes I will contest for the presidency.”

Asked how he intends to fund his campaign, he explained that contributions from ordinary Nigerians would be used by his team.
Ribadu also denied allegations that he mishandled a corruption case against Dame Patience, when her husband, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, was governor of Bayelsa State.
He said that it was propaganda to taint his image and that of Jonathan during the 2007 polls.

Ribadu explained that the EFCC never handled any case against Patience. “The case had to do with a lady and a man who lodged huge sums of money in the bank. The EFCC was alerted by the bank and an investigation was carried out,” he said.
According to him, it was found that they legitimately earned the money through contracts executed in the state. All the reports in the media were lies, he insisted.

“For instance, it was initially reported that N70 million was lodged into the bank. Later, it was reported that the money ran into millions of dollars. Such was the extent of the lies,” he said, maintaining: “We never handled a case against Patience Jonathan.”
Meanwhile, Tofa is set to declare his presidential ambition on the platform of ANPP today in Abuja.

The declaration which is billed to take place at Chelsea Hotel is expected to hold in the evening
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday nullified the positions of the two factions of the ANPP who have been fighting over the control of the party.

INEC, in a letter dated 15th September, 2010 and addressed to the Chairman of the convention committee, said the resolutions of the two factions of the party which took place on the 27th August and 2nd September, 2010 respectively were not supported by any provision in the constitution of the ANPP nor the Electoral Act as amended in 2010.

The commission said the two transition committees set up by both factions remained null and void, maintaining that it would deal strictly with the National Convention Planning Committee “until a new National Executive Committee is validly constituted”.

At a press conference to harmonise the positions of the two factions, Chairman of the convention committee and Governor of Yobe State, Ibrahim Gaidam, stated that both warring factions have all agreed to work together for the interest of the party.

He added that the suspension of the Sen. Muhammed Muhammed-led faction taken by the former National Chairman of the party, Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke, has been set aside, saying that they are now welcome back as bona fide members of the party.

Though INEC’s letter did not state categorically which of the convention committees it would recognise, the governor while presenting the position of the commission adopted the convention committee set by the Ume-Ezeoke’s faction with Chris Amah as the Secretary.

Meanwhile, Gaidam’s committee tentatively shifted the day of the convention by one day.
THISDAY checks revealed that the shift in the date from September 17-18 to 18-19 may not be unconnected with the decision of President Jonathan to declare tomorrow at the Eagle Square, the same venue ANPP intended to use for its national convention.

The meeting was attended by Borno State Governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, Senator Kabir Gaya, Alhaji Gambo Maigaji, former Governors, John Odigie Oyegun, Audu Abubakar and Ahmed Yerima. Also in attendance were Prince Ebuta Ayuk, former Deputy Governor of Jigawa State, Hassan Hadeja, former Minister of State, Defence, Alhaji Abdulrahman Adamu among others. Presidential candidate of the party and Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Ibrahim Shekarau, was absent at the meeting.

In the meantime, among those expected to receive Atiku’s letters are Vice-President Namadi Sambo, Senate President David Mark and Speaker of the House of Representatives Dimeji Bankole.

Other recipients of the letter include governors, deputy governors, senators, members of the House of Representatives, state Houses of Assembly, local government council chairmen, PDP chairmen in the Local government councils and PDP state executive officers.

This is in line with the statutory delegate list published by THISDAY newspaper in the last four weeks, which was confirmed by the guidelines released by the PDP on Wednesday.

THISDAY calculates that there would be 3,400 delegates but the PDP is yet to come up with the official list which is not expected to be significantly different.

In the letter, Atiku said that delegates hold the key to the realisation of his vision of a prosperous, secure, peaceful, democratic, caring and confident Nigeria.

“I am seeking the presidency of our great country to chart a new course for our beloved country and lead our people to their manifest destiny,” Atiku wrote.

“We need to create millions of jobs to keep our youth gainfully employed and help to tackle the high level of insecurity in the country. We must invest in education, research and modern technology, and infrastructure so that our productivity can increase significantly. We have to improve on our healthcare delivery so that our people will no longer die needlessly.

“With your support, we will put in place attractive incentives for people to invest in our economy and create well-paying jobs. We will fix our crumbling schools, roads, and hospitals. We will fix the electricity problem by taking advantage of the varying energy resources and needs in different parts of the country.

