Posted by Champion on
Indications emerged during the week that some of the leading presidential aspirants for next year's presidential polls may chicken out of the race.
Indications emerged during the week that some of the leading presidential aspirants for next year's presidential polls may chicken out of the race.
Saturday Champion's investigations revealed that certain ugly developments would have made Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) as well as former presidential flagbearer of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, (ANPP), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), to be contemplating putting their presidential ambition for 2007 on hold at least for now.
Sources close to Vice President Atiku told Saturday Champion that due to the way and manner the aspirant is being 'hounded", he may be forced to reconsider and review his interest in the 2007 presidential race.
It would be recalled that the trio of Atiku, IBB and Buhari were absent during Wednesday's peace meeting brokered by apex Northern socio-political organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF).
The meeting, we gathered, was meant to pick a consensus candidate among the trio, for the purpose of prosecuting the geo-political zone's quest to recapture power come 2007.
Curiously, Atiku was reportedly walked out of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday, before a report on him submitted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was considered by the FEC. Again, the presidency has sent a letter to the Senate President, Chief Ken Nnamani, which seeks the impeachment of the vee pee, following the deliberation on the EFCC report by FEC.
Aso Rock sources indicated that the EFCC's investigation of Atiku centred on the bribery case involving the US congressman, Williams Jefferson as well as alleged fraudulent acquisition of the ABTI American University, Yola, owned by the Vice President.
However, Atiku is said to have maintained that he was innocent in all the charges, adding that he was not served with a copy of the EFCC report on him.
Also Turaki Vanguard, pro Atiku group, has claimed that there was s deliberate move to nail the Vice President
'Once again, the vice president would like to restate that he has no intention of resigning the office which the Nigerian people voted him in 2003. He remains committed to serving his tenure and defending the integrity of the Nigerian constitution and democracy, one of Atiku's aides deposed.
As for IBB, the recent arrest and interrogation of his son, Mohammed, as well as alleged moves to freeze his (IBB) accounts overseas, are said to have 'intimidated" the man even as his ambition for 2007 remains in jeopardy. Again, sources indicated that the 1986 Vatsa assassination saga which hit headlines in recent times had dealt 'a devastating blow" on IBB presidential project.
As for Buhari, last week's national convention of ANPP, marked a major setback for the former military head of state in his desire to recontest the presidential polls next year. The ANPP governors and other stakeholders are said to have moved against Buhari by ensuring that his preferred chairmanship candidate was voted out, hence ex-speaker of the Federal House of Representatives Ezeoke emerged as the new chairman to the chagrin of The Buhari Organization (TBO).
However speaking to Saturday Champion, Atiku's media adviser, Mallam Garba Shehu maintained that there is no indication that the Vice President would abandon his presidential project despite the latest development.
'They (detractors) are campaigning for us. We are not losing sleep. The senators are discerning men and women, they will throw out the notice of impeachment after considering it as rubbish{
As for IBB, one of his core loyalists and former Information minister, Chief Alex Akinyele, disclosed that there are grand plans by opponents and those afraid of General Babangida's clout to damage his reputation in order to make him not to realise his 2007 presidential ambition. Chief Akinyele however said that all efforts to discourage the former military leader from contesting the 2007 polls will fail, adding that there is no going back in IBB's determination to return to the Villa.