Don’t contest in 2011, Obasanjo tells Jonathan
SUNDAY, 25 APRIL 2010 00:00 OLUSOLA SANNI

•Settle for VP, Northern leaders tell Ag. President
•Odili, Nnamani, Tinubu, others lobby IBB for VP
From former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has come a word of advice for the Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan: Do not contest for the presidency in 2011.


Sources said Obasanjo offered the advice based on reports that some close aides of the Acting President have been mounting pressure on him to be a part of the 2011 elections as a presidential candidate.


Added to this was the fact that Jonathan did not give a clear cut answer to whether he would contest or not when he was asked the question on a Cable News Network (CNN) programme anchored by Christiana Amanpour.


It was gathered that Obasanjo told Jonathan that rather than allow his candidacy to generate more tension, as it has been doing already, he should opt to be the running mate of any Northerner who emerges the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Based on an unwritten agreement, the PDP, on which platform Jonathan and President Umaru Yar’Adua were elected, has zoned the presidency to the North for eight years, beginning from 2007.


According to our source, Obasanjo was not specific in the choice of the candidate Jonathan should work with.
The source hinted that the new plan will make Jonathan continue as the vice-president till 2015 when the presidency will then return to the South, a time it is believed the Acting President should wait for.


Obasanjo reportedly told Jonathan in a telephone conversation that it is only then that the Acting President could be sure of a bloc vote from the North for his ambition.
But it could not be confirmed if Jonathan has agreed to the plan though he hinted in the CNN interview that he could continue as the vice-president in 2011.


Sources said this was also the position taken by some prominent political leaders from the North on the 2011 elections.
Sources told the Nigerian Compass that all prospective presidential candidates from the North have an unwritten agreement that once Jonathan indicates interest, he should be made the vice-presidential candidate for the election.


Among those said to have agreed to the agreement were former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd); former military Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd); and the National Security Adviser, General Aliyu Gusau (rtd).
It was gathered that the thinking was that in the event that Yar’Aua could not continue in office as a result of his ill-health, any Northerner who wants to take over would do injustice to Jonathan by denying him a second term in office as the vice-president.


Though several politicians have been lobbying the Northern candidates, sources said the preference is still for Jonathan to emerge as the vice-president in order to be fair to him and also placate the people of the Niger Delta, especially those urging him to seek the office of the president.


It was learnt that some Northern leaders have already reached out to Jonathan on the need for him to accept the vice-presidency offer in 2011.
They were said to have told him that based on the unwritten agreement of the PDP as it relates to the presidency, Jonathan should settle for the position of the vice-president.
A source said, “There seems to be a twist in the crisis rocking the PDP.


“Obasanjo has told Jonathan to back down on his presidential ambition till 2015.
“The plan is to make Jonathan continue in office as the vice-president till 2015, when the presidency will be zoned back to the South.
“We do not know how Obasanjo came about this decision, whether he has some agreement with any Northern group or not.


“I cannot also tell whether Jonathan has agreed to the plan or not but the situation of things right now is that Obasanjo has told Jonathan to step down his presidential ambition.”
The source, who is a member of the PDP Reform Forum, which is rooting for Jonathan’s emergence as the PDP flag bearer in next year’s presidential election, further told the Nigerian Compass that there would be no let up in the campaign for the Acting President to contest.


The would-be Northern candidates, sources from two of the camps told the Nigerian Compass, have started building on this directive to have Jonathan as the vice-presidential candidate.


However, there are fears among those in the two camps that the in-fighting among politicians from the South-South could spell doom for anyone who opts for a candidate from that zone as vice-president.


A source said, “If for instance my boss should pick the Acting President, we still have to contend with the Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Timi Sylva, with whom the Acting President has a rift.


“It is either the rift is settled or Sylva mobilises against the joint ticket Jonathan will be flying.
“The same thing goes for most states of the South-South.
“In Rivers, the governor is on the war path with his predecessor.


“In Edo, the governor is at loggerheads with the political heavyweights in the state.
“There is no South-South state where things are settled politically as we speak.


“So anyone looking in that direction has a lot of work to do in terms of settling issues among the stakeholders.”
Sources told the Nigerian Compass that owing to this development, the Northern candidates have started looking in the direction of the South-East and the South-West for possible running mates.


It was gathered that the Northern candidates are already considering a former president of the Senate from the South-East and two serving governors from the South-West.
Indeed, pressure is said to be more on Babangida as those angling for a shot at the vice-presidency from the South have been bombarding him with requests for the ticket.