“We will address desertification, gully erosion and other lingering environmental challenges. We will wage a genuine war on corruption by instituting a better reward and punishment system, ensuring true independence of the anti-corruption agencies and the speedy trial of corruption cases.

“This is the time for an experienced, committed and visionary leader to rescue our country from imminent collapse. I am ready to lead. Together, we can make good things happen for our people and our country,” he said.

Atiku, IBB, Gana groups meet, seek common ground on Jonathan

TWO major groups that have been at loggerheads over whether President Goodluck Jonathan is eligible to contest next year’s presidential elections or whether the presidency should remain in the North yesterday (Thursday) night began meeting in Abuja to find a common ground.
The agenda between the G15 of General Ibrahim Babangida/Atiku Abubakar/Adamu Ciroma coalition and the Professor Jerry Gana G20 Group was not known last night, but it is generally believed that both groups want to determine how the North should go on the issue of the Jonathan ambition.
The Guardian had reported last Monday that indications that opposing northern groups would meet over President Goodluck Jonathan ambitions for 2011 looked more feasible in Abuja.
The Babangida/Atiku group has been opposed to Jonathan taking a shot at the presidency, but another northern group G20 led by Professor Jerry Gana and two National Vice Chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) believe the President should contest the office because he had a joint ticket with late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and divine providence had opened the way for the country to have a President from the Niger Delta.
Sources had confirmed comments made by Gana last week that there had been an exchange of letters between him and Malam Adamu Ciroma. “Malam Ciroma wrote and I replied in a nice decent way. We shall come to a mutual agreement in the best interst of Nigeria,” Gana said last week Thursday at a press conference.
Another source said he was sure both groups will not agree on the issue of whether Jonathan should contest or not. “It is a waste of time, there are too many big egos involved,” the source said.
The meeting is coming even as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has slated next week as the date he will formally declare his bid to contest the 2011 presidential elections on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He sent the invitation for the declaration yesterday and it is to be held in the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.

IBB, Atiku’s alliance crumbles over 2011 presidential ticket

A sharp disagreement appears to have crept into the alliance between former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar over who between them should fly the North’s flag in the 2011 presidential election.



Information available to the Nigerian Tribune indicates that the two leaders have failed to reach an agreement on this issue after spending some time discussing the details of the issue.

Sources confirmed, on Tuesday, that the duo of Babangida and Abubakar were unable to agree on who should step down for the other, if they succeeded in winning the zoning war in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Babangida and Abubakar had been at the forefront of the zoning campaign in recent weeks. They had held meetings where they insisted that the zoning policy of the PDP remained sacrosanct.

Sources insisted that the relationship between the inner circles of the two leaders who are championing the zoning cause had not been that cordial, notwithstanding the public show of unity on the matter.

While Abubakar was said to be flaunting his democratic credentials and the fact that he fought his former boss, President Olusegun Obasanjo, between 2005 and 2007, to strengthen democracy, he was said to be insisting that such qualities should stand him out in 2011.

A source monitoring the developments quoted Abubakar as having insisted that his stance against the third term agenda of the Obasanjo administration showed him as a veritable democrat far above the credentials being flaunted by Babangida.

“There is the belief in Atiku’s camp that Babangida should not be seen in the forefront of a democratic contest because of the indelible dent of annulment of the June 12,1993, presidential election which he cannot wish away.

“The belief is that Atiku should be supported as the candidate with the appealing democratic credentials from the North right now,” a source said.

The source, however, added that Babangida believed he had the best political experience to handle Nigeria at this time and that he should be supported by former Vice-President Abu-bakar to run the 2011 race.

“In IBB’s camp, the belief is that being a former leader, he should have the chance of first refusal and Atiku should advert his mind to that reality.

“But for now, they are patching up the public image of the zoning war until it is the right time to neutralise the other. I think they want to first fight a common enemy before going fully for each other’s jugular,” the source stated.

However, the spokesman for Atiku Campaign Organisation, Mallam Garba Shehu, on Tuesday, said the two leaders had not experienced sharp disagreements on the zoning battle.

Shehu, in a telephone conversation, said “the situation has not even arisen. So how can there be a disagreement on a situation that is yet to arise?”

Meanwhile, the camp of President Goodluck Jonathan, on Monday, insisted on the need to emphasise Nigeria’s unity above sectional interests.

