2015: WITH ME AS GOVERNOR, JONATHAN CAN’T LOSE IN BAUCHI – YUGUDA

Bauchi State Governor, Mallam Isa Yuguda, a close ally of President Goodluck Jonathan, is one of the outgoing Peoples Democratic Party governors, whose political sagacity is being tasked in the bid to re-elect President Goodluck Jonathan come March 28 this year.
Although he has won many political battles in the past, the forthcoming election remains a test case that may push his political wizardry to the limit given the challenge being thrown at him from within and without his party. But in this interview, the two-time governor boasts that he is equal to the challenge, insisting that Jonathan cannot lose in Bauchi with him presiding over as the governor of the state.
Excerpts:

NGF CRISIS LATEST:YUGUDA QUITS NORTHERN GOVERNORS’ FORUM

Malam Isa Yuguda will no longer participate in meetings of the Northern Governors Forum until anyone of his colleagues publicly admits that he breached the agreement to adopt Da Jonah Jang as the consensus Northern candidate for chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum [NGF]. The Bauchi State governor, who spoke to Daily Trust in Abuja at the weekend, also said he will demand an explanation from the Northern governor that admits that he breached a solemn regional agreement.

REAL BOKO HARAM’LL ACCEPT AMNESTY - GOV YUGUDA

Governor Isah Yuguda of Bauchi State has assured that “real Boko Haram members” will accept the amnesty offered by the federal government.

He declared, however, that it is the responsibility of the government to deal with criminal and political members of the Boko Haram sect when the real members accept the amnesty proposed by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Yuguda, who spoke with editors in Lagos on Saturday night, said that the real members of the sect who have various problems agitating their minds “have accepted and will accept the amnesty, which the president is proposing”.

2015: INTRIGUES AS YUGUDA, SHEMA EYE VICE PRESIDENCY

Indications emerged at the weekend that no fewer than three political camps are at present arrayed against Vice President Namadi Sambo, moving to replace him as veepee, in the build-up to the 2015 presidential election.

In the first group, according to THISDAY checks, are two Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors, Ibrahim Shema (Katsina) and Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), who believe that in the event President Goodluck Jonathan picks the party’s ticket, he should anoint one of them as running mate for the election.

Some senior officials in the presidency are also said to have promised either of the two governors the veepee job in a bid to shore up support for President Jonathan in the North.