Chuks Okocha
12 July 2009
Abuja — Former Head of State and Presidential Candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in the last two general elections, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa have agreed to bury their political ambitions for the interest of the North.
The trio met in Kaduna on Wednesday at the residence of Buhari to fine-tune talks on the formation of a new political party ahead of the 2011 general elections.
A source at the meeting told THISDAY that the leaders "agreed that the idea of who shall be the presidential candidate of the new political structure should be reduced to the barest minimum and that the utmost interest of the North should be the paramount interest of the group."
"The meeting agreed that Buhari and Atiku had made mistakes in the past and blamed the mistakes on the political elites that do not want the unity of both leaders. The leaders on their own realised their mistakes," the source said.
The meeting, which was the initiative of Atiku, took place at the residence of Buhari. It was gathered that the former National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Audu Ogbe and Chief Tom Ikimi had prompted Atiku to get Buhari to host the meeting in deference to state protocol. They had argued, according to the source that, Buhari was older than Atiku and senior, having been a former Head of State.
According to THISDAY sources at the meeting, the leaders discussed the possisbilities of the formation of a new political party where they would collapse their political structures, or fuse them into an existing political structure. They also considered the idea of joining the Action Congress (AC) and how to provide direction, leadership and contact with the South for a new political realignment.
The politicians, it was gathered, agreed to form a contact group that would meet other political leaders in the South for the purpose of actualising the formation of a broad-based party.
Basically, the contact group that came out of the meeting would be meeting the Chief Olu Falae-led southern group on the formation of a national party.
But the chances of any alliance with the ANPP was ruled out as the party was seen as an extension of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
It was gathered that the politicians discussed how to salvage the interest of the North and how to ensure a united Northern Nigeria that can form a strong alternative platform by 2011.
According to THISDAY source at the meeting, Buhari, Atiku and Bafawara agreed to bury their political ambitions for the sake of salvaging the dwindling political interest of the north.
"They agreed that the idea of who shall be the presidential candidate of the new political structure should be reduced to the barest minimum and that the utmost interest of the North should be the paramount interest of the group.
Apart from discussing how to ensure a united North, the meeting, the source said discussed the state of the nation with special references to the increasing rate of unemployment, Niger Delta crisis among other burning national issues.
At the end of the meeting, Buhari, Atiku, Bafawara and others agreed to meet regularly to review their strategy.
The expeced broad-based party has Chief Anthony Enahoro, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Chief Emeka Ojukwu, Chief Olu Falae, Prof. Pat Utomi, Hon. Rasheed Shitta Bey, Alhaji Lawan Kaita, Chief Harry Akande, Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Mallam Sule Hamma, Dr. Arthur Nwankwo and Chief Femi Falana as driving forces.
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I am happy to note that Mr. Atiku and Gen. Buhari have agreed to bury their hatchet, and to shelve their political ambitions to become president, at all costs I might add. Whenever someone dares to become anything at all cost, it gets troubling in the eyes of the general public. The question any intelligent person would ask is: Why would anyone want to become anything at all cost? Apart from the benefits of influence derived from the job of becoming president, and the exorbitant salary that is paid, plus retirement packages, and speaking fees, what other incentive is there… [Read Full Text]
It should not matter that Buhari and Atiku are re-aligning forces to become relevant again and not fade out politically. The issue is not about the North neither is it about the masses that have been impoverished by years of unimaginative government policies some of which they were responsible for. Atiku should use some of the wealth he has acquired to help his immediate community while Buhari as a former president should devote his time to other positive community social work.
Political relevance should not be sought on the pedestal of regional or religious sentiments. Nigeria is one country and… [Read Full Text]
Thank God that at least these three finally have agreed that they are just interested in the interest and welfare of the north and never Nigeria. This is a situation where the interest of the north no matter what it is must be imposed on the rest of the other Nigerians whether they like it or not. And where you disagree with the greedy and selfish agenda of the north, you will be labelled as working against the unity of Nigeria; And the military dorminated and controlled by the north will be called in to do to you exactly what… [Read Full Text]