The stage was set, the agreement was sealed, and Northern advocates for consensus had prevailed as Nuhu Ribadu had agreed to step down for Gen. Mohammadu Buhari, in exchange for a position as chief of staff, if Buhari emerged as president.
But, wary that the arrangement specifically favoured Nuhu Ribadu and that Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) may not be able to control Gen. Buhari if he emerged decided to rock the boat. Sources who did not want to be mentioned, told HUHU that Action Congress of Nigeria may be playing both sides, as they were simultaneously talking to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), about forming an alliance.
Newspapers reported that President Jonathan had promised Asiwaju Bola Tinubu a substantial representation in his cabinet, if he (Tinubu) would mobilize the South West to vote for him (Jonathan), in Saturday’s presidential elections.
HUHU checks reveal that President Jonathan is widely viewed as a man of uncommon loyalty and impeccable integrity. Sources allege that Bola Tinubu is seriously considering President Jonathan`s offer.
However, ACN, a sectional party, which won mainly in the South West, said that the myth of Buhari's electoral value has been punctured at the last National Assembly elections and it will amount to rewarding a failure if Buhari is called to lead a campaign against the PDP in the Presidential elections this Saturday.
A statement issued by Dapo Olorunyomi, a member of Ribadu/Adeola Campaign Organization, concurred that “Northern advocates for consensus have urged NR to step down for Buhari but the party, ACN, actively led by the governors and the man they now call the lion of Bourdilion [Bola Tinubu], have resisted this, saying “only over their dead bodies will this notion be allowed to prevail”
He stated that “Buhari's CPC failed to assume a national outlook and remained a Northern based party unable to win a seat outside its northern regional base on last week’s elections. Only the ACN and the ruling PDP were able to win seats in the six geo-political regions of the country”.
How the Alliance Deal Broke down
HUHU gathered that after three days of negotiations, ACN and CPC had agreed to present a single candidate, CPC’s Muhammadu Buhari, in the election; Nuhu Ribadu was to immediately announce he was bowing out of the race.
Under the arrangement,Gen Buhari`s running mate,Tunde Bakare, will step down immediately after the election; Asiwaju Bola Tinubu will not be allowed to replace him but may nominate those who would; that Mr. Buhari reserved the final right to select from among the list of three nominees that Mr. Tinubu submits.
Mr.Tinubu immediately named three people for the job. They are Yemi Osinbajo a former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Mr. Tinubu’s administration, Yemi Cardoso, who was Mr. Tinubu’s budget commissioner and a former Lagos State finance commissioner, Wale Edun.
Although Mr. Bakare had agreed to these terms, he pulled back when the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) delegates maintained he signed a post dated resignation letter to seal the deal. He strongly refused to append his signature to such a document.
In the words of a source, it was at this point that the overnight meeting, which went on till 2am, reached a stalemate.
However, the Action Congress of Nigeria ACN refused to take Mr Bakare’s word that he will abide by the meeting’s decision.
“How else could they make sure that he would not back out later?” asked an ex-governor who was also a facilitator at the meeting.
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