A unified Presidential Campaign Committee is taking shape, possibly chaired by Atiku Abubakar, to map out the strategy on how to garner votes from the length and breadth of the country for Goodluck Jonathan’s run for President.
Both Atiku and Ibrahim Babangida disclosed on Sunday that they will not go to court over the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries on January 13, where Jonathan won the Presidential ticket.
Sources in the party headquarters in Abuja said a unified campaign team and other election matters have been discussed by a caucus and other organs.
In this wise, the Campaign Organisations of Jonathan and Atiku, hitherto at loggerheads, may be collapsed into the Presidential Campaign Committee.
The leaders of the party are anxious to reconcile and repair all breaches caused by the primaries.
The move to draft Atiku to head the campaign was started by Jonathan himself, in conjunction with the PDP hierarchy and some Governors.
Jonathan has reached out to Atiku with a proposal to unify their forces, which will be headed by him, a major development as the party gears up for the campaign proper.
Atiku played this role during the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidency, and party leaders consider him the perfect pick for the big job.
Not only can he unify a party fractured by the bitter confrontation in the primaries, but can also bring into the campaign his strong personality and organisational skill.
A source in his Campaign Organisation confirmed that the PDP hierarchy has made suggestions to him, which he is discussing with his associates across the land.
Atiku is taking time out to rest, and to “consider his future role in the party,” the source disclosed.
It had been feared that Atiku might consider moving to another party to actualise his Presidential ambition.
But that option appears unattractive to him, as he has emphasised that he has returned to the PDP he considers his home.
He played a big part in building the party from scratch in 1998.
PDP leaders are putting their heads together on how to use his considerable political talent, influence, and resources.
But they are also at pains to design a formula that would allow Atiku and Obasanjo, the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman, to bury the hatchet and work together, given their past confrontations and mutual dislike for each other.
As it has been the tradition of the PDP to hit the ground running, the party is getting ready to begin a nationwide campaign to win the presidency in April.
PDP leaders anticipate a tough Presidential campaign – against the likes of Muhammadu Buhari and Nuhu Ribadu – and are therefore pulling in all their old war horses.
A source close to the party’s National Organising Secretary, Uche Secondus, said a campaign plan is going through the approval process.
But the plan may change substantially if Atiku accepts to head the team.
The source in his campaign organisation confirmed the move but insisted that “Atiku will not fall for the gambit. It is true. We have been informed by a high ranking PDP official that such an idea is in the offing but we will have nothing to do with it.”
However, National Publicity Secretary, Ahmed Alkali, feigned ignorance of the plan.
“I am hearing it for the first time from you. I am not aware that such a thing has been discussed. Not to my knowledge,” he said.
Despite that denial, former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, who supported Atiku in the primaries, told Daily Independent on Wednesday that the move to unify the party at this time is the best option since the primaries are over.
“I am not speaking for anybody,” Namani stressed. “But I think it is a good step. We have made our point about what we felt about the primaries.
“Since the party has spoken and a candidate has emerged, there is nothing anybody can do at this time than to ensure that the party wins election in April and the only way to achieve this is to work together.”
Nnamani did not confirm or deny that he himself has been approached by Aso Rock.
He simply put it this way: “They are talking to everybody and I think that is good.”
Presidential aide Oronto Douglas had told reporters a day after the primaries that Jonathan was moving fast to enlist the bigwigs into the campaign because the task ahead requires unity of purpose to surmount.
Said he: “This is the time for inclusiveness. (Jonathan) has opened a new door. Atiku has a lot to contribute. At his age, he has gathered enough experience that would be very useful to the President, which he will tap for the benefit of all.
“(Jonathan) has said there is enough space for the 150 million Nigerians and on the table of Jonathan, there are enough seats for everybody.”
It was learnt that Jonathan paid a secret visit to Atiku last Sunday to personally appeal to him to join the campaign. Atiku told him he needed time to consult with his constituency.
It is not known whether another meeting has taken place.
But what is known is that other big shots in Atiku’s camp have also been approached.
“Jonathan is not the one meeting all of them. Various people in his team are meeting with those they know, while he is making his own efforts.
“It is an all encompassing thing. The aim is to bring everybody into the fold,” a source said.
Some supporters of Atiku already seem to be buying into the idea that it is fruitless to continue the battle after the PDP has taken a decision.
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