Vunderkind
Social Member
The grapevine has been abuzz with hinted suggestions that President Goodluck Jonathan's political camp might be really nervous over the possibility of Atiku Abubakar's emergence as presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress.
An anonymous source reportedly close to Jonathan, speaking with The Daily Sun newspaper has said that there are conspiracies of 'internal sabotage' and 'outright betrayal of the President' if Atiku should emerge the APC flagbearer.
The source further mentioned that the Presidency has been losing sleep over Atiku's apparent cordial relationship with members of the United States Congress and top brass in the United States.
Furthermore, says this source, members of PDP's National Working Committee (NWC) and the Board of Trustees (BoT) including several other PDP leaders were really chummy with Atiku.
He also said that several people in Jonathan's 'contingency plans' were indebted to Atiku, and they might turn tail and switch sides if Atiku emerges the sole candidate of the North.
Quotes from this source: “There is the fear that Atiku would pose the greatest challenge to Jonathan’s second term ambition for a number of reasons. Atiku’s relationship with the United States is of serious concern. Coming at a time when Abuja’s relationship with Washington is at its lowest ebb over insecurity in the country, the US may favour regime change in Nigeria, which may benefit Atiku.
“There is also the fear of sabotage from senators, Representatives members, serving and former PDP governors, who might have benefited from Atiku. The same goes for serving ministers and advisers to the President, some current NWC and BOT members as well as state executive of PDP. Atiku’s machinery in the PDP is still intact. The man has a lot of friends and loyalists in Jonathan’s cabinet and across all levels of the PDP who may either switch camp or even work discreetly for him while still on Jonathan’s payroll.”
The source also said the Presidency was worried, and aware that Atiku was seen by several Nigerians as a liberal Muslim, lacking in ethnic bias and other polar sentiments, and as such stood stronger chance of beating President Jonathan at the February 4, 2015 polls.
An anonymous source reportedly close to Jonathan, speaking with The Daily Sun newspaper has said that there are conspiracies of 'internal sabotage' and 'outright betrayal of the President' if Atiku should emerge the APC flagbearer.
The source further mentioned that the Presidency has been losing sleep over Atiku's apparent cordial relationship with members of the United States Congress and top brass in the United States.
Furthermore, says this source, members of PDP's National Working Committee (NWC) and the Board of Trustees (BoT) including several other PDP leaders were really chummy with Atiku.
He also said that several people in Jonathan's 'contingency plans' were indebted to Atiku, and they might turn tail and switch sides if Atiku emerges the sole candidate of the North.
Quotes from this source: “There is the fear that Atiku would pose the greatest challenge to Jonathan’s second term ambition for a number of reasons. Atiku’s relationship with the United States is of serious concern. Coming at a time when Abuja’s relationship with Washington is at its lowest ebb over insecurity in the country, the US may favour regime change in Nigeria, which may benefit Atiku.
“There is also the fear of sabotage from senators, Representatives members, serving and former PDP governors, who might have benefited from Atiku. The same goes for serving ministers and advisers to the President, some current NWC and BOT members as well as state executive of PDP. Atiku’s machinery in the PDP is still intact. The man has a lot of friends and loyalists in Jonathan’s cabinet and across all levels of the PDP who may either switch camp or even work discreetly for him while still on Jonathan’s payroll.”
The source also said the Presidency was worried, and aware that Atiku was seen by several Nigerians as a liberal Muslim, lacking in ethnic bias and other polar sentiments, and as such stood stronger chance of beating President Jonathan at the February 4, 2015 polls.
