By Jide Ajani & Dayo Benson, Political Editor
LAGOS—CONSEQUENT upon the support of the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, for zoning which the Northern Political Leaders’ Forum, NPLF, secured recently, President Goodluck Jonathan has also been courting some Emirs with a view to securing their support for next year’s presidential elections.

This came just as the leadership of the ruling PDP appeared to have made up its mind to remove any obstacles in the way of President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of the contest.

Also, the increasing consolidation of former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari’s support base in the North might force the hands of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, as well as the current National Security Adviser, NSA, General Aliyu Mohammed Gusau, to quickly engage a process of negotiations that would resolve the long drawn controversy about zoning in their Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Two sources – one from Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja, and the other close to the leadership of the PDP, told Vanguard that the increasing mobilization of supporters for “Buhari and the protracted debate over zoning in the PDP may hand him the Presidency by default.”

Vanguard also learnt that there was yet to be any form of deal regarding the discussions between the pro-zoning and anti-zoning leaders of the PDP.

Jonathan courts Emirs

Vanguard learnt that as recently as last month, President Jonathan reached out to emirs in the  northern states with a view to securing their support for his ambition.

A source told Vanguard: “President Jonathan is a national leader and when the argument by some of his handlers began to look like a South South affair, some of those very close to him were sent to reach out to emirs.

“Those sent out had the brief to convince the emirs that they had nothing to fear about a Jonathan presidency; the emissaries also gave words that the fear of marginalization, which appears to be the buzz word for some pro-zoning politicians, is totally unfounded. They made the emirs understand that the South South and the North had always worked together to ensure victory at the polls.”

Asked whether President Jonathan also mobilized the emirs, the source said “that is not for you to know but the President knows what is good to be done.”

The courting of the emirs in the North was said to have been informed by the support which Sultan Abubakar had promised the NPLF members when they visited him last month.

The Sultan had been rumoured to have been indifferent to the zoning debate and that prompted the NPLF members to send a delegation to the Sultan.

When they visited the Sultan, he was said to have told the NPLF members, according to a source, that “the basis of his sultanship would have been defeated if he did not support zoning as a leader in the North.”

Another source told Vanguard that “the Sultan gave his word that he was with the NPLF members, especially as the position of the body would favour the North within the context of a united Nigeria.”

Zoning debate boosts Buhari’s chance

Vanguard was also informed that the continuing debate in the PDP over zoning may have created a window of opportunities for the candidacy of Buhari in the North.

The source said: “In the event that Buhari is able to get a very good and respectable running mate from either the South East or the South West, he may win the presidency by default.

“Should the emergence of Jonathan not be tidy enough within his PDP, then the North may just as well rally behind Buhari. Did you see what happened in Kebbi?

“Buhari was supposed to visit Kebbi State for a rally but he could not because he was bereaved. Even as he was not able to make the rally, the crowd waiting for Buhari in Kebbi was such that the stamped that followed afterwards caused human casualties.

“In Kano, Buhari could not come down from inside his car to even wave to the crowd.  That is the type of crowd Buhari commands. As it is, should the emergence of Jonathan not be properly handled as the PDP presidential candidate, the party leaders should be ready for a backlash from the North.”

By the same token, the quartet of Olusegun Obasanjo, Ibrahim Babangida, Atiku Abubakar and Aliyu Mohammed Gusau, were said to be pondering the consequences of a Buhari presidency.

A security source gave Vanguard an analysis which suggested that “whereas there is yet to be a deal on how the PDP would proceed on the emergence of its presidential candidate, these men can not suffer a Buhari presidency because he would go after them.”
PDP to remove  obstacles for Jonathan

The leadership of the ruling PDP appeared to have made up its mind to remove any obstacles in h the way of President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of the contest.

It was reliably gathered that this new development might not be unconnected with pressure from the Presidency on the party leadership including its National Chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo.

Consequently, Vanguard gathered that the top echelon of the party had resolved to amend S.7(2) (c) of the party’s constitution which stipulates that elective offices in the country would be on rotation basis.

The section stated: “In pursuance of the principles of equity, justice and fairness, the party shall adhere to the policy of rotation and zoning of party and elective offices and it shall be enforced by the appropriate executive committee at all levels.”

If the move succeeds, the constitution would finally clear the way for President Jonathan to have a shot at 2011 presidency even as he had not declared his intention.

Already machinery has been put in motion o actualise the game plan with the Board of Trustees, BOT, meeting where the issue would be discussed fully.

The Board meeting is scheduled for tomorrow night at the Presidential Villa, and would be presided over by its chairman, former President Olusegun Obasanjo. It would be followed by PDP caucus meeting on Wednesday.

The PDP caucus meeting would consider the S. 7(2) (C) in the proposed amendment based on the BOT advice before forwarding its recommendation to the party’s National Executive Committee NEC for ratification.

The NEC decision would then form one of the major agenda of the party’s mini convention slated for September ending.

A source who spoke on condition of anonymity said: “Jonathan seems to be having his way. And I must tell you that he is heating up the polity.”

However, a source close to IBB said its members were also strategising to frustrate the move. The source said: “We are going to mobilise our members to put up strong arguments against the plan at the meetings. We have our men on ground and they are going to do everything to make sure the move does not sail through.”