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Former Vice President ,Atiku Abubakar was conspicuously absent at a strategic meeting with the with the former military head of state, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, over possible emergence of a consensus candidate.
Three presidential aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, Bukola Saraki, governors of Sokoto and Bauchi states, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and Senator Bala Mohammed, on Thursday met with Babangida to perfect the consensus candidate arrangement .
PLATFORM TIMES gathered that Atiku was left out in the arrangement following a disagreement among the candy dates on the arrangement .
Speaking after the meeting on behalf of Tambuwal and Muhammed , Saraki said the visit to the former military ruler was to seek his advice and guidance on the way to achieve the planned consensus in the party.
He said “We are here as part of our consultantation going round the country talking to our leaders and stakeholders in our party, the PDP.
“We, the aspirants on the PDP platform, deemed it fit to come and brief the former military president on what we are doing in respect of the consensus.
“We believe that in exercises like this, we need his believing, advice and guidance. We are trying to provide a solution to a political process. We are doing this to ensure that the process is not rancorous.
“And we cannot do that just among the four of us. We need support of the leaders of the party and their advice.”
He said a candidate, who will have the support of all Nigerians, would be presented by the party at the end of the consultations.
Responding, Babangida said he was happy with the consensus decision, which according to him would give a better room for peace and unity in the country.
He said, “I enjoyed meeting with you because I like what I heard. Your belief in the unity of this country is most paramount; your belief in having a better Nigeria featured prominently in the course of your discussion. And You’ve made my day that all you talk about was Nigeria.”
