| Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders yesterday had a long deliberation on who will be the running mate of Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in next year’s presidential election. The names of Rivers State Governor, Dr. Peter Odili tops the list of candidates considered for the post. Others mentioned in the deliberation are Minister of State for Petroleum Resour-ces, Dr. Edmund Daukoru and the party’s Anambra State governorship candidate, Chief Andy Uba. Cross River State governor, Donald Duke, his Ebonyi State counterpart, Dr. Sam Egwu, and Governor of Central Bank, Prof. Charles Soludo were also mentioned. THISDAY gathered that at a meeting held in Aso Rock and attended by President Olusegun Obasanjo, Board of Trustees Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih, National Chairman, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, governors, National Assembly leadership and some party bureaucrats, various names, issues and factors were considered as guides to the selection of a running mate. The group rooting for Odili argued that he had campaigned so much for the post of president and won the hearts of some party delegates that if he had not withdrawn from the race he has the capability to win. The pro-Odili group also stated that the governor of Rivers State is a strong party man who will complement the simple, gentle personality of the presidential candidate. He is also said to be a loyal party man who having moved from the post of deputy governor to become governor will know what it takes to be an effective number two man. However, the group opposed to Odili in the PDP leadership made a counter point of the fact that pairing two governors on the ticket may not augur well for the party. This group noted that Odili is too strong a personality to be Vice President and that if he is chosen, it may re-enact the Obasanjo-Atiku imbroglio in a worse form. Odili is said to be passionate about being president and that may set him easily on a collision course with the president if they are elected. President Obasanjo is said to strongly favour the candidacy of Odili, just as Anenih’s major interest is to ensure that the slot goes to the South-south zone. A source said when the President was reminded of an alleged report by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Odili which is considered damaging, the President simply brushed off the issue and said the report was not acceptable to him. Daukoru who is not known to be a politician is being considered by those who think that as an Ijaw man, his presence on the PDP ticket can help solve the Niger Delta question. The pro-Daukoru group argued that the Ijaws constitute the core of the militant agitations in the Niger Delta area and that having one of them as the nation’s number two man may assuage the feeling of the people. The minister is also said to be a technocrat who does not have strong political inclination and therefore will not be in a position to start growing a presidential ambition which may set him on a collision course with the president if they are elected. A caucus of the party who believe the slot should be given to the South-east argued that Uba who was until recently senior special assistant on domestic matters to President Obasanjo should get the number two slot. The group argued that Uba is usually a loyal person who will also represent the face of a new presidency. Uba’s connection in the Western nations and his organisational ability is also said to be a plus for him as he will be useful in mobilising support for the presidential ticket in the general elections. However, some other party leaders believe Uba is too controversial and that some PDP leaders in the South-east may not feel happy giving their highest slot to a new comer into the politics of the zone. Odili�s name may be announced by Yar�Adua in his acceptance speech. Duke who is speculated to have outrightly rejected the offer of Vice Presidency. Soludo are equally deliberated upon as likely vice presidential candidate. Soludo, like Uba is from Anambra State while Daukoru is from Bayelsa state. The newly elected candidate, Yar’Adua had in an interview with THISDAY Board of Editors stated that he “would like to appoint a vice president who recognises that he would be a team member and would take his responsibilities as serious responsibilities.” He added that “my vice president must be prepared to realise that there is only one mandate and that the mandate is given by Nigerians to the president. This has been the source of a lot of frictions not only in the presidency but at the state level. “But the constitution is very clear that the executive power lies with the president or the governor as the case may be. Therefore, I will like a vice president who accepts this (constitutional provision),” he said. |
Dec172006