North Devises Three-Man Strategy to Tackle Jonathan
In a bid to return power to the North and maintain the zoning formula of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), northern leaders have now formulated a game-plan in which three presidential candidates will be deployed to checkmate President Goodluck Jonathan in the contest for the 2011 presidential ticket.
The strategy devised by a group of northern elders known as G-15 led by former finance minister, Mallam Adamu Ciroma is built around former military head of state, General Ibrahim Babangida, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, and Kwara State Governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki.
According to the gameplan, the three men have been encouraged to go to the field and mobilise support across the 36 states for their aspiration.
A source said the three men under the guidance of the northern elders in the G-15 will later hold a meeting few days to the PDP presidential primaries to assess their strengths, weaknesses, the extent of their support, their electability and ability to defeat President Jonathan at the primaries as well as win the general elections.
"Based on these criteria, one of them will be endorsed as the candidate of the North. The leaders have already made the aspirants to agree that they are in the race as representatives of the geo-political region and they cannot afford to fail or undermine the arrangement in place," the source said.
He added that the three aspirants have agreed that whoever is eventually endorsed will enjoy "total, unflinching support" from the other two and from the period of his endorsement, he will be sold to the entire nation by the other two and all key northern elders, most especially members of the Ciroma-led G-15.
According to THISDAY checks, the three aspirants were selected based on the strategic, political interests and constituency they represent in the geo-political region.
Babangida was selected to represent the North-west and North-central.
Former Vice President Abubakar was selected to represent the North-east and because he has an old nationwide political structure, the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), which though not too active at present, but can be re-energised for a nationwide campaign prior to the general election.
Saraki was encouraged to join the race as the aspirant representing the northern minorities and the Middle Belt after former Senate President, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu declined.
The Kwara State governor was found to be a good material from the Middle Belt because of his influence among the 36 state governors. Saraki is the chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), a position he has occupied since 2007.
Apart from his ability to carry along the governors who wield a lot of influence in the PDP presidential nomination process, the Kwara State governor is also seen as representing the youths and his candidacy portray the eclectic nature of the north.
It is believed that the three aspirants from the North are aware that "as at today, they are working to realise regional interests but they need to put in their best in mobilising support for their candidacy and deploying adequate resources to ensure that whoever gets the regional endorsement will win the primaries and the general election."
"We mean real business. We need to demonstrate that the North is one and that our political sagacity can be deployed to ensure a robust but clean contest for the post-2011 presidency. This strategy will help to ensure free, fair and peaceful polls next year," said another Northern elder who was contacted to confirm the region's four-man strategy against President Jonathan.
Northern elders have been insisting that the PDP zoning arrangement should be maintained in the choice of the party's presidential flagbearer for the 2011 polls.
The arrangement, they said, will ensure that in the same manner the South retained the presidency between 1999 and 2007, the North also should also hold power for two terms of eight years, despite the death of former President Umaru Yar'Adua, a northerner, less than three years into his first term.
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