FOR politicians rearing to go full-blown campaigns and politicking may be long in coming as President Olusegun Obasanjo has ordered presidential aspirants within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to hold on until 2006.
But the order notwithstanding, there have been underground politicking and strategy meetings by those jostling for the nation’s plum position in 2007. And amidst the on-going underground politicking, there have been confusing signals that point in the direction of a possible shot at the presidency by Obasanjo for a fresh five-year term.
The presidential order by Obasanjo that 2007 presidential campaigns should not start until early 2006 is said to be responsible for the decision by former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, Vice President Atiku Abubakar and General Buba Marwa to “take it easy”, Sunday Vanguard learnt last week.
The order is seen in circles as a deliberate strategy aimed at delaying the aspirants in taking the polity by storm and disrupting, in the process, alleged alternative plans that do not take cognizance of the presidential aspirations of the trio of Babangida, Abubakar and Marwa. But the alleged breach of the order by loyalists of one of the frontline aspirants is unsettling one of them, who, as learnt, has written to President Obasanjo to formally lodge a complaint.
A source close to the Presidency told Sunday Vanguard that the letter detailed instances of breach of the order and expressed concern that if the group was not called to order, it would have taken over the field by the time the order is officially lifted in 2006.
Obasanjo, as gathered, handed down the order at separate meetings he had with them, explaining to them, according to reports, that it was too early to encourage open campaigns, which he said could distract his government from the business of governance. He had declared during one of his monthly media chats that it was too early in the day to begin campaign for his position when he had not even spent a year of his four-year second term.
Sunday Vanguard learnt that Babangida, Abubakar and Marwa have a number of groups that have been working quietly in the field to bolster their aspirations. No fewer than twenty groups are working for Babangida, while a number of groups are also said to be working for the vice president.
Babangida, for instance, has a number of think tanks, among of which is the Eagle Group, and has a full complement of intellectuals, many of whom he worked with as military President for eight years, while the Vice President has the National Democratic Project (NDP), a think tank, which, as learnt, has on board Dr. Usman Bugaje, Dr. Bala Usman, and Dr. Adinoyi Onukaba-Ojo. Marwa also has his think tank, which composition is yet unknown.
Meanwhile, there were feelers that the speculated bid by Obasanjo for another shot at the presidency in 2007 is being revisited by some elements within the Presidency who, as learnt, want the President to continue in office beyond 2007 for their own selfish political interests.
Sunday Vanguard learnt that some individuals in the National Assembly have been sensitized on the need to review the constitution in order to give a leeway to the aspiration without prejudice to the two terms that will be completed in 2007. State governors, as it is, stand to benefit from any such constitutional amendment and to that extent they will mobilize their rubber-stamping State Legislatures to pass the amended/ reviewed constitution without any inhibition.
The National Assembly Constitution Review Committee under the leadership of the deputy Senate President, Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu, is on with the review process and there are fears that the committee, many of whose members, the Presidency assisted to win their elections, will be willing to accede to any such plan. But, a number of checks in Abuja last week with sources close to the Presidency, the PDP and the groups of the presidential aspirants, disclosed that the situation as at now is not clearly defined as all manner of plots are, as learnt, being perfected ahead of the crucial 2007 presidential elections.
However, the consensual opinion is that President Obasanjo would not embrace the plan by his so-called loyalists to perpetuate himself in office by whatever democratic means. A source said that he was sure the President would not fall for the plan, being an intelligent man to appreciate the dangers inherent in it.
