Posted by By Festus Owete and Ihuoma Chiedozie, Abuja on
He spoke when a delegation of the Council of Elders of the Northern Union visited him at the State House in Abuja to solicit support for their crusade for power shift to the North.....
He spoke when a delegation of the Council of Elders of the Northern Union visited him at the State House in Abuja to solicit support for their crusade for power shift to the North.
He said, "My joy is that Nigeria is very gifted. God has been kind and has richly endowed us. No part of this country has a monopoly of good people. We just need to look and we shall find the right people."
He welcomed the decision of the NU to consult with other groups in its desire to produce the next president, adding, "We are better off talking, negotiating and consulting in a civilised language, recongnising that the next person also has interests."
Earlier, the Chairman of the council, Dr. Olusola Saraki, told Obasanjo that the zone intended to produce the next president through dialogue with other interest groups.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party said on Wednesday that it would subject its aspirants for 2007 elections to an integrity test, which they must pass before getting its nod.
Besides, it said all aspirants should abide by the party‘s code of conduct, warning that those who run foul of the code would be disqualified.
The party said these in a communiqué issued on Wednesday in Abuja, at the end of a one-day retreat for National Working Committee members, in Cross River State.
The National Chairman of the party, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, and National Secretary, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, signed the 10-point communiqué.
According to the PDP, the 2007 general election is crucial and its success will send a clear signal of the deepening of democracy in the country.
It said in its bid to ensure that credible candidates secured the party tickets, it had "finalised guidelines for primaries aimed at guaranteeing level playing ground for all aspirants."