2011: Northern leaders play down Atiku’s chances
By KIngsley Omonobi
ABUJA—FORTY-EIGHT hours after the selection of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the candidate of the Northern Elders Forum to contest the 2011 presidential primaries against President Goodluck Jonathan, on the platform of the PDP, some influential northerners are expressing fears that General Muhammadu Buhari of the CPC would be the greatest beneficiary of votes in the region.
According to them, many of the electorate in the North believe in Buhari than Atiku.
Speaking with Vanguard, under condition of anonymity, a retired general disclosed that the choice of the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, out of the foursome of General Ibrahim Babangida, Aliyu Gusau, Bukola Saraki and Atiku, was certainly going to rob off on General Buhari as majority of the people from the area see Atiku as a less credible figure compared to Buhari.
He said: “It is true that Atiku emerged the choice of Adamu Ciroma Committee. I can also tell you that one of the things that worked against IBB was the issue of June 12 and the committee was aware of the fact that if IBB was to go campaign in the South West, it may cause crisis. But Atiku’s choice was a surprise to many northerners.
“In terms of credibility in the eyes of the North, and I am not talking only of the elders now, the consensus among the majority was that Gusau would have been more sellable and is somebody that could be pushed to match Buhari, at least credibility wise.
“The way it is now, the Consensus Committee has paved the way for General Buhari to split a great chunk of the votes that would have come to PDP.
“ The talk now is that Buhari would better protect the interest of the North rather than Atiku because he did it under the PTF while Atiku as Vice President for eight years only took care of a few cronies and business partners of his.
“Aside this, Buhari is seen as a more consistent person who fights for what he believes in and one who is not attracted to the rush for wealth as Atiku is believed to be.”
