*Gusau gets ready to declare; lIBB in secret talk with Ojukwu

By Jide Ajani, Clifford Ndujihe & Tony Edike

ABUJA—BARRING last-minute changes, Northern presidential aspirants on the platform of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, will endorse a consensus aspirant this week to slug it out with President Goodluck Jonathan at the party’s primaries.

A very reliable source, who spoke to Vanguard on how the aspirants had gone to harmonise issues and close ranks said: “Everything is being worked out to achieve success. We know the challenges ahead of us and we are not leaving any stone unturned to pick a consensus person among the running horses from the North: Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Gen. Aliyu Gusau and Dr. Bukola Saraki.

“We have seen through the show at Eagle Square on Saturday and we are not bothered by that circus show called declaration. We know our supporters and they are very strongly behind us. Don’t be swayed by what you saw on Saturday. The presence of 27 PDP governors at the declaration does not mean that they are all with President Jonathan.”

The four aspirants, weekend, said they would close ranks and pick a consensus flagbearer. This is coming as Gusau gets ready to declare his presidential intention. Babangida held crucial talks with former Biafran Leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu; and President Jonathan’s campaign team throttles strategies on how to move the campaign forward with a view to getting Nigerians to sign in for his presidential project.

IBB visits Ojukwu

Babangida, yesterday, held secret talks with Odumegwu-Ojukwu, leader of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in Enugu. He told reporters at Akanu Ibiam Airport, Enugu after the visit, that he had reached an understanding with Atiku Abubakar, Saraki and Gusau with a view to striking an accord, noting: “We are working together and very soon we will strike an accord.”

Gusau set to declare

National Security Adviser, Gen. Aliyu Gusau, has resigned to run against President Goodluck Jonathan in next month’s primaries, raising the stakes ahead of presidential elections in January.

Gusau submitted his resignation letter to Jonathan, which the President accepted, on Thursday and a day later informed him he intended to enter the presidential race.

Reuters quoted his spokesman, Adebisi Adekunle, as saying: “I can confirm to you that the national security adviser has resigned,” adding that Gusau intended to collect his presidential nomination form from the ruling PDP offices today.

Gusau, is a retired general who was also national security adviser to Yar’Adua’s predecessor, Olusegun Obasanjo. He remains a powerful figure in the ruling party, and was the main contender alongside Yar’Adua to be the PDP nominee in the 2007 election, coming second in the primaries.