*Wait for me, says Ribadu

By Dayo Benson, Political Editor, Emmanuel Edukugho & Peter Duru

LAGOS—AS the battle of wits between North and South rages over 2011 Presidency, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said he was the most popular and acceptable candidate to beat in the contest.

This came just as moves by some Northern elders to scare President Goodluck Jonathan out of the race intensified yesterday.

However, former EFCC Chairman, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, may not have foreclosed the possibility of contesting the 2011 presidential election.

Indications to this emerged after Ribadu was conferred with an honorary doctorate of law, by Babcock University, Ilishan, Ogun State.

In an interactive session with newsmen after the event, he said people should wait for what would happen next.

Ribadu

Atiku on his chances
Speaking in Makurdi at a book launch in honour of Benue State Governor, Mr. Gabriel Suswam, Atiku declared that he was a more popular and acceptable candidate to run for the nation’s Presidency in the 2011 election hence the one to beat.

He said insinuations that his popularity had waned since he left office as Vice President were unfounded and untrue.

Atiku noted that those behind the assertion had no facts or statistics to back up their arguments, insisting that such insinuations were the handiwork of his detractors emphasizing that the arguments were not backed up with facts.

He said: “I am more popular now than ever before. Whoever says my popularity has waned has to prove it with facts.”

Conflict of interests
It was gathered from impeccable sources close to prime movers of the Northern elders meeting which held in Abuja recently, that the gang-up aimed at checkmating President Jonathan from contesting the election would not go far due to what is perceived as conflicting interests.

Such conflicting interests, according to the sources, were the presidential ambitions of key actors of the northern elders group such as the former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, Atiku and the National Security Adviser, Lt.-Gen Aliyu Gusau (rtd).

Interestingly, Atiku’s declaration in Makurdi, that he was the most acceptable candidate for the 2011 presidency appeared to confirm the sources’ revelation indicating that those at the meeting were merely projecting.

A source said: “They know the meeting could not go far. They are all projecting. The purpose is to scare Jonathan out of the presidential race. There is no one North and there is no way the North can pull out of PDP. The participants all have their personal agenda. That of Babangida is different from Atiku’s and that of Atiku is different from Gusau”

It was however gathered from another source that the group which would reconvene in two weeks time was not contemplating pulling out of PDP   .

The 17 chapter book written on the Benue State Governor, Suswam, which drew the likes of the former Vice President and other top political dignitaries to Makurdi, raked in over N100 million at its launch.
The book which was written by Dr. Terhemba Shija, a lecturer at the Nasarawa State University is titled ‘Suswam, Right on Time: the biography of a rising political star.’

Chairman of the occasion and Governor of Gombe State Alhaji Danjuma Goje announced the highest donation of N72 million from the Governors’ Forum.

He said each of the Governors would purchase copies of the book at N2 million.
Alhaji Aliko Dangote who was represented by Mr. Tyoyila Ukpi of the Benue Cement Company launched the book with N10 million.

Dignitaries on the occasion included Babangida, Atiku, Governors of Plateau and Bauchi states, Group Captain Jonah Jang and Alhaji Isa Yuguda respectively while their counterpart from Nasarawa State was represented by his Deputy Mr. James Abdul.

Senate President, Senator David Mark was also represented by Senator Idris Usman while Minister of Information and Communications, Professor Dora Akunyili and Mr. Labaran Maku who is Minister of State in the ministry as well