PDP governors to take stand on consensus ticket

Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are to take a stand soon on the emergence of former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, as the consensus candidate for the northern region to contest against President Goodluck Jonathan in the party's primaries.

The Akwa Ibom State governor, Godswill Akpabio, disclosed this to journalists in Abuja at the weekend. Mr. Abubakar emerged the north's consensus candidate last week, after beating three other aspirants in a screening carried out by the Northern Political Leaders Forum (NPLF).

The governor said that the choice of Mr. Abubakar will brighten Mr. Jonathan's chances in the primaries.

"The outcome of the consensus brightens the chances of the Jonathan/Sambo success in 2011. I do know that in politics we cannot underrate anybody, but one thing is certain; that President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namani Sambo are both grounded in the PDP; seriously grounded in the PDP, and the consensus candidate just thrown up, clearly will find it difficult to find his feet within the PDP," Mr. Akpabio said.

He noted that it is not certain if due process was not followed in granting Mr. Abubakar a waiver, but that it will become clearer when the aspirants face the screening panel to be set up by the PDP leadership.

He alleged that the picture that was shown immediately after the former vice president was announced as the consensus candidate by the Adamu Ciroma-led committee was bearing a bundle of broom, which is the logo of the Action Congress of Nigeria, from where he came from.

The governor said he is neither for nor against zoning of the presidential slot, but insisted that peace, unity and progress of the country are paramount, stressing that the Jonathan/Sambo tickets will offer them.

Mr. Akpabio said both the president and his deputy have been governors and that this places them in good stead to fully understand and tackle the multifarious challenges facing the country.

He described the incidents of violent crimes, especially kidnapping in Akwa Ibom State, as unfortunate, and said that his administration will do all within its power to ensure culprits are made to face the law, irrespective of who they may be.

Source:234next