Top on the list of those who have reached out to Babangida, most of the time subtly, are a former President of the Senate, Chief Ken Nnamani; a former Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili; Sylva; the Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; former Governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Bola Tinubu; and the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Barrister Godswill Akpabio.


The source said, “We have a deluge of serving and former state governors jostling to become the running mate to IBB (Babangida).


“They are mostly from the South-South.
“We are weighing our options on who we will pick as our running mate.
“And the consideration is to look for a candidate who will add tremendous electoral advantage to the ticket and not a political liability.”

http://www.compassnewspaper.com/NG/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=46763:dont-contest-in-2011-obasanjo-tells-jonathan&catid=672:top-stories&Itemid=794

I knew the north will never allow Jonathan to contest, so long Yar'adua did not finish his tenure (as if it is their birth right).

Subterfuge, deceit and treachery. Reject PDP in every manifestation.

SapeleGuy:

Subterfuge, deceit and treachery. Reject PDP in every manifestation.

If OBJ said that Goodluck cannot be President then he is more than a fool.

What right has the north has on who can and who can 't be the President of Nigeria. The PDP unwritten agreement is a Northern deception machinery to hide their incompetency.

If they are capable, we in the South do not care who becomes the President of Nigeria whether or not he/she is from the North, South, West or East.

It is time we tell our Northern brothers enough of the Nonsense, they are mediocare and cannot lead. Example is he useless , clueless YAR A'DO NOTHING.

Unless we break this cycle, we will continue to be given rubbish.

Instead of pressurising him on how to govern well, they are pressurising him on how to tun for Presidency to their own gains-

as long as obasanjo is still alive and in charge of pdp, he will continue dictecting for nigeria and nigerians who will be or who will not be.
the next time he will talk to jonathan, it is going to read like this; WITHDRAW YOUR PRESIDENTIAL AMBITION OR FACE THE EFCC.

good advice. this is politics.it would have been politically suicidal for him to contest and win the national convention. unless he rigs the election his support base is not wide enough.

good advice. this is politics.it would have been politically suicidal for him to contest and win the national convention. unless he rigs the election his support base is not wide enough.

@sartorius,
u are a political comedian. who wins in nigeria without rigging? how wide was yar adua's support base before he won 2007?

What's the guarantee that the northern president will hand over power to the south in 2015

Obj is a big disapointment, not lik I'm surprised though, I hav always insisted dat he is d biggest fool 2 hav eva ruled dis country nd cursed was d day he was born within this political nd geographical entity he wld hav been better off a still birth.

Now this is d time 4 Jonathan to deal decisively, first nd foremost he shld 4get abt d presidency, but concentrate on a free nd fair elections, throw serious spanners into d works of Obj nd IBB and prepare 2 handova 2 d opposition, he ahld not 4get d haliburton case he can use that 2 get Obj answerin questions @ d EFCC nd makin sure he is detained, set up d EFCC also on IBB nd dose south west PDP govs anglin 4 VP ensure dat no federal fund or machinery can be deployed to d PDP campaign he shld also reject any VP nomination, if Buhari gets a mega party dat can take advantage of d development nd come in then Obj nd IBBs problems wld hav just begun.


Jonathan can then b considered for other important international positions by undoin d PDP he wld bcom a national hero nd mayb @ last we wld hav our equivalent of Mandela here in Nigeria

How does anybody know that OBJ said this?

Only Jonathan can decide for Jonathan what Jonathan wants to do in 2011.

well you never know because if jonathan runs as president in 2011 and wins that will cut SS presidency short and it will only be 5 years as oppose to 8. So im sure the SS will feel short changed if Jonathan is president for a mere 4 years.

If jonathan isnt running as president he should stick to VP to make sure the presidency is his and zoned to the SS in 2015.

depends on how you look at it Jonathan running for President can be good or bad. Eitherway he should make sure he's on the presidential ticket even if it means VP.

He(jonathan) is not clean either so im guessing if doesnt atleast take the VP seat, his own corruption and his wifes will be brought forth.

If he cant secure the presidency he better be VP- just to save his own yansh from the same EFCC he turned on everyone else during this short time.

vigasimple:

If OBJ said that Goodluck cannot be President then he is more than a fool.

What right has the north has on who can and who can 't be the President of Nigeria. The PDP unwritten agreement is a Northern deception machinery to hide their incompetency.

If they are capable, we in the South do not care who becomes the President of Nigeria whether or not he/she is from the North, South, West or East.

It is time we tell our Northern brothers enough of the Nonsense, they are mediocare and cannot lead. Example is he useless , clueless YAR A'DO NOTHING.

Unless we break this cycle, we will continue to be given rubbish.

Ruling in a democracy is by numbers. Hope you understand this?

