Power-hungry former military dictator, General Ibrahim Babangida, is believed to be talking to his now discredited boss, General Olusegun Obasanjo, in an attempt to revive his political ambition to rule Nigeria again, in the event of the passing of the ailing President Umaru Yar'Adua.
While the northern political establishment is deeply worried that the future looks gloomy for the region as it tries to reclaim much of the power and influence alleged to have been lost during the Obasanjo civilian administration, Babangida has already got in touch with Obasanjo to discuss his ambition.
Since he was forced to step aside in August 1993, Babangida has not given up on his ambition to return to Aso Rock. He was also forced to retreat in 2007 by Obasanjo who refused to endorse his presidential ambition.
Meanwhile, Yar'Adua's key aides are kicking against the move to send their principal from the seat of power. Led by his wife, Turai, Chief Economic Adviser, Tanimu Yakubu, Agriculture Minister, Abba Ruma and Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State, they are insisting that despite the medical hiccups, Yar'Adua is fit to continue as president.
The loyalists insist on managing the President's health, arguing that Yar'Adua faced similar health situation shortly after he became the governor of Katsina State in 1999 such that many thought that he might not survive the first term. He not only survived the four years but went ahead to win election for the second term.
Between 1999 and 2007, a southerner, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, governed the country and it was generally believed that 'Northerners did not find it easy during his administration.'
The growing concern is that should President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua be forced to step aside to attend to his health, the mantle will automatically fall on Vice President Goodluck Jonathan,an action which will make Northerners to be out of power for another three years.
It was gathered that even before the president travelled to Saudi Arabia, some power brokers had expressed the fear and this, according to a source, led to the retirement of service chiefs whose loyalty cannot be guaranteed.
The source also said that conservatives and young hawks in the North have been meeting on how to save the race from political extinction.
"During one of the meetings, it was resolved that everything must be done to ensure that even in the event that the president returns hale and hearty, the Supreme Court cancels the April 21, 2007 election which brought Yar'Adua to power and order a re-run."
The All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and Action Congress (AC) candidates, Major General Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar are challenging Yar'Adua's victory.It was gathered that the meeting resolved to ensure that Buhari or Atiku does not succeed Yar'Adua.
"Because of Buhari's independent-mindedness and Atiku's deep purse,they would be difficult to control or hijack," the source said.
The idea is to have the Supreme Court annul the election, order for a re-run and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will conduct another primaries for a presidential candidate 'who will contest the election on the platform of our party'
If the election is annulled, the Senate President, David Mark, steps in as the acting president for three months.
Since he is a northerner, he is acceptable to some of the power brokers.
But there is still a problem.'Another issue came up during the meeting. If Mark decides to contest for the election, who will stop him? With his experience in governance even during the military era, he may decide to hijack the process, get the party leaders to his side, get the ticket, contest and win since a PDP candidate will still occupy Aso Rock. As the acting president, Mark can commandeer the whole process and nobody will stop him if he is determined."
Although it was generally agreed that, in the event of a fresh election, Jonathan should be the running mate to, at least, satisfy the militants in the Niger Delta, it is still not known how Mark will be handled if he decides to contest.
