The Kwara State Governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki, on Monday, gave an insight into how an ad hoc committee set up by the Peoples Democratic Party arrived at the recommendation of six governors for consideration for the 2007 presidential race.

Saraki, a member of the six-man committee, at an interactive session with journalists in Abuja, said the governors were recommended after considering their track record and ability to perform.

The governor spoke just as the PDP’s National Organising Secretary, Alhaji Umaru Dahiru, announced that the screening of the presidential aspirants of the party would begin on Friday.

Saraki said the committee also considered the practice in the United States where most of the past presidents of the country were former state governors.

The committee submitted its report to President Olusegun Obasanjo and the leadership of the party last week after which the PDP’s National Working Committee met with the presidential aspirants, advising them to consult among themselves with a view to cutting down on the number of aspirants.

Other members of the Saraki committee set up on June 8, 2006, were the suspended governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayo Fayose; Governors Segun Agagu (Ondo); James Ibori (Delta); Danjuma Goje (Gombe); Senator Ugochukwu Uba; and a member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Bako Sarai.

Though the governor declined to disclose the names of the governors who had been recommended, our correspondent learnt that Governors Ahmed Makarfi (Kaduna); Adamu Muazu (Bauchi); Donald Duke (Cross River); Peter Odili (Rivers); Abdullahi Adamu; (Nassarawa); and Victor Attah (Akwa Ibom) were penciled in for consideration by the party and the President.

Our correspondent learnt that Mu’azu only went to obtain the presidential nomination forms after he was informed of the recommendation of the committee.

Saraki said, “As you are aware, a committee was set up to review the number of aspirants and last week we submitted our report to the President and the leadership of the party.

“We looked at the aspirants vis-à-vis the criteria set up by the party – ability, performance, integrity, commitment to the party and its policies and programmes.

“And in our view, with the limited knowledge that we have, we recommended six of the aspirants we think are capable. We believe that the others can be president but we believe that we must prune back the number of aspirants.”