Written by Taiwo Adisa, Abuja Thursday, 17 June 2010
LOYALISTS of former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, are said to have infiltrated the government of President Goodluck Jonathan, prompting fresh security inquiries on certain political office holders. Sources in Abuja told the Nigerian Tribune that the administration had discovered some office holders who were appointed by President Jonathan but who were loyal to the former military leader.
A source said that one of the identified pointsmen of the former military leader, who occupied the top position in a high ranking government enterprise, was recently relieved of his appointment following indications that he had promised to finance Babangida’s 2011 campaign.
It was gathered that some loyalists of the former military leader had also taken up positions among the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Reform Group.
While the Reform Group is supposed to be a pro-Jonathan platform, sources said that some top members were actually perfecting Babangida’s script.
It was gathered that though most of the politicians in the group believed that Jonathan would be the person to actualise the reforms they were advocating, some of them were of the view that the president should not contest in 2011.
It was gathered that while some politicians had been posing as friends of Jonathan, some of them had also been flocking to Babangida’s Hill Top mansion in Minna, to urge the former military leader to go ahead with his ambition.
A source said that a high level deceit was going on among politicians in Abuja at the moment. The government was said to have got wind of the development whereby some of the top members of the administration have roots linking them with Babangida.
A source said that insiders in the administration had convinced the government on the need to double check the loyalty of some of the top members of the government, to prevent a situation whereby the resources of the government would be used to fund opposition.
Babangida has announced himself as a candidate in the 2011 general election and has even declared that he would contest the election whether PDP fielded him or not.
Sources said that close checks on his associates, who wanted to retain top government appointments while maintaining loyalty to the former leader is going out.
Said a source on Monday: “The Goodluck administration is actually sitting on a delicate spin. There are many politicians who are double dealing as far as loyalty to Jonathan and Babangida is concerned.”
“For instance, while the PRP reformers appear to be actualising Jonathan’s script, some of them are also rooting for Babangida as president in 2011. It is not right for government to just go to sleep over its appointees.”
Ministers from the South-East and the North-Central were said to have come under the x-ray, following the discovery of their links with the former president.
A source said that IBB’s links with some of the perceived notables in the administration had continued to strengthen his belief that he remained the person to beat in the next general election.
A source said though Jonathan was yet to make up his mind on whether or not to contest the next election, his kinsmen in the South-South were encouraging him to remain in office beyond 2011.
One source particularly said since the North had ruled Nigeria for 36 out of 50 years of its existence, a South-Southerner should be encouraged to remain in the saddle.
Other sources said since whoever came in from the North would want to spend eight years, there should be no reason to deny Jonathan, who will only possibly spend four years as he will not be eligible to contest in 2015.
“The government is conducting routine checks on some individuals, it is just a routine development, but that would ensure there is quality control in the system,” another source said.
Meanwhile, groups urging President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2011 election keep springing up by the day.
Many of the groups, which started operations outside Abuja, had started relocating to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Officials of the Goodluck Solidarity Movement (GSM), who confirmed that they started operations in Jos, Plateau State, said they had since set up the operational headquarters in Abuja.
One of the leaders of GSM said the group had completed the setting up of its structures in all the states of the North and had now relocated to Abuja.
“We have fully established our operations in the states of the North and we have now established in Abuja, the Federal Capital,” said Phillip Gyan, spokesman and ex-officio member of the GSM.
The GSM ex-officio said the group believed that Jonathan should be supported to complete a full term in office because he was a God-fearing leader.
“We have monitored his activities since he emerged as governor of Bayelsa State and we are convinced that only God made him the President of Nigeria.
“If that is the case, we have a duty to support him and urge him to remain in the saddle till 2015,” Gyan said.
The group disclosed that contrary to insinuations that Jonathan was not popular in the North, only a few who wanted to exploit their media access were trying to scare Jonathan out of the presidential race.
He said drafting Jonathan to the race was a patriotic job, which would be actualised by true Nigerians.
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