2011: Northern govs grieve over IBB, Atiku

The presidential aspiration of former military president Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is one of the main reasons dragging some northern governors back in the agitation for power shift to the north in 2011, a source Daily Trust.

Many of the governors, the source said, “are more than willing” to challenge the zoning issue and ensure that the presidency is retained in the north till 2011 but for the fact that as soon as they win the fight, the two former leaders, who are currently more visible in the race for the presidency in the north, will take advantage to the detriment of other credible persons”.
According to the source, even some state governors who voted in favour of zoning in the last governors’ meeting in Kaduna “did so with reservations” as they raised issues surrounding the two former leaders whom they said have failed to show sign that they would hand down the baton to those behind.
In the same vein, Plateau State governor Jonah Jang had also expressed grievances severally in the past against Babangida over his “untimely retirement” from the Nigerian military. Plateau State voted against zoning in the Kaduna meeting last week.
“Though some of the governors are said to be concerned about ethnic and religious factors in the struggle for northern presidency, they appear to be willing to support zoning if any northern leader is to be supported apart from IBB and Atiku,” the source said.
He said they have also noted that IBB and Atiku “who have shown some level of desperation” for the presidency have lots of issues surrounding them that will attract resistance from other zones of the country.
“There are governors who have shown sign that they can govern effectively. There are credible persons all over the north. Will they [IBB/Atiku] be willing to keep away their ambition and support others?” the source asked.
Also, when the issue of the selection of Vice President came up following the ascension of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to the presidency, the names of Governor Goje, Governor Sule Lamido, Governor Murtala Nyako and Governor Isa Yuguda were named as possible replacements of Jonathan.