Abuja — About a week ago, President Goodluck Jonathan finally let the cat out of the bag when he confirmed not to the amazement of many that he was interested in contesting the presidential seat, come 2011. That confirmation had come on the heels of much speculation on the president's interest. In fact, he opened up when many people were beginning to think that he was no longer interested in the most coveted office in the country.

And then he is set to declare his ambition come September 18, as has been speculated in many quarters. Now that it is no longer in doubt that the president intends to take a plow into the presidential race in 2011, he and his team are leaving no stone unturned in ensuring the realization of the much-talked-about dream of Jonathan.

Since then, the president has been holding meetings with concerned political leaders especially from the northern part of the country. Within last week alone, he met two former heads of state and remarkably both northerners. Interestingly, both are also top contenders in the upcoming election in which the president obviously has great interest.

First, he met with the self-acclaimed Military President Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB). Immediately, it filtered into town that Jonathan called him to beg him to step down for him in the primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), being co-contenders for the presidential ticket of the ruling party.

Political observers are of the view that the speculation may not be far from the truth, but both men denied it vehemently, saying that as leaders they only met to brainstorm on how to achieve credible election in 2011 and move the country forward.

In a statement issued through his spokesman, Mr. Ima Niboro, the president said the meeting with IBB and other political leaders said it was part of efforts at ensuring that the 2011 elections run smoothly and do not become a "do-or-die affair.

"This time, it is another lie that the president tried to talk Babangida out of his ambition to return to office. Anyone who has even a passing acquaintance with the president knows he is not one who dissuades people from pursuing their personal ambitions. This is even more so when there is no purpose to be served by it, since the long suffering mass of the Nigerian people would decide who governs them in a free and fair contest."

Also reacting, IBB said his discussion with President Jonathan centred on Nigeria and how to improve the country. He said the meeting had nothing to do with any move to persuade him to step down for Jonathan.

Babangida spoke when he led a team of his campaign organization to the PDP National Secretariat to express compassion over the fire incident that razed part of PDP Headquarters two weeks ago.

He said, "it is not what you guys have been insinuating. So, whenever you find two heads of states, they talk about this country: how can we improve this country, what can we do? All the heads of states about ten of us still living that's what we talk about. 2011 belongs to God and I am fully prepared. The negative comments I do appreciate. I will be a fool if I accept that everybody loves me. But there are also others who do. That's life.

"Unknown to most of you, there is a very robust relationship between the family of President Jonathan and the Babangidas. His wife has been very kind, she asks after my children all the time and I appreciate that. I don't run away from my friends, my brothers and I had an opportunity to thank the wife, through her husband. His wife has taken a lot of interest in my children and I used the opportunity to convey my appreciation to his wife for his concern about my children."

The president obviously not giving heed to the controversy generated by his meeting with IBB on Monday, on Wednesday met with former head of state, Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari as has been earlier announced.

Buhari, who is set to run as the presidential candidate of the newly registered Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) of which he is the leader, will be giving the presidency a shot for the third time come 2011, every other thing being equal.

Buhari, who unsuccessfully ran for the number one post in 2003 and 2007 on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), is believed to enjoy a large followership in the far North, especially in the North-west zone which traditionally witnesses the highest voter turn-out in the country.

The presidential aide again in defence of his boss said, "since June 12, 1993, Nigerians have in successive elections become wiser. The next presidential election, no matter who the candidates are, would sound a resonant Never Again! Never again shall the will of the Nigerian people be quashed underfoot by the vaunting ambitions of a few.

"The fact is that President Jonathan has been meeting different leaders on different occasions and platforms. Some have come to inform him of their intention to run for the presidency. Others he has met with as a matter of courtesy being a sitting president, and keen to ensure that the next presidential elections do not degenerate into a do or die affair as our elections sometimes end up.

"He has met former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar; he has met Babangida; he has met Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, and will meet him again soon. He has met with Gen. Yakubu Gowon; two-time president Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; former president, Alhaji Shehu Shagari; former Vice-President, Alex Ekueme, and former head of state, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar. He will meet with even more leaders and political actors as the race to 2011 heats up."

"It is extremely uncharitable for anyone to spin these meetings in such negative lights, and attempt to force the president into retreat from these well-thought out engagements with political leaders of all hue and disposition in the interest of the country. We think it is time to put an end to this long line of false stories and verify what is served to the general public."

As the race to the 2011 general elections (especial the presidential) gets hotter, there are bound to be more controversies and interesting events that will no doubt shape the period.

But who is asking Jonathan not to play his game the way he deems fit? Politics, they say is a game of numbers, and in Nigeria, a dirty game. But the president has not done anything dirty by trying to befriend his foes. What is wrong in his trying the win his contenders over and make the way clear for the presidential race in 2011?

It is understandable that the issue of zoning has not fully be addressed by the ruling party and if President Jonathan can succeed at convincing some major northern leaders, he may well have succeeded in winning over the northern electorates. That may ensure his success at the primary election of the PDP and may be, the main election.

Meanwhile, the president seems a very careful planner; look how long it took him to agree that he has an eye on the presidency in 2011 despite all the heat the argument for and against generated. He took his time, letting the cat out of the bag only when he deemed it necessary.

Whatever is behind the meetings by President Jonathan and the former heads of state will become obvious as the election draws to a close. If IBB ends up stepping aside for him, it may be interpreted as the by-product of the Abuja mind-rubbing. This will especially be so since there seem to be no other reason on the mind of the former head of state to dump his presidential ambition.

Anyway, he had come out the day after the allegation, declaring that he was going to defeat Jonathan in their party's primary election. What more do we need to convince us that both men are telling the truth? And to brainstorm on how to how to make the next election credible, what an adviser Jonathan has in IBB!

As for Gen. Buhari, he has vowed not to give up his presidential dream for anything. But if the president can get him to drop it and support his own, that will help the Jonathan's ambition greatly. It is note-worthy that Buhari has huge support in the north, especially the north-west. And this can be used to an advantage.

Whatever happens, it is important that the interest of Nigeria and its masses be made paramount. The events that will follow will no doubt clarify the issues as has been contended here and there.