Something tells me its not possible to taste presidential powers and let go just like that. Dr. Jonathan will definitely attempt to contest the 2011 elections irrespective of the unwritten agreement in PDP. To do this, he will surely need to force his way (He has no political clout to pull a compromise), which will introduce so many uncertainties in the polity.

The best thing for Dr. Jonathan is to stay out of the elections and conduct a proper election for the contestants. That will be his legacy. He shouldn't even join anybody as VP.

Akanbi_edu:

Ruling in a democracy is by numbers. Hope you understand this?

Something tells me its not possible to taste presidential powers and let go just like that. Dr. Jonathan will definitely attempt to contest the 2011 elections irrespective of the unwritten agreement in PDP. To do this, he will surely need to force his way (He has no political clout to pull a compromise), which will introduce so many uncertainties in the polity.

The best thing for Dr. Jonathan is to stay out of the elections and conduct a proper election for the contestants. That will be his legacy. He shouldn't even join anybody as VP.

That is the best advice. Let him act as an umpire, and conduct the best elections in the history of the nation, such that, JUNE 12 will be a mirage if compared. For him to want to contest, then he is set for doom.

Jonathan, exhibiting the trait of a typical Nigeria leader.

dedeike:

What's the guarantee that the northern president will hand over power to the south in 2015

GBAM!

You guys/gals should know that the North are one big deception. They will change the rule comes 2015, and will never handover to the south. They will use their hold on the Military to get their way or we will have a Military coup.

Let us look at it this way, come 2015 they will engineer confusion between South South and the South East that they (south) will not be able to field a compromises candidates, then hell will be let loose, the Military will take over, and it will be another Northerner. They are not sincere and will never be.

OBJ case was a one off to pacify the Yoruba's after the death of MKO Abiola.

IN any event, we Nigerians want the best man for the job, and all those Zoning is to cover the North Incompetency.

Who championed the zoining in the first place, it was the condition before the 'born to rule mentality people' allow a southern to become a President. If we don't stop this nonsense , this country is not going to move forward.

vigasimple:


IN any event, we Nigerians want the best man for the job, and all those Zoning is to cover the North Incompetency.

Thats not true because northerners can win in a free and fair election any time without Zoning they have more states . The northerner might be mediocore like Ribadu or el ruai but can surely win all states in the north and im sure 2-3  southern states with the right VP.

Was it not Shehu shagari who had a SE VP and won the lection against a southerner Awolowo, even though it was clear Shehu wasnt the best candidate? So if free and fair election happens that will be the same result over and over again. Mko won partly because he was a muslim and so was his VP. So I doubt there will be a southern christian as president anytime soon in a free and fair election. Zoning is better. . . .

@ post
Jonathan has no choice but to become VP if it comes down to it.

Because if hes not VP- he will surely have corruption charges brought against him.

Listing Bro Jo Contest the president you have the Knife and the Yarm, you can do it I don't care if we loose it to the North for 20 year after your presidency, so take my advice

John

Obasanjo gave a very good advise. I hope Jonathan listens. It is the turn of the North and they should be allowed to complete it. Turn-by-turn presidency is the best for a multi-tribal, tribalistic, divisive, selfish and highly incompetent population such as Nigeria

mekusxxx:

Obasanjo gave a very good advise. I hope Jonathan listens. It is the turn of the North and they should be allowed to complete it. Turn-by-turn presidency is the best for a multi-tribal, tribalistic, divisive, selfish and highly incompetent population such as Nigeria

I may have to concur here. In a multi-tribal society like Nigeria, it is better tribes takes turn to rule, else, marginalisation might set it, and trouble in-view.

its the only party that is really multi religion, multi ethnic and multi regional.

PDP has good intentions just bad policies and ways of delivering them. PDP just needs reforms.

mekusxxx:

Obasanjo gave a very good advise. I hope Jonathan listens. It is the turn of the North and they should be allowed to complete it. Turn-by-turn presidency is the best for a multi-tribal, tribalistic, divisive, selfish and highly incompetent population such as Nigeria

this is the first time i'm seeing you making a good point.
I have said it that the zoning arrangement should have constitutional backing,so that there wont be any problem whatsoever that may arise from non-compliance.if jonathan comes as a vice-president come 2011,he may be adopted to take over from whosoever is the president in 2015.

Story was found in Compass Newspaper owned by Gbenga Daniel who will be IBB's campaign coordinator in the Southwest so go figure. Junk Journalism at its best HMV at its worst. (HMV) His Masters Voice.

sjeezy8:

Thats not true because northerners can win in a free and fair election any time without Zoning they have more states . The northerner might be mediocore like Ribadu or el ruai but can surely win all states in the north and im sure 2-3  southern states with the right VP.

