By Felix Ofou and
Habib Aruna (Lagos)

President Olusegun Obasanjo and former military ruler, Ibrahim Babangida, have reportedly drafted National Security Adviser, Aliyu Gusau, to run for the post; with Rivers State Governor, Peter Odili, as his deputy.

Provided those behind the idea can placate the South East, it may as well be hoisted as alternative to the alleged plot to extend Obasanjo’s tenure.

It was said to have been agreed after Nigerians expressed disgust at the thought of having to stretch his tenancy at the Villa, whatever may be his “good intentions”.

The President’s inner caucus is disposed to a Gusau/Odili ticket if he is unable to pull off his single six-year scheme.

But sources in Aso Rock said there is no new taste in the carrot “because Gusau’s former boss, Babangida, had said long ago that if he is not going to run, he would push him forward. They are only trying to fly the kite that IBB is in the race. The real thing is for him to use Gusau to maintain his base”.

Nonetheless, Both Gusau and Odili have denied knowledge of the draft.

Gusau said on Sunday through his Press Secretary, Bisi Akande, that there is no truth in the report, echoed by Odili’s Chief Press Secretary, Emma Okah.

Said Okah: “I do not have such information. The governor has a job to rule Rivers State till 2007. Unless he finishes that job to the satisfaction of the people he will only wish that God should decide what his tomorrow will be.

“As far as we are concerned, tomorrow is in the hands of God and not in the hands of man. People should learn to depend on God for their tomorrow, not on man”.

Despite the denials, the support of Ohaneze and the South South Peoples Assembly (SSPA) is said to have been solicited. Both are in the forefront of campaign for the next President to come from their zones.

But Ohaneze and the SSPA are divided in their support for the plan as it contradicts a fundamental element of their individual scheme.

An Ohaneze member disclosed that the group is unlikely to back anyone from the South East and the South South for the vice presidency.

He explained: “We acknowledge that Odili is one of us, even though geographically, he is in the South South. But there is no way we will support him as vice presidential candidate to anybody. Anything short of the Presidency is unacceptable to us”.

Similarly, a top notch of the SSPA said the group’s demand for a South South President “remains sacrosanct and non-negotiable” as the zone believes that this is the best moment to stand its ground.

Besides, sources in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) disclosed that it may be split in its support for Odili and may instead pick a Governor from the South East, possibly Sam Egwu of Ebonyi State.

Egwu is favoured because he has the carriage and commands support in the South East apart from being one of the trusted allies of the President, like Odili.

“What they are thinking of is a man who has the majority of the people behind him and can represent a major tribe across the Niger”, confided a party leader who craved anonymity.

Even then, the PDP is not likely to be rigid in its opposition to the single six-year term agenda and party leaders have been directed by Aso Rock to mobilise their support base for it.

“The party is fully behind him because most of his people are those holding sway in the party now”, the source said.

Governors Sani Ahmed Yerima (Zamfara) Ali Modu Sherrif (Borno), Bukola Saraki (Kwara), Gbenga Daniel (Ogun) and Segun Agagu (Ondo) are said to be the main men of the mobilisation in the North West, North East, North Central and South West respectively.

But some governors linked to the project have denied involvement, with Daniel describing it as “absurd”.

He bared his mind at the weekend, saying: “I don’t know, but I will feel quite disappointed, because I think one of the things that is the bane of the African environment is this penchant to be unable to imagine life outside public office.

“I am grateful to my God that one of the first things I have said to myself is that this office that I occupy today is temporary in nature. I do not know of anything that one wants to do outside the term specified for a particular office. He gets four years; he gets another four years, which is eight years and he still thinks that he wants more. May be that is the African side, which we need to watch very seriously. It is absurd. On my own part, I am not thinking that way at all”.