Jonathan, speaking through his Senior Special Assistant, Research and Strategy, Mr Oronto Douglas, said he would not preside over a divided Nigeria.

I’m contesting in 2011, Atiku tells Jonathan •I wish you well –President •Jonathan delays declaration for further consultations

AS President Goodluck Jonathan gathers his campaign team for the 2011 presidential poll, former vice-president, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, last Thursday, met with the president in Abuja and informed him of his bid to also contest the forthcoming poll.

Sources, who spoke to the Nigerian Tribune on condition of anonymity, said the parley took place at the Presidential Villa, noting that it was part of the consultations that the former vice-president had been engaged in to launch his presidential ambition.

Abubakar, who contested the 2007 presidential poll on the ticket of the Action Congress (AC), the party he joined from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but lost to the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, was said to have met President Jonathan on his ambition as leader of the party.

The president, after listening to Atiku on his resolve to contest the 2011 presidential election, was said to have wished him well, even as he reiterated his commitment to free and fair polls in the country.

According to a source, the parley was said to be the high point of consultations that the former vice-president had been having with party members and leaders, emirs and traditional rulers and key stakeholders in the country.

However, Nigerian Tribune gathered that Alhaji Abubakar would be adopting a different approach to sell himself and not engage in open campaign for now, as he was said to be focusing attention mainly on the party’s primaries coming up before the end of the year.

The source stated that the former vice-president reasoned that the primaries would come before the general election and it was where the party would pick its standard-bearer for the 2011 elections and, therefore, the need for him to stay away from engaging in open campaign.

“Atiku will not be seen printing or pasting campaign posters and billboards or sponsor radio or television jingles for now. He would also not be seen addressing political rallies. This is not the focus now, because the target is the PDP primaries and how to win,” the source said.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that the former number two man was continuing with his consultations and that he had already set up his campaign team, among other things.

Alhaji Abubakar served under former President Olusegun Obasanjo between 1999 and 2007, but was denied membership registration by the PDP due to irreconcilable differences between him and Obasanjo, a development which made him to dump PDP in order to contest the last presidential poll on the ticket of the AC.

Meanwhile, it emerged in Abuja on Monday that President Jonathan has, so far, refrained from declaring his interest in the 2011 presidential race, because of the need for further consultations, especially in view of the divisive tendencies being exhibited by some politicians across the country.

Sources in the government said that President Jonathan had assured his close aides that he would not encourage any debate that could put one section of the country against the other.

The president was also said to have held a strategic meeting with close aides at the weekend, where he assured them that he was intensifying consultations on the possibility of his joining the presidential race.

A source close to the meeting told the Nigerian Tribune that Jonathan believed that the most important assignment before him was to keep Nigeria united and reduce all divisive tendencies to the barest minimum.

“This is a country of 150 million people with diverse interests and peoples. Several interests are playing up but it is our duty to maintain a united nation, a united front and avoid orchestrating issues that only widen the gulf between the sections of the country,” a source close to the administration quoted the president as saying.

As a result of the need to further intensify his campaigns, Jonathan was said to have directed all his aides involved in the 2011 campaign to withdraw forthwith and face issues of governance.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Research and Strategy, Mr Oronto Douglas, who spoke with newsmen in Abuja on Monday, also confirmed the ban on the president’s aides as regards the 2011 elections.

“He stated at a briefing: “I am aware that Mr. President had told all of us, his aides, to steer clear of partisan politics and commit ourselves to governance,” Douglas said.

He also declared that President Jonathan had made up his mind not to encourage disunity in the land.
The president’s aide further said: “The president has said that he wants to consult with Nigerians on the 2011 issue. He is still consulting. In fact, I am aware that he has intensified his consultations and he has ordered all his aides who have been linked with the clamour for him to contest to steer clear of politics and allow the president to finish his consultations.”

Douglas said that the president was a man who cherished Nigeria’s unity and would never condone anything that threatened the all-important national item.

“I can assure you that Nigeria’s interests will be paramount in terms of offering himself for continuous service to the nation.

“I know that the president is an inclusive person, consultative and broadminded. He will anchor his decision on the total interest of Nigeria. He believes that the journey of Nigeria is not an individual affair; it is not a sectional affair; it is not a religious affair; it is a national matter. The Nigerian character is not exclusive,” the president’s aide said, adding that those orchestrating division along sectional lines needed to have their commitment to Nigerian’s unity examined.