Here we go again.

Even as President Goodluck Jonathan continues the geo-political zonal launching of his presidential campaign, there appears to be no letting up from the Northern establishment as there are moves being perfected to ensure that power goes back to the North by May 29, 2011.

One of the options, according to a very dependable source, is the intensification of talks with the candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari.

Another option which was discussed was the possibility of stopping the April general elections from holding as scheduled.

The challenge for the latter option, Vanguard can reveal, is the realization of the leaders from the North that such a move would also put the other elections like Governorship, Senate, House of Representatives elections in jeopardy as the grudge is principally directed at the presidential elections.

Vanguard has been able to discover that a meeting was held last week in Abuja by the pro-zoning elements. The meeting was held on February 5, 2011, between 8.00 pm and 9.00 pm.

It was hosted by a former National Security Adviser, NSA, in Asokoro, Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.

Vanguard learnt that "the eight participants met in furtherance of their resolve to ensure the realization of their set objective for a Northern Presidency. The meeting was attended by eight participants with representatives drawn from some Northern political groupings like the Unity Forum, UF; and the Political Standing Committee of the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF.

Some of those in attendance were:

-Ahmed Mohammed Gusau-Chairman, Political Standing Committee, ACF

-M M Abdul, Chairman, UF, and Murtala A. Aliyu, a former minister, also representing UF

-Mohammed Al-Ghazali, UF/ACF

-Bashir Yusuf and Abu Ibrahim represented NPLF

Vanguard was made to understand that "Gusau intimated the participants that the strategy sub-committee of the Political Committee of the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, had earlier met and that the outcome of that meeting informed the invitation to the various representatives of some northern political groups."

According to him, "a two-way forward approach (was) agreed at that meeting on the issue of the Northern Presidency including: "To prevail on retired Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to negotiate power with other political groups; and in the event that Buhari's presidency can not be eventually actualized, the under listed shall form the next options.

1. Some NPLF members would want to enter into a pact with Mr. President; and

2. That the forth coming presidential election should not hold."

Gusau was quoted as adding that "the option of not to conduct the presidential election is neither viable nor would it be attainable because it is not only the presidential election that would be conducted or the President alone that would be running for elective office."

He reportedly then argued that it would be difficult to sacrifice the candidates for other elective posts like the Governorship, House of Assembly and National Assembly.

But Bashir Yusuf reportedly made it clear that "though he is the head of the NPLF secretariat, he is unaware of the planned pact of the NPLF with Mr. President."

He was also reported to have said he held a "meeting with Dr. Sule Yahaya Hamma of the Buhari's Political Group," suggesting that they should first engage in discussions with the Buhari's group before they arrive at any decision or position on the issue."

One of the participants, toeing a very militant position insisted that the elections of April should not hold.

Another meeting was fixed for this week.

President vows to create a new environment

Meanwhile, President Jonathan, yesterday, promised Nigerians that his administration would create an environment where they would no longer be judged by their culture tribe, tongue, religion or language.

Speaking at the flagging off of the Northeast PDP presidential campaign in Bauchi, President Jonathan also promised that the diversities inherent in the Nigerian nation would be exploited and explored for the development of the nation.

A transparent government, Jonathan declared, is what Nigerians would have from May 29, 2011, when he would be sworn in by the time he would have won the Presidential elections in April.

"We will run a transparent government and we will create an environment where you will not be judged by culture, religion or language.

"We will exploit the diversities of this great nation for the development of this country.

"When we work together we will get to where we want to go", he said.

These and many more were the declarations of President Jonathan in Bauchi yesterday, during the North East geo-political zone presidential campaign launch.