Sources privy to the ex-President revealed that Mr. Obasanjo intends to stay in the PDP and give President Jonathan a "good fight" for the PDP ticket at the party's next convention. For the 2015 race, he might present either Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, or his Katsina State counterpart Ibrahim Shema.
Previously, Mr. Obasanjo had urged Mr. Lamido not to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) along with the G-5 governors.
It was learnt that Mr. Shema is a second choice after Mr. Lamido, who was foreign affairs minister during Obasanjo's presidency. Now, the presidency has become interested in Governor Lamido and directed Economic and Financial Crimes Commission's (EFCC) operatives to investigate him and his sons over alleged N10billion fraud. Governor Shema came to the limelight when he was made PDP vice-chairman for the North-West during Obasanjo's tenure.
Allegedly, Mr. Obasanjo favours Governor Lamido against President Jonathan as he has a large following among the poor in the North, known as the Talakawas, from his days in NEPU (Northern Elements Progressive Union), which was led by the late Aminu Kano. Mr. Lamido is also seen as widely accepted by his colleagues who are angry with the Alhaji Bamanga Tukur leadership of the PDP.
Obasanjo and APC's union "would never work"
Obasanjo has reportedly made up his mind to stop President Jonathan's second term bid by sponsoring a candidate to compete with him for the PDP ticket for the 2015 presidential poll.
"In the letter written by Baba [Obasanjo] to President Jonathan, a lot of things that could salvage the party from the present cul de sac were stated," a source said. "But Jonathan has no time for that; instead, he insists he has not told anyone of his interest for the second term. We will soon know who is right or wrong; but let me tell you that we are shopping for a candidate who would run against Jonathan for the PDP ticket. If he won, fine, and if he lost fine as well; after all, some people ran against Baba in 1998 and 2003 primaries.
"If he wins, we will support him, but if he loses, we expect him to support our candidate. That is politics. This is because, come what may, PDP will retain the presidency in 2015."
When reminded of the APC leadership's visit to Obasanjo, the source explained why Obasanjo would never work for the opposition. According to him, the former president would rather prefer Jonathan's presidency to APC's.
"We will not support APC candidate at all; that will amount to anti-party activities and remember that Obasanjo had accused the president of doing his stuff for political survival.
"Another reason Obasanjo will not work with the APC is because the PDP gave him the ticket to rule the country for eight years. Nothing will make him work against the party. Then look at the APC: the party means Tinubu and Tinubu means APC. Here was a man whose stock-in-trade was to abuse Obasanjo, calling him all sorts of unprintable names for his political agenda; and now he wants us to support him. He should forget it," the source explained.
Via: Leadership
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