By JIDE AJANI, Editor Northern Operations, EMMANUEL AZIKEN & HENRY UMORU
ABUJA—NORTHERN political leaders were, yesterday, rallying round Major General Muhammadu Buhari the presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, with the prospect of lifting his fortunes during the weekend presidential election.

Muhammadu Buhari

Among the leaders who met Buhari in Abuja were two former heads of state, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar as well as erstwhile Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

Following the meeting, it also emerged last night that President Goodluck Jonathan, who is PDP’s candidate, was also scheduled to meet with Gen. Babangida today. It couldn’t be confirmed if Gen. Abdulsalami would be present at the meeting.

The meeting of the three heads of state in Abuja came on the heels of continuing secrecy in talks between CPC and Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, on an alliance against the ruling PDP in the presidential poll.

Prospects of the alliance

PDP’s acting National Chairman, Dr. Haliru Bello, on his part dismissed prospects of the opposition alliance asserting that the PDP would, according to tradition, defeat whatever alliance was forged by the opposition.

Buhari’s spokesman, Yinka Odumakin, reacting to the development told Vanguard that the meeting with the top leaders meant that “Buhari was not alone on the issue of changing the PDP government.” The meeting was also confirmed by a top aide of Atiku Abubakar who preferred to remain anonymous because of the unusual secrecy that shrouded it.

Meanwhile, the CPC was, yesterday, brushing aside assertions of its under-performance in the National Assembly elections in the Northwest which is regarded as a stronghold of the erstwhile military ruler.

The three former military heads of state met with Buhari in Abuja, yesterday, supposedly under the auspices of the Northern Political Leaders Forum, NPLF. A source privy to the meeting told Vanguard that no definite decision had been taken.

Contacted on the development, NPLF leader, Mallam Adamu Ciroma, who was said to have been absent at the meeting he simply said: “Go and ask those holding meetings.”

Odumakin while reacting to Vanguard enquiry on the development said that Buhari had not deviated from his stance that he is a national candidate and not a sectional candidate.

Buhari not alone

He told Vanguard on telephone: “This is a good development and it means that we are not alone and Buhari has always said that he would continue to keep his doors open to all so that we can kick out the misrule of the PDP.”

Asked if the under-performance of the CPC was demoralizing, he said: “Last Saturday’s election was not about the brand Buhari but we all know the scientific rigging methodology employed by the PDP during that election but I can assure you that we are using our own manual to block them.”

Meanwhile, there were indications that the CPC and the leadership of NPLF, have been in crucial talks culminating in the establishment of teams to visit some states of the North West geo-political zone described as critical to the success of the CPC.

Specifically, the CPC and the NPLF have raised teams to visit the North West states of Kano, Sokoto, Jigawa and Kebbi, areas the party was reported to have underperformed during the National Assembly polls.

The teams have already departed the Federal Capital territory, FCT, Abuja for these states.

The urgency of the teams was being driven by the hope of the CPC to be the leading partner in a possible alliance talk between it and the ACN in the coming presidential election.

The prospect of an alliance between both parties was as at press time being shrouded in secrecy as party sources privy to the talks preferred to remain anonymous.

As part of the alliance it was learnt that both parties would use the outcome of the elections into the House of Representatives to weigh themselves in the alliance.

Acting National Chairman of the PDP was, however, dismissive of the effects of such an alliance on his party yesterday.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja, Dr. Bello said: “On the issue of ganging up, this is not the first time, it has been tried in 2007, it didn’t work, tried at the beginning of these elections, it didn’t work. The choice of leaders of this country is vested on the people of this country and the people of this country have shown over and over again that PDP is the party of choice, no amount of gang up will stop PDP.

“However, PDP has a policy of all inclusiveness, in 2007 when we won, we were working with some parties in a government of national unity, this time around too, our doors are opened to all parties who want to cooperate with us to move this country forward and we will be available to any party that shares our aspirations of free and fair elections, national unity and moving the country forward economically and there are many parties like that.”
Chances of PDP

Director of Media and Publicity of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, PCC Mallam Abba Dabo in a press statement equally expressed optimism in the chances of the PDP in the forthcoming election. He said that the sweeping victory of the PDP across the country was indicative of what he claimed that the party was the only national party in the country.

He said: “The overwhelming performance of the PDP in the election is a confirmation of its wide spread acceptance by majority of Nigerians. This result has vindicated our position all along that the PDP is the only truly national political party from which all Nigerians can realise their political ambitions.

“The successful conduct of the polls by INEC is attributable to the pledge of Mr. President to conduct a free and fair election. We, therefore, salute President Goodluck Jonathan for delivering on his promise of free and fair elections in which the votes of every Nigerian counted. His total support for INEC, the free hand he gave to the agency and his commitment to put our democracy on sound footing are responsible for the success achieved so far.

“The PDP Presidential Campaign Council, PCC, therefore, wishes to express its profound gratitude to the Nigerian electorate for voting massively for PDP candidates during the election and call on them to come out en masse next Saturday to vote for President Goodluck Jonathan.”