CIROMA'S COMMITTEE PICKS ATIKU

By NBF News

The cloud of uncertainty over the selection of a consensus presidential candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the North was lifted yesterday as former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, emerged as the choice of the Northern Political Leaders Forum (NPLF).

Atiku's endorsement was announced in a statement signed by the chairman of Consensus Candidate Committee, Mallam Adamu Ciroma, and its Secretary, Sabo Bello, at the conclusion of the committee's assignment.

The former vice president was picked ahead of other aspirants, namely: former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida; the incumbent Governor of Kwara State, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and former National Security Adviser, General Aliyu Gusau.

The statement reads thus: 'We are pleased to announce that we have concluded our assignment of arriving a consensus candidate today and one out of the four aspirants who submitted themselves to the process has emerged. He is Atiku Abubakar.'

'We are glad and proud that we have finally arrived at this outcome after several weeks of hard work and wide consultations. We are proud because of the unusual honour and extraordinary privilege given us by the four gentlemen who placed their political destinies in our hands. We are humbled by the strength of their faith. We appreciate their humility and cooperation. We have been reassured by all of them that they will work together to enable AtikuAbubakar to clinch their party's ticket in the presidential primaries.

'We thank all Nigerians, supporters and critics alike for their views over these past several weeks. While we note these views and respect each one of them, we insist that no individual, organisation or society, dreaming of success and greatness, can achieve these dreams without respect for others and honouring agreements voluntarily entered into. This is especially so where these agreements have been transformed into a binding document, a constitution, which governs the conduct of those who subscribe to it.

'We call on all Nigerians to reflect on this. We also call on all delegates to the forthcoming party conventions to take these into account while casting votes,' the statement said.