As consultations and realignment of forces heighten in the political circle towards the 2011 elections, Atiku Abubakar, former vice president, is planning a comeback to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in April to start battle between politicians and ex-military men for the party's presidential ticket.
Atiku played a major role in the party that was formed immediately the military announced its intention to return the country to civilian rule in 1998. Several political formations merged to form the party that its first presidential flag bearer was Olusegun Obasanjo, an ex-military head of state. Since then, the party has been swollen with ex-military officers who have through its platform sought elective positions including David Mark, the current senate president.
As witnessed in the run up to the 2007 elections, the ex-military men are gearing up to pick the presidential slot of the party in the 2011 elections. The onslaught of the ex-military men is being led by former President Olusegun Obasanjo who has shown preference for Aliyu Gusau, the National Security Adviser (NSA) to the president, to take over from Goodluck Jonathan, the acting president in 2011. Other ex-military men who are eyeing the presidency are Ibrahim Babangida, former head of state, and Muhammadu Buhari, also former head of state, who will vie from another party.
Sources said Atiku's comeback into the PDP's fold has received the backing of some radicals who felt Atiku has the follower-ship to keep the ex-military men at bay. The move, said a top official of the party, is already making its leadership edgy as it will alter its plans for the 2011 presidency nomination. When he finally makes the move, he will run with Acting President Goodluck Jonathan, who sources said, has already entered into agreement with the former vice president.
"Atiku is coming back to the PDP in two weeks time and the party leadership already has this information. Everybody is just keeping mum about it because it will change the configuration. You know this is a deciding moment for the North and Atiku still enjoys follower-ship in the region as well as some good links in the South. So Atiku/Jonathan ticket will likely appeal to the North", a source in PDP said. Sheu Garba, spokesperson for Atiku campaign office, said he is not aware of such development now. "I don't have that information now, I will ask around and let you know", he said. Politicians like Peter Odili, former governor of Rivers State and Donald Duke, former governor of Cross-River, sources say, are likely to pair with Babangida and Gusau, respectively.
Already, Babangida is on tour of Europe to enlist its support as well as that of the G-8 ahead his declaration for the presidency. When he declares, sources said, he would likely run with Peter Odili, former governor of Rivers State.
Aliyu Gusau, whom sources said will resign his appointment as the NSA to the president after six months to prosecute his political ambition which he has since 2007 is contemplating running with Donald Duke, former governor of Cross River State who is yet to agree on the ticket. The agreement that he will leave before the expiration of this administration, sources said, explain why Lekan Are, former director-general, State Security Service (SSS) was brought in as the chief of staff to the NSA, a post that never existed before. The idea is that Are will take over as the NSA when Gusau leaves office.
Duke, it was gathered is not keen to be a running mate, but to run as the party's presidential flag bearer who may prosecute the ambition through another party if the PDP ticket is not within his reach.
Atiku may return to PDP in April (http://www.businessdayonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9515:atiku-may-return-to-pdp-in-april-&catid=85:national&Itemid=340)
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