Ribadu's Running Mate Between Dr. Okonjo-Iweala and Prof. Osinbajo

Source: huhuonline.com

Huhuonline.com has learnt that the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) is currently considering two people out of which one would be picked as running mate to the party's presidential aspirant, Malam Nuhu Ribadu

The two include the country's former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and former Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Yomi Osinbajo (SAN).

Investigations reveal that several meetings have been held in the last one week on who among the two to finally pick to run with the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFFC) for the presidency in the April general elections.

Sources said the leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is in favour of Osinbajo, who has been his "right hand man" and has worked for the former Governor both formally and informally.

The sourced further told Huhuonline.com that Tinubu, who has never trusted anybody, especially his political godsons, wants Prof. Osinbajo as his eyes in Aso Rock if Ribadu eventually wins the election.

"But the former EFCC Chairman wants Okonjo-Iweala, because of her antecedents and the fact that she is both accepted by men and women in Nigeria .

"She is also an from the South-East and her nomination can help the party garner a lot of support from her area.

"For Osinbajo, the argument is that he is a Yoruba man and has never held any position that has to do with the entire country. He is also seen as one who has no national appeal like Okonjo-Iweala." the source informed Huhuonline.com.

It is also believed by some party stalwarts who are against the former Commissioner for Justice that his nomination would further give the party an ethnic colouration.

It was also learnt that majority of the members of the party supported the former Finance Minister against Osinbajo suggesting that the latter would be better as Minister of Justice instead.

Though it has not been confirmed if the former Minister is ready to accept, it was learnt that she and Prof. Osinbajo had been informed and is ready to take up the challenge if chosen.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, born June 13, 1954 , was the former Finance Minister and was later moved to Foreign Affairs by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

She was the first woman on Nigeria to hold either of those positions.

She served as Finance Minister from July 2003 until her appointment as Foreign Minister in June 2006 before she resigned in August that same year. Okonjo-Iweala who was at a time considered as a possible replacement for former World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz, got appointed as Managing Director of the World Bank by World Bank President Robert Zoellick on October 4, 2007

In October 2005, she led the Nigerian team that struck a deal with the Paris Club, a group of bilateral creditors, to pay a portion of Nigeria 's external debt (US $12 billion) in return for an $18 billion debt write-off.

Prior to the partial debt payment and write-off, Nigeria spent roughly U.S. $1 billion every year on debt servicing, without making a dent in the principal owed.

She resigned as Nigeria 's Foreign Minister on August 3, 2006 following her sudden removal as head of Nigeria 's Economic Intelligence team by President Olusegun Obasanjo in controversial circumstance.