The Presidency on Monday has continue to deny that President Goodluck Jonathan had signed any agreement with any individual or group that he would serve only one term in office.
The Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Ahmed Gulak, made this statement during an interview in Abuja, where he was reacting to the claims of the spokesman of the Arewa Consultative Forum, Anthony Sani, on Monday.
Sani had said that the crisis in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party would be resolved if Jonathan respected agreements he entered into with stakeholders before the 2011 elections.
Sani’s comment was with respect to the visits of five governors – Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso (Kano), Muritala Nyako (Adamawa); Babangida Aliyu (Niger); Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto) – to Jonathan and some past leaders.
He had said, “Our understanding of the G-5 governors is that they want governors to be carried along in the management of their party; they want internal democracy and they want an end to divisions within the party, and for President Jonathan to respect agreements he entered into voluntarily with stakeholders.”
The Niger State governor had a few months ago claimed that the President, before the 2011 elections, signed an agreement that he would serve only one term of four years.
But Gulak reminded journalists that he had challenged Aliyu to produce a copy of the agreement, which the governor has been unable to, seven months after.
He said, “Rather than insisting on an agreement that does not exist – since anybody can contest for the highest office in the land, those who are so interested should declare their interest and contest.
Commenting through his Director of Press, Ahmad Sajo, Adamawa State governor said he and his four colleagues did not discuss a single-term agreement with Jonathan when they met with him recently.
He added that their discussion was only based on the crisis in the PDP.
Sajo stated, “The governors did not discuss anything about single term agreement with the President. As governors, they are free to meet with the President to discuss the state of the nation because they have responsibilities to their states.
When contacted, the Senior Special Assistant to the Sokoto State Governor, Sani Umar, said he was not even aware that his principal met with the President, and if they did, he had no knowledge of what transpired at the discussions.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Kano State Governor, Aliyu Dantiye, could not be reached for comment as he declined picking calls to his phone. A text message sent to him did not deliver as of press time.