Was it not Shehu shagari who had a SE VP and won the lection against a southerner Awolowo, even though it was clear Shehu wasnt the best candidate? So if free and fair election happens that will be the same result over and over again. Mko won partly because he was a muslim and so was his VP. So I doubt there will be a southern christian as president anytime soon in a free and fair election. Zoning is better. . . .

@ post
Jonathan has no choice but to become VP if it comes down to it.

Because if hes not VP- he will surely have corruption charges brought against him.

Thank you.

We southerners are too proud and politically naive. A lot believe because they have many certificates and more educated qualifies them better than the northerners. But alas, it is democracy. Its a game of numbers. One man one vote.

currently I don't want to delve into the statistics according to last census. A common sense approach will let us know that all equations of numbers favours the north more.why? We have adopted the Husband,wife and 2 children lifestyle(I am not saying it is bad or good), compare to a man, four wives and 15 children in average north west home. who is going to get more numbers in the nearest future?

I tried to make this poster realize that ruling is not for the most competent but about numbers. We need to realize that if free and fair election is conducted in Nigeria, northerners will win most of the time. Up till now, we still can't get the SW and SE to agree on anything! The division in the south is too much.

I hope these proud people will sit down and reason that the zoning arrangement actually favours the south. Thats what people like Obasanjo knows.

Akanbi_edu:

Thank you.

We southerners are too proud and politically naive. A lot believe because they have many certificates and more educated qualifies them better than the northerners. But alas, it is democracy. Its a game of numbers. One man one vote.

currently I don't want to delve into the statistics according to last census. A common sense approach will let us know that all equations of numbers favours the north more.why? We have adopted the Husband,wife and 2 children lifestyle(I am not saying it is bad or good), compare to a man, four wives and 15 children in average north west home. who is going to get more numbers in the nearest future?

I tried to make this poster realize that ruling is not for the most competent but about numbers. We need to realize that if free and fair election is conducted in Nigeria, northerners will win most of the time. Up till now, we still can't get the SW and SE to agree on anything! The division in the south is too much.

I hope these proud people will sit down and reason that the zoning arrangement actually favours the south. Thats what people like Obasanjo knows.

In actual fact, the south is too divided, that is why the north always have upper hand, when it comes to "politricking". They might not have the certificates, but they have the one "voice" thing, which was exhibited in ANPP primaries in 2003, when all the northerners had to step down for Buhari, while the South East alone, had about 6 Presidential contestants in one party, and in the same election year, contesting for the same post!.

selingel:

In actual fact, the south is too divided, that is why the north always have upper hand, when it comes to "politricking". They might not have the certificates, but they have the one "voice" thing, which was exhibited in ANPP primaries in 2003, when all the northerners had to step down for Buhari, while the South East alone, had about 6 Presidential contestants in one party, and in the same election year, contesting for the same post!.

Are you saying the south east, is the source of political division in the south?

isuomo:

Story was found in Compass Newspaper owned by Gbenga Daniel who will be IBB's campaign coordinator in the Southwest so go figure. Junk Journalism at its best HMV at its worst. (HMV) His Masters Voice.

exactly. I dont believe the story. The story lost more credibility when I read this:

Top on the list of those who have reached out to Babangida, most of the time subtly, are a former President of the Senate, Chief Ken Nnamani; a former Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili; Sylva; the Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; former Governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Bola Tinubu; and the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Barrister Godswill Akpabio.

I doubt most sincerely that Ken Nnamani, Adams Oshiomole and Tinubu will lobby IBB to be VP.

Don't think the story is worth any consideration.

That is Nigerian journalism for you. They want to sell their papers, any how. Meanwhile, it is still advisable that Jonathan does not contest, so that, he is not shamed.

Whether it is true or false, let Jonathan stepdown, else, he will heat up the polity. PDP has made up their mind, and nothing will change it even as it favours the north.

Apart from the feeling I get that this story is dubious, who is Obasanjo to tell any one to abide by an agreement - albeit a flawed one? Is he not the same person that wanted to change the constitution to run for a third term?

irohadis:

Apart from the feeling I get that this story is dubious, who is Obasanjo to tell any one to abide by an agreement - albeit a flawed one? Is he not the same person that wanted to change the constitution to run for a third term?

OBJ is turning himself into a political gods in the land. He and IBB will be shamed in this country one day.

