Reactions to Atiku’s nomination

Ibrahim Babangida-

“The IBB Presidential Campaign Organisation commits itself to all the elements of the Consensus Agreement and understanding. On behalf of His Excellency,General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, GCFR, we wish to congratulate His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, GCON as the Consensus Candidate,” Raymond Dokpesi, the director general of the Ibrahim Babangida Campaign Organisation,who signed the statement, said in the statement.

The organization said that the outcome of the two-months exercise should be applauded because of the rogours the committee went through in search of a consensus candidate.“The outcome of the consensus exercise which the Adamu Ciroma Committee selflessly imposed upon itself in the past two months must be loudly applauded for the rigour of their search, conduct, and foresight.

It said,“The Committee inaugurated a process to tackle a challenge the result of which will outlive the politically induced crisis which called the Committee into existence.The outcome of the Consensus Exercise has truly humbled all the Presidential Aspirants.

“We once again, thank everyone of the membership of this committee. We all know the gravity of what the Aspirants have done. We know that in doing what they have done,this great nation and all Nigerians shall manifestly be served.“They did not submit themselves to this exercise so as to fail, far from it. The machinery of success which they inaugurated previously has become further strengthened and deeply rooted. It shall be well with the Consensus Outcome, and it shall manifestly be well for all Nigerians.

” Goodluck Jonathan-

Fellow Nigerians, as you notice an upswing in political activities I want to assure you that not only will I focus on my sworn commitment of providing leadership for ALL Nigerians, I will also run and encourage others to run a national campaign devoid of sectionalism because leaders ought to unite not divide.Again, the only difference we should look for in Nigeria is between good and bad not North and South.

Bukola Saraki:

ABS 2011 campaign organization, in the spirit of peace, national unity and sustenance of democracy in our great country, has accepted the decision of consensus committee set up by Northern Political Leaders forum,

(NPLF) under the chairmanship of Mall Adamu Ciroma. The committee has chosen former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to be the consensus candidate of the PDP aspirant from the North.ASB 2011 campaign organization thereby congratulates Atiku Abubakar and pledges to abide by the cooperative arrangement of the process that produced him. Our candidate Dr. Abubakr Bukola Saraki also salutes and profoundly thank his campaign team and supporters across the Country for their prayers and loyalty.

Aliyu Gusau:

The Aliyu Gusau Campaign Organization has congratulated His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar for emerging as the consensus candidate, picked by the Adamu Ciroma- led committee. In a statement issued by the organization, it reiterated the initial pledge and commitment of its principal. Rtd Lt- General Aliyu Mohammed Gusau to respect the verdict of the committee and give unqualified support to whoever emerges as the committee’s candidate. “Without the slightest equivocation”, the statement reads “the principal and the entire campaign organization stand by this pledge. The statement recalled the oft- repeated statement of General Gusau that electoral contest should not be a do or die affair, stressing that he was in the race fundamentally to serve.

The statement paid tributes to the members of the committee for the pains and sacrifice they undertook before arriving at this significant event. It equally noted that the committee members have, by their extensive consultations and unique contributions helped to moderate the stress and intense partisanship which could have governed the political campaign process. While extending its hand of fellowship to the preferred candidate, Atiku Abubakar and its campaign organization, the statement urged the vast followers of General Aliyu Mohammed Gusau to remain calm and undeterred by this outcome, urging them to await further directives.

Nuhu Ribadu:

“Our campaign organization received the news with interest. While we understand the matter as purely a PDP affair,

we nevertheless wish them luck in their coming primaries, hoping in the process that the PDP will ultimately give consideration to a national imperative as a guide to their party processes”.

Aghanya Denni:

Congress for Progressive Change- The emergence of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the consensus presidential candidate of the Northerners in the PDP is an expression of a people’s wish and no two ways about it. The struggle is premised on the fact that promises are meant to be kept.

If there was an agreement of zoning at a point, it should be kept. If his choice is a popular choice of the Northern PDP members, so be it.