*Party members counting on Atiku’s ability to use money, media as political tools
Last Sunday’s formal defection of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has ruffled feathers ahead of the party elective convention slated for Saturday, a media report has said.
Credible sources said some of PDP’s handlers are very happy that the Wazirin Adamawa has defected to their fold from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
They hinged their joy on Atiku’s propensity to deploy his enormous resources, rich media outfit and elaborate political outreach through the formidable structure he built over the years, a development they said “would undoubtedly embolden the PDP ahead of 2019.”
It was gathered that Atiku had already sealed a deal with ex- President Goodluck Jonathan who had already promised him South East and South South backing.
In the North Central, it was gathered that Atiku has made “advanced consultations” with ex- Military President Ibrahim Babangida and former heads of state Abdulsalami Abubakar among others.
But the sources said other forces within the party are not happy with Atiku’s coming to the PDP, considering that his ultimate target is to get the party’s presidential ticket at a time many members have gone far in their aspiration for the same post.
It was gathered that the party’s Saturday elective convention promises to be the ultimate decider because all the presidential hopefuls of the party have their preferred chairmanship candidate.
Though Saturday’s convention has nothing to do with the party’s presidential primaries, it is evident that whoever emerged as chairman would play a key role in deciding who becomes the party’s flag-bearer for the presidency.
This, to greater extent, underscores the purported “desperation” of various contenders to see that it is their preferred candidate, and by extension aspirants for various offices of the party at the national and zonal levels that emerges on Saturday.
The presidential aspirants that are so far in the calculations are ex- governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido; ex- governor of Kano State, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau; the National Caretaker Chairman of the party, Senator Ahmed Makarfi; a former president of the Senate, Senator David Mark and lately Atiku, Wazirin of Adamawa
A credible source told our correspondent last night that while few weeks ago there were more than four camps working tirelessly to see that they enthrone members of the National Working Committee (NWC), the forces have reduced to just two within hours of Atiku’s defection to the party.
Key contenders for the PDP chairmanship include Chief Olabode George, Professor Tunde Adeniran, and Mr Jimi Agbaje, all of them from the South West; as well as Prince Uche Secondus and Chief Raymond Dokpesi both from the South South.
“The fight is now simply between Atiku’s camp and Makarfi/ Governor Nyesom Wike camp,” one of the sources said.
He said Atiku “is so desperate to get the PDP presidential ticket because it would be over for him after 2019. The two politicians would never support one chairmanship aspirant because each of them is interested.”
The former vice president last week marked his 71 anniversary and would be 73 by 2019; and in the event he didn’t actualize his dream of becoming the president, he would have to start counting eight years forward from 2023 because the presidential ticket would have been zoned to the South.
The ticket might likely remain there till around 2031 and Atiku would be more than eighty years old then and it would be unlikely for him to think of joining the contest.
Ahead of Saturday’s convention, it was gathered that many of the PDP governors have agreed to work for the emergence of Chief Uche Secondus as national chairman.
“Governor Wike is the chief architect of the plan and the ultimate goal is that if Secondus emerges as chairman, he would in turn work for the emergence of Makarfi as the party’s presidential flag bearer.
“And in the event Makarfi got it, he too would pay Wike back with vice presidential slot while other PDP governors who would be rounding up their tenures would be rewarded with various positions, including automatic ticket for the Senate and ministerial positions,” he said.
Another source said other notable officials that have aligned themselves with this arrangement include members of the PDP national caretaker committee and some members of the National Assembly.
On the other hand Atiku is reportedly supporting the aspiration of Professor Adeniran from the South West as national chairman.
It was gathered that many former ministers, former governors, some BoT members and also some members of the National Assembly as well as “recalcitrant members of the APC” are all in support of Adeniran, and by extension Atiku.
But further findings reveal that the contest for the enthronement of the national chairman is getting more complicated in the North as the region is sharply divided into two camps.
Some politicians who go by the name Northern Elders and Leaders forum of the PDP have urged delegates to vote for only chairmanship aspirants from the South West; meaning they are not in tune with the Makarfi camp.
They stated this in a communiqué signed by ex Governor Shekarau and former Speaker, Benue State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Margaret Icheen after a nocturnal last week.
Other notable stakeholder at the meeting included former governors of the party from the region- Sen. Jonah Jang, Muazu Babangida Aliyu, , Gabriel Suswam, Ahmadu Fintiri; former Senate President, Sen. David Mark, Sen. Ibrahim Mantu, Amb. Aminu Wali, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, Prof. Jerry Gana, Mallam Adamu Maina Waziri among others.
But suddenly, PDP chairmen in the North, who apparently tend to be in favour of the Makarfi camp, rejected the move to micro-zone the chairmanship position to the South West.
Their chairman, Hassan Hyat, who announced their resolve after their meeting in Abuja, said the contest must be opened for candidates from all the three zones in the South in line with the decision reached in Port Harcourt.
But in between these extremes is Chief Bode George, who is also tirelessly appealing to various delegates from states.
George believes that considering his vast experience in party politics, he is the right man for the chairmanship.
“The state in which PDP is now is not meant for bambino. There are certain norms of this party, established by the founding fathers. If they understand the norm, the culture, the attitude, the unwritten laws of the party, some of them would have dropped out. Micro-zoning is fundamental issue for the sustenance of this party,” he said.
But besides all the popular aspirants, Akin Akin- Deko is another aspirant from the South West who believes the PDP would be heading “to hell” if its handlers allow someone with cases at the EFCC to emerge as chairman. (Daily Trust)
