Birnin Kebbi — President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua will contest the 2011 presidential poll, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Minister Adamu Aliero has said.

Aleiro, who was in Kebbi State for the annual Argungu Fishing and Cultural Festival, also said at the weekend that the President has the right to contest for a second time.

Coming about the same time former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ex-governors met in Benin City ahead of his planned return to the party, Aliero's statement may have kickstarted permutations towards the 2011 election.

Atiku reportedly met with the PDP ex-governors on Friday night ahead of last Saturday's wedding between Nosazena, the eldest daughter of former Edo State Governor Lucky Igbinedion, to Mr. Ebeagbo Enaholo, which primarily brought all of them to Benin City.

Aliero said the structures of the ruling PDP would be available to the President when the time comes.

Citing his reported ill-health, some say President Yar'Adua may not seek a second term in office.

But the FCT minister said categorically that the President has a sound health that will enable him complete a second term and dispelled speculations that Yar'Adua is unfit to contest for a second term on alleged health ground.

Aliero said: "I am telling you that President Umaru Musa Yar' Adua is in good health and will contest the 2011 presidential election. I doubt if anybody will challenge him when the time comes and we are going to give him the necessary backing to clinch the ticket again."

Aliero, who is a former governor of Kebbi State and a Senator until he was appointed minister, commended President Yar'Adua over the way and manner the Federal Government handled the report of the Justice Mohammadu Uwais Electoral Reform panel.

He said government's recommendation would solve election problems in the country and at the same time ensure a free and fair election among different political parties.

"By the decision to include representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and media in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), it has proved that Mr. President has no hidden agenda but is after free and fair election in the country," he said.

On the demolition of illegal structures in the FCT, the minister said his style in that regard would be different from previous administrations in the territory, explaining, however, that the authorities would demolish structures only if absolutely necessary.

He said the authority would not harass or molest people in its bid to implement the Abuja Master Plan, stating, "We will ensure that people follow the Abuja Master Plan but we will not demolish houses anyhow."

The minister advised people to continue to support the government of President Yar' Adua especially its seven-point agenda so that the country could move forward in the next few years.

Meanwhile, Nigeria's High Commissioner to South Africa, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, has said he is not planning to contest the 2011 presidential election.

He said he would instead support President Yar'Adua.

Marwa spoke weekend in Pretoria at the launch of Egbe Omo Yoruba Southern Africa.

At the event that turned into a carnival of sort, there was a standing ovation requesting the former Lagos State military administrator (Marwa) to contest the 2011 election.

But responding, Marwa said categorically that he was not going to run in 2011 and would rather back President Yar'Adua.

Marwa had contested the 2007 PDP presidential primaries at Eagle Square, Abuja, which was won by Yar'Adua.

All PDP governors withdrew from the race for Yar'Adua but Marwa ran till the end.