Obj’s secret plot: Wants El-Rufai to run as Jonathan’s deputy in 2011
From NOSIKE OGBUENYI, Abuja
Monday, March 29, 2010


…Ribadu to return as special adviser on anti-graft to Ag. President
The pendulum at the Aso Rock seat of power has continued to swing with the latest indication that the Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan may after all contest the 2011 presidential election with a former minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai as his running mate.


Olusegun Obasanjo




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Daily Sun learnt that the Jonathan/El-Rufai ticket is being perfected as the main political option, while the earlier idea of Jonathan contesting the election as the running mate to former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida has been relegated as plan B.

By ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo’s latest calculation, this would mean two of his protégés being in power at the same time. El-Rufai was one of the hawks in the eight years of his presidency and a fanatical supporter of his failed third term gambit. Jonathan, on the other hand, was imposed single-handed on the ticket of Yar’Adua who himself was imposed by Obasanjo.

Very dependable sources also revealed plans by Jonathan’s power brokers to bring in the former boss of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, as special adviser on anti-corruption to the Acting President, in which case the Farida Waziri-led EFCC would be left as an empty shell, while most of her schedules will be treated in the adviser’s office.

The Jonathan/El-Rufai ticket, according to our source, was mooted when it was discovered that some younger political elements were deeply skeptical of a return to the presidency by Babangida 17 years after leaving the ultimate office in a not-too-tidy fashion. Among such younger elements who are not favourably disposed to the former military ruler’s return to Aso Rock are majority of the governors belonging to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a preponderance of their fellow party men and women in the Senate and the House of Representatives. Such politicians had increasingly begun to perceive the IBB option as “ another journey back to Egypt.”

El-Rufai as minister of FCT was an influential member of Obasanjo’s kitchen cabinet particularly during the last term of his two-term presidency. He was also a member of the federal government economic team during the period. Now, as Obasanjo plots El-Rufai’s return to power as Vice President under Jonathan presidency, some northern politicians are said to be very angry and are therefore, perfecting their counter plot to ensure that the option does not materialize.

This group of northern politicians is insisting on the North producing the presidential candidate of PDP for the 2011 election. Already, several meetings have been held by the northern forces in their bid to checkmate the Acting President and stop him from contesting the next election. Their argument is that under the PDP zoning arrangement, the presidency would remain in northern hands for a total of eight years, 2007 to 2015, to equal the number of years the South, through former president Obasanjo, held the office between 1999 and 2007. The group has also resolved to mobilize and fight against any northerner who accepts the running mate slot under a southern presidential candidate in the PDP. El-Rufai, himself, in several interviews, has been advocating a southern presidency in 2011 without stating that his interest has been factored in the whole game plan.

But the argument of those proposing the Jonathan/El-Rufai pairing is that the idea behind the North-South power rotation presupposes a kind of relay race in which a presidential standard bearer runs in one election or possibly two consecutive ones and then hand over the relay baton to another standard bearer from the opposite section of the country. They reason that it was not envisaged that two different standard bearers from one section would hand over the power baton to themselves via election without passing through a candidate from the other section. In other words, the target of the power oscillation between the two regions is via election passing through one person only to the other person from the opposite section of the country.

Besides the above game plan which implies that the next presidential candidate of the PDP after President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua should come from the South, those pushing the Jonathan/El-Rufai ticket are counting on the attraction of the pairing. While the Acting President is seemingly docile, the former FCT minister is abrasive and strong-willed. Besides, the latter is seen by some Nigerians as a no-nonsense goal getter who could be used to counter the likely opposition candidate, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari.

Buhari with serious-looking Brigadier Tunde Idiagbon ruled Nigeria with iron fist between January 1984 and August 1985. The draconian regime did a lot to instill discipline and moral etiquettes in the psyche of Nigerians. The packagers of Jonathan/El-Rufai formation believe it would be the closest democratic variant of the Buhari/Idiagbon example.

The same group strategizing for the Jonathan/El-Rufai ticket is said to be plotting the return of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu as special adviser on anti-corruption to Jonathan. Part of their strategies is to destabilize the EFCC as presently constituted. That will pave way for the return to the EFCC of Ribadu’s loyalists.

The Ribadu come-back plan also entails the lobbying of some judges who are expected to be sympathetic to him to give favourable verdicts in the two cases affecting him. His ongoing trial at the Code of Conduct Bureau and his controversial dismissal from the Nigeria Police Force. However, the plot to bring Ribadu back as the EFCC boss is said to have divided the Obasanjo camp with some in favour and others against. While those in support of him see him as the right person to add needed impetus to the EFCC, others express fears that he might be used by politicians to settle scores.


http://odili.net/news/source/2010/mar/29/501.html