POLITICAL leaders of the North were said to have reached out to President Goodluck Jonathan in a bid to secure assurances that their preferred candidate would be supported to succeed the president in 2019.

In a move seen as a follow-up to the pact said to have been reached with the northern leaders’ strategic committee comprising mainly Northern leaders, the Northern elders led by elder statesman, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, had visited the Presidential Villa, Abuja last week for further talks and to cement the deal.

Though the group met with Vice-President Namadi Sambo, sources confirmed that the key message conveyed through the vice-president to Jonathan was the need for assurances that power would revert to the North in 2019.

Sources confirmed that Jonathan had given indications that the North would take power in 2019 after his second term in office during the week-long discussions that yielded the pact produced by the strategic committee.

But it was learnt that the elders came specifically last week to get words from the Villa that the North-West would be backed for the Presidency in 2019.

It was learnt that the Northern elders had wanted to secure the assurances so as to be in the best position to define their messages to strategic elders and leaders of the Northern region.

“There has been some rapprochement between President Jonathan and key Northern leaders in recent times. After the release of the strategic pact, which detailed the work the president would focus on in his second term, the leaders have started reaching out in a big way to fashion what would amount to a working arrangement between the North and the South.

“One of the objectives is to douse the tension between the zones and reduce the intensity of hate messages and hate campaign in the polity. We believe that once this is achieved at this election, the unity of the country can be assured,” a source close to the strategic meetings said.

The source said that the Northern intelligentsia is becoming wary by the day of the activities and desperation of some southern elements around General Muhammadu Buhari, adding that the North was already rethinking the Buhari option.

The deal right now is to see how the North would reciprocate years of South-South backing with a support for Jonathan, while the president will, in turn, back a northern candidate to succeed him in 2019. With that pact sealed, we have a concrete message for the North,” a source in the know said.

It was learnt that the team reiterated their message during the meeting with Sambo at the Villa last week and was told to expect words from the president directly through its chairman.

“I can tell you that the president was immediately briefed on his return to Abuja and words have been communicated to Alhaji Yakassai on the way forward,” the source further said.

http://tribune.com.ng/news/top-stories/item/30793-northern-leaders-lobby-jonathan-for-2019

Wow good to see Northern elements thinking in the right direction.

My month of first place, first class and first rate success.

I have decided not to believe any news again. May be till after the elections,propagandas will make you think that your preferred candidate has already won and it beclouds right Judgement.

The north would be silly to accept that Tinubu's Greek gift.

Northerners do not want to play into the hands of a yoruba game again
Tinubu is planning what Obasanjo did. Abokki is getting wiser

Yorubas imposing their candidate on Abokkis

Buhari's candidature is largely being propelled by Tinubu.

How many northern leaders are the forefront of Buhari's aspiration to lead Nigeria?

Discerning people know that the likes of Babangida Aliyu, Sule Lamido, Adamu Muazu and Nuhu Ribadu are being considered for taking over from Jonathan in 2009.

Buhari being president? That must be some kind of joke...

IT'S GOODLUCK OR NO NIGERIA, WE WILL MARCH BUHARI TO COURT, AFTER IF CARE IS NOT TAKE WE MARCH HIM TO PRISON BUT I KNOW THAT GOOLUCK WILL GIVE HIM PRESIDENTIAL PARDON, AND WE WILL MARCH HIM TO RETIREMENT FOR HIM TO GO AND TAKE CARE OF HIS COWS

The north is getting back her right senses lol

Balkan:
Northerners do not want to play into the hands of a yoruba game again
Tinubu is planning what Obasanjo did. Abokki is getting wiser

Yorubas imposing their candidate on Abokkis

If Yaradua's saga should repeat itself again the North will not accept the outcome because the South West will cling to the constitution and I guess at that point the country is heading towards balkanization because they will quietly play into the hands of other regions.

Buhari can't survive a rigorous Nigerian politicking for 4 years how much more the 8 Years projection.Tinubu is fast becoming a puppeteer and Buhari his puppet in waiting .

And the SE, the perenial follow follow, will form groups to support this deal!

So they support Jonathan not because he worth reflecting But because the are planning to project their own candidate? Now the trut is out. Buhari all the way!

Major Hamza al Mustapha for president

jaytee01:
And the SE, the perenial follow follow, will form groups to support this deal!

Bros, let 2019 come first.
For now, we got Jonathan's back

noblezone:


Bros, let 2018 come first.
For now, we got Jonathan's back

Good morning, clown

What is your business with Nigeria's election? It is illegal for a foreigner like you to vote in our election. The last time I checked, you were not a Nigerian.

*****Enough northern this southern that*******

*****NIGERIANS ASK FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE******

REGARDLESS OF NORTH SOUTH WEST OR EAST

SO MANY YEARS AFTER INDEPENDENCE WE ARE STILL

GETTING IT RIGHT......CAPITAL PROJECTS ARE REISSUED
EVERY NEW ADMINISTRATION......ITS TIME WE HAVE A
BIPARTISAN APPROACH TO THINGS LIKE EDUCATION,SECURITY AND HEALTHCARE.......

NORTH,SOUTH,WEST,EAST
IS A SCAM.......................

SAY I AM A NIGERIAN AND THATS ALL THAT MATTERS


GMB/PYO
2015.

Alright

It seems that these people don't see the General winning this election, that's why they are switching to plan B. Smart move.

Let them keep confusing Dafthan Dumbluck.

As for me and my compound, we vote for change.

[size=16pt]So what happens to the Ibos who have been believing Jonathan would hand over to them

Abi dem don use dem head again[/size]

--

Today shd be March 1 , shey?

Dem talk say I nogo see front page today, but #Godwin --






Lord seyad

Mk una no vex....I jst wan read comments cos dis topic no concern m @ all

It's too late already. Election is just few weeks away

Northern leaders hahaha.

Even northerners themselves know that GMB is not a leader.

May be you mean Northern Looters ?...Let just shove all this unfounded speculations, we have a month to the Election, let wait and see...Sai Buhari ! How many likes for MARCH4BUHARI ?

Dnt even knw which to believe again... Fear politics game

Any which way...

Sai Buhari

Change2015

sincerenigerian:


Good morning, clown

What is your business with Nigeria's election? It is illegal for a foreigner like you to vote in our election. The last time I checked, you were not a Nigerian.

The election is not just a Nigerian thing but the world though only Nigerians and foreigners in Nigeria with PVC are allowed to vote.
He might not be a Nigerian but if he lives in Nigeria, then he has a say. though I don't share his clueless opinion about GEJ

THE SAME PRESIDENT, THE SAME
GOVERNMENT, THE SAME PARTY (PDP), THE SAME NIGERIAN MILITARY, THE SAME BOKO HARAM, THE SAME SAMBISA FOREST, They are winning the same battle now within 2 weeks now that MR PRESIDENT AND PDP NEED OUR VOTES AT ALL COST. This is the same battle they were unable to win since 4 years ago when they didn't need anything from us. Over 100,000 people have been killed. Billion of dollars properties destroyed. Several million people were rendered homeless. Women were raped. Female students were kidnapped. WE ARE NOT FOOLS God will save us from THE THESE LOOTERS. PLEASE SHARE AND LET VOTE JONATHAN OUT. GOD BLESS NIGERIA.