GUSAU'S RESIGNATION UNSETTLES PRESIDENCY

By NBF News

Gusau
National Security Adviser (NSA), General Muhammadu Gusau (Rtd) has resigned, Daily Sun, learnt yesterday. The dreaded spy chief had resigned about a month ago, but President Goodluck Jonathan is yet to approve his resignation.

The development had engendered palpable tension in the nation's seat of power as Gusau's deputy, Col Kayode Are (retd) is yet to take full control of affairs. Gusau still comes to work occasionally. The outgoing NSA had nursed a long standing presidential ambition before he came back to the seat he left six years ago in the aftermath of the crisis of succession that dogged the last days of the late President Musa Yar'Adua.

A presidency source told Daily Sun yesterday that the quandry and fuss over the General's resignation was uncalled for since the negotiation chip was that he would be allowed to pursue his presidential ambition as soon as the nation's security apparatus was stabilized.

President Jonathan was said not to be disposed to the resignation and had put in place measures to make him rescind the decision, while considering other options which include; either allowing Are to move up the ladder or get another person to occupy the seat.

Gusau's resignation had even worsened the situation, with the unexpected mounting opposition to Jonathan's perceived presidential project, which had gravely unsettled his camp. Groups rooting for his presidency in 2011 rose to an all-time high number of 88 before last week's decision by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) hierarchy to retain the zoning principle in its constitution. The groups had expressed the hope that Jonathan was going to have an easy sail But when the clog came, calm, apprehension and uncertainty took over. Some notable members of the groups who were not consulted before they found their names enlisted, but kept quiet for obvious reasons, had been emboldened to make a hasty denunciation of their involvement.

Notable among those who had since made their stance known was Chief Emeka Ofor, a known associate of former vice president, Atiku Abubakar who had already declared his intention to gun for the 2011 presidential seat on the platform of the PDP. The developments had placed a pall on Jonathan's presidential activities, leading to rife speculations that he may be forced to reconsider his interest in the 2011 presidential race.

Some Niger-Delta groups including supporters of Tonye Princewill, the Action Congress (AC) governorship candidate for Rivers State in the 2007 election who is now in PDP, are also declaring open support for Atiku.

But a presidential aide, (names withheld) told Daily Sun last night that there was no going back for Jonathan. 'This kind of thing should be expected. It is natural in politics.. No aspirant for any office should expect to have an expressway to it. It comes with determination, plans, and strategies. Only a brutal incumbent will take the option of suppression as we had in the late Gen Abacha days, to have his way'