2015: NORTH LAUNCHES FRESH BATTLE PLAN AGAINST JONATHAN

The
northern political class is squaring up against vested interests in the PDP in
reaction to the recent onslaught by President Goodluck Jonathan on forces
opposed to his alleged bid for a second term in office.

Apparently spurred by the President, the party during the week
formed the PDP Governors Forum to neutralise the influence of the Nigerian
Governors Forum (NGF) headed by Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State.

The Presidency followed that up by summoning Governor Babangida
Aliyu of Niger State allegedly on account of his recent statement that the
President signed a pact with northern governors to serve for only one term.

Governor Aliyu called the ‘forced’ emergence of the PDP
Governors Forum a manifestation of dictatorship.

Northern leaders and governors are not taking the development
lightly, sources said last night.

They are understood to have begun consultations on how to stop
the President’s bid for re-election and ensure that power returns to the North
in the next election.

First, they are insistent on Jonathan honouring the alleged
one-term pact.

But if he goes ahead to seek re-election, the northern leaders
are disposed to actualising their plan of a northern president in 2015 on the
platform of an alternative party.

The search for the appropriate parties or platforms for that
purpose is already on, one source said.

In the event that the North takes that line of action, the PDP
is likely to be the biggest loser.

It was gathered that northern governors and leaders are of the
view that the President has perfected plans to hijack the party structure to
secure a second term ticket.

Sources cited the recent clampdown on some members of the
National Working Committee and the muzzling of some PDP governors as part of
the moves to make the second term ticket a “settled matter” for the President.

A highly-placed source said: “The North is aware of Jonathan’s
game plan and our leaders have started consultations on how to checkmate him.

“As far as PDP is concerned, our leaders are aware that it is
not a platform they can use to effect change democratically in 2015. They are
considering alternatives, including the newly formed All Progressives Congress
(APC).

“They are also considering an amalgam of forces under any of the
existing parties to vote out Jonathan.”

Asked about the time frame for the consultations, the source
added: “Within the next nine to 10 months, the direction the North will take
will manifest.

“So far, the Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, Governor
Babangida Aliyu, has given a hint of the battle ahead.

“The fact is that Aliyu did not act alone; he had the backing of
northern leaders before speaking on the one-term pact.”

One governor confided in our correspondent: “The North has its
own agenda for 2015. Just wait and see. We will do a thorough homework and wrap
it up in the dying minutes because of the power of incumbency.”

It was also gathered that the new Chairman of the Board of
Trustees of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, was selected principally for the office
to reconcile the party and help it fix how to win the 2015 poll.

His mandate is to “fix the North” for Jonathan in 2015 because
of his experience in leading the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Besides Benue, Plateau and Taraba already taken for granted for
Jonathan, the remaining 16 northern states might be difficult to track.

A party source said: “Anenih is coming in to clear the mess
ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo left in PDP as the BOT chairman; fill in the
gaps being created by the National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, and
reconcile aggrieved party members.

“The presidency chose Anenih as a vital strategist for 2015
poll. Jonathan and his foot soldiers believe that Anenih can tackle some of his
old political allies who are in the opposition parties.

“How far Anenih can appease the North is a major hurdle he needs
to cross.”