The Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters to President Goodluck Jonathan, Senator Mohammed Abba-Aji, on Sunday said that former military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, and ex-Vice-President Atiku Abubabar, would lose the presidential primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Abba-Aji, in a telephone interview with one of our correspondents, said that the endorsement of Jonathan by the South-West PDP on Saturday had further strengthened Jonathan’s chances of winning the primaries.

He said, “It (South-West PDP‘s declaration) is heart-warming. It is expected, judging by the fact that South-West is a very enlightened section, if not the most enlightened, of the country.

“I am happy that the South-West has come behind the President. I was expecting it judging by the utterances of its leaders.”

The presidential aide restated that Jonathan‘s camp was not disturbed by Babangida’s decision to declare his presidential ambition on September 14 or 15.

He said, ”We are not disturbed. IBB is a former President. Let him come and test his popularity. Abubakar is a former vice-president; let him also come and test his popularity . If they lose, they and their supporters will come behind Jonathan.

”The Board of Trustees , the National Working Committee, and National Executive Committee of the PDP have said that the President can run. In effect, the President is the official candidate of the party. Others could contest because of the internal democracy in the party. Let them contest, they will lose.”

Abba-Aji spoke as indications emerged in Abuja that the Babangida camp had panicked over the South-West PDP‘s endorsement of Jonathan.

A source close to the ex-military ruler said that members of his inner caucus were taken by surprise by the way all the five governors of the party in the zone endorsed Jonathan.

He said that Babangida was surprised that the governors — Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala (Oyo), Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola (Osun), Mr. Segun Oni (Ekiti) and Otunba Gbenga Daniel (Ogun) — agreed with former President Olusegun Obasanjo to support Jonathan.

The source, who spoke with one of our correspondents on the condition of anonymity, said the former military dictator had thought that at least two of the governors would break rank with the rest and support his aspiration.

He said, “Following the decision of the people of the South-West to back Jonathan, there is a serious problem in the camp of Babangida at the moment.

“The camp had thought that at least two governors from the zone will support him.

“I think he knows that the people of the region are still not happy with the way he annulled the June 12, 1993 presidential election which eventually led to the demise of its winner, Chief M.K.O Abiola. But he never thought that those who are close to him among the governors would not back him.”

The other South-West PDP leaders that attended the meeting that endorsed Jonathan’s bid were the Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole; the National Vice- Chairman (South-West), Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo;and a former Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Agagu.

Others were the Senate Leader, Mr. Teslim Folarin; Bankole’s predecessor, Mrs. Olubunmi Etteh; speakers of all the state houses of assembly in the zone; and other lawmakers from the zone in the National Assembly.

Others at the meeting held at the State Parliament Building also, were a former Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Agagu; the Senate Leader, Mr. Teslim Folarin; Bankole’s predecessor, Mrs. Olubunmi Etteh; speakers of all the state houses of assembly in the zone; and other lawmakers from the zone.

Reading an eight-point communiqué to journalists at the end of the meeting, Oladipo said the decision to back Jonathan for the 2011 poll had been taken after a critical assessment of all the presidential aspirants of the party.



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