By Ben Agande,  Henry Umoru and Kingsley Omonobi

‘I am humbled by this endorsement’ – Atiku

ABUJA— THE national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said yesterday that it has no hand in the consensus arrangement of the Mallam Adamu Ciroma’s consensus candidate committee which produced former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the chosen one for the north.

Reacting to yesterday’s development, National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Professor Rufai Ahmed Alkali  described the exercise as an arrangement purely amongst individual aspirants within the party.

In a text message to Vanguard, Alkali said: “As elections approach, politicians are bound to adopt variety of strategies to achieve their objectives.

The consensus approach is, therefore, an arrangement purely amongst individual aspirants within the party. The leadership of the party has no input in this, as it is a cardinal policy of the NWC to remain neutral.

“Our primary concern has been and still is to provide a level playing field to all contestants at all levels. It is our commitment and determination to remain neutral and fair to all those who put themselves forward to contest for primaries on the platform of our great party, the PDP.”

I’m committed to the committee’s resolution — IBB

ABUJA—  FORMER Military President Ibrahim Babangida said yesterday that he was prepared to commit himself to all the elements of the Consensus Agreement and understanding of the Mallam Adamu Ciroma led ‘17 wise men’ that came up with ex_vice President Atiku Abubakar as the anointed candidate for the north.

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar

Babangida who noted that the outcome of the Consensus Candidate Committee put in place by the Northern Political Leaders Forum, NPLF will go down in the annals of this great nation as historic and uniquely interesting, said, ‘’founded upon a principled commitment for the public good, justice, equity and fairness in the pursuit of good governance and party politics, the `Committee of Wise Men’ under the leadership of Alhaji Adamu Ciroma must be appreciated for its patriotism and the advancement of the frontiers of democracy and of politics with conscience.

The former President who was until yesterday one of the Presidential aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP reiterated that if Nigeria must get democracy right, leaders must adhere strictly to agreements, rules, constitution of the country as well as other institutions, adding, ‘’Democracy can only be sustained and flourish under the principles of justice, rule of law, equity, and determination, particularly on the part of leadership to respect, adhere and advance the framework of upholding the constitution not only of the country, but also of various institutions such as the constitution of the Peoples’ Democratic Party.

“You cannot breach the rules and regulations of the Party and yet pretend to foster the rules and regulations of Nigeria. Human conduct is a logical system and not merely of opportunism; more so under a regime of democracy and constitutional government.”

In a statement signed yesterday by the National Campaign Director_General, IBB 2011 Presidential Campaign Organisation, High Chief Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi, Babangida said, ‘’the exercise to search for, find and approve a Consensus Candidate from among the Presidential Aspirants in the constitutional zone of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) We express with profound gratitude to this committee of selfless men and to all IBB’s fellow Presidential aspirants, namely His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, His Excellency, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and General Mohammed Aliyu Gusau for the thoughtfulness in undertaking this profound process of the search for a Consensus Candidate.

“Gratitude to the Wise Men for their individual and collective concerns and sacrifices which only history and the Nigerian people shall duly reward in the passage of time.

Gratitude for the four presidential aspirants who willingly submitted themselves and their political ambitions and organisations for the search and appraisal and consequently for the outcome of a Consensus Candidate.

‘’In between the Adamu Ciroma committee on the one hand, and the aspirants on the other, there is a fundamental lesson which the Nigerian people, over time, will appreciate much more than now.

“The outcome of the consensus exercise which the Adamu Ciroma Committee selflessly imposed upon itself in the past two months must be loudly applauded for the rigour of their search, conduct, and foresight.

The Committee inaugurated a process to tackle a challenge the result of which will outlive the politically induced crisis which called the Committee into existence. The outcome of the Consensus Exercise has truly humbled all the Presidential Aspirants.

“We once again, thank everyone of the membership of this committee. We all know the gravity of what the Aspirants have done. We know that in doing what they have done, this great nation and all Nigerians shall manifestly be served. They did not submit themselves to this exercise so as to fail, far from it.

“The machinery of success which they inaugurated previously has become further strengthened and deeply rooted. It shall be well with the Consensus Outcome, and it shall manifestly be well for all Nigerians.”

According to the Campaign Organization, “the IBB Presidential Campaign Organisation commits itself to all the elements of the Consensus Agreement and understanding. On behalf of His Excellency, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, GCFR, we wish to congratulate His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, GCON as the Consensus Candidate. God bless Nigeria.”

Jonathan’s camp jubilates

MOMENTS after the Adamu Ciroma 15 man Consensus Committee of the North announced the choice of Atiku Abubakar as the chosen one out of the four Northern Presidential aspirants of the PDP, Director of Media and Publicity of the Goodluck/Sambo Campaign Organization, Mr. Sully Abu disclosed that “at the end of the day, President Goodluck Jonathan is going give him a hiding at the polls”.

Speaking with Vanguard on phone, Mr. Abu said, “Whoever the candidate, we will meet them at the polls. They are afraid, that is why they ganged up in the first place. But their gang up has failed”.

“At the end of the day, Nigerians are no fools, they will look at the candidates, access they credibility, the baggage of the candidate, track record and all the ingredients that makes the candidate”.

Continuing he said, “We are not so sure how the people who were shut out from the so_called consensus party arrived at their decision would feel, if they will be happy and how this will affect the chances of the person announced to the public”.

“But let it be known that Nigerians are not stupid or ignorant. Nigerians are better informed these days and well enlightened. They want the best for this nation. That is why at the end of the day, whoever they come up with, we are going to give them a hiding”, Sully Abu said.