2011: YAR’ADUA PREPARES FOR SECOND TERM ...*Atiku, Kingibe, Yerima, Maduekwe May Run

Musa Yar'Adua

“President Yar’Adua, set for victory at the Supreme court will stand for re-election in 2011”, a presidential aide has revealed.  

According to the aide, considered one of the closest assistants’ to Mr. Yar’Adua, many of the newly nominated ministers, when confirmed, would be one of the trusted foot soldiers to execute the second term project.  

The Yar’Adua’s administration is basking on renewed assurances from five Supreme Court Justices who have promised favorable ruling when the apex court delivers its judgment soon.  

Justices Katsina-Alu, Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnonghen, Chief Justice Legbo Kutigi, Aloma Mariam Mukhtar and Dahiru Musdapher are alleged to have assured President Yar’Adua of their votes when the Supreme Court makes it decision on the April 2007 Presidential election.  

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The source informed Pointblanknews.com that the decision of President Yar’Adua to seek a second term is borne out of his desire “to prove that he is healthy enough to rule and also to be able to fully carry out some of his policies.”  

The 2011 re-election bid may not exactly be a done deal as the president himself is said to be “a little bit hesitant” on the “score card” and “trump” that would convince Nigerians that he is the most “eligible candidate”.  

For example, a presidential villa source told pointblanknews.com that “the president is not unaware that the ticket would not be automatic. Nigerians would want to challenge us on how much we have delivered on our target goals of electoral reforms, Nigeria’s international profile, infrastructural rejuvenation, moving the post from “a cash and share economy” to a productive one where Nigeria positions to confront the reality of dwindling oil revenue.”  

Apart from the practical issue, the president is not sure of what day lies ahead “in terms of his health.”

  Whether Yar’Adua convinces himself as being suitable for a second term, analysts say that ambitious elements from Northern Nigeria, the geo-political zone which currently benefit from the crucial rotational arrangement constitutionally contrived after the intractable annulment debacle of June 12, 1993 said would do battle against him. Those already being speculated to likely give him a good run for his money includes, Atiku Abubakar, Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe and Senator Yerima Ahmed Sani. The thinking is that in the likely event of a medical invalidity, or electoral defeat for the president, the north would insist on its “complete eight years.”  

If that calculation fails to fly, there are elements within the Yar’Adua cabinet waiting in the wings. One such individual is the Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, who sources say may bow to pressure that the time has finally for a Southerner to become the next president of Nigeria.