Fomer Head of State Maj.-Gen. Buhari is likely to contest presidential primary of the All Nigeria Peoples Party.
His loyalists told SUNDAY PUNCH that despite the anti-Buhari lobby in the APC, the general would contest the primary.
SUNDAY PUNCH gathered that the
anti-Buhari lobby in APC is made up of two groups. The first group
consists of senior Northern politicians who want the general to bury his
ambition in order for a younger northerner to contest the presidential
primaries. This group is also said to be shopping for a guarantee that
the general will support whoever emerges as the presidential candidate
of the party.
The other group consists of members of
the party who feel that the former head of state is not popular in the
South-East, South-South and some parts of North-Central.
Top officials of the party confided in
our correspondent on Friday that the mega party was worried about
Buhari’s unpopularity in these regions. The officials said the states
were too crucial to be toyed with.
One of the senior members of the party,
who pleaded anonymity, said, “We have realised that it will be a
Herculean task to convince a majority of the electorate in the
South-South, South-East and even some parts of North-Central to vote for
the APC if we field Buhari as our candidate.
“You will recall in 2011, he did not
perform very well in the South-East, South-South as well as Plateau,
Benue and Kwara in the North-Central. He is not so popular in those
areas. We are looking for a nationally acceptable candidate. Hence, the
move to make him step down.”
Another APC top member who spoke on the
condition of anonymity with our correspondent, said, “We know that the
general is popular among the talakawas (ordinary people) in the northern part of the country.
“We also know that he is still
interested in the race based on his pronouncements. But we also believe
that he has tried. He needs to allow the younger ones take a shot at the
ticket.
“But if we prevail on him to discard his
ambition, will he be ready to work for whosoever emerges as the party’s
candidate? That is the dilemma we are in now.”
But Buhari’s supporters are insisting
that he must be allowed to take part in the party’s primary, and that he
will support the winner if he doesn’t win.
Former spokesperson for the CPC, Mr. Rotimi Fashakin, said only the members of the APC could determine Buhari’s fate.
He said, “Some people are afraid of
Buhari and that is why they are flying the kite. We know he is going to
contest the primaries and he may be the candidate of the party.
“We all know that democracy is a game of
numbers, if that is the case, let us wait and see what will happen
during the primary. The general’s popularity has not waned.
“Those mounting pressure on him not to
contest are those who are afraid of him. They know that he means well
for the country and not for the pulse of a few people.”
Similarly, the CPC governorship
candidate in Enugu State in 2011, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, said if Buhari
could pull 12 million votes during the 2011 presidential election with a
“small party like the CPC,” then he could do better under a bigger
party in 2015.
“That is why we, his supporters, are
saying that he should be allowed to contest the primary with other
candidates. Irrespective of his age, he is still strong. He is not
corrupt, he isn’t a religious bigot and he doesn’t care about where you
come from.
“We must also know that GMB is an asset to the party anyway. He has a “vote bank” through which he could draw come 2015.
Buhari, 70, has run for the office of
the President three times and, on all the occasions, was defeated by the
ruling Peoples Democratic Party candidates.
In 2003 and 2007, he ran on the platform
of the ANPP and was the presidential candidate of the Congress for
Progressive Change in the 2011 general election.
PUNCH
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I think dis will be D begining of another failure in APC if Buhari will be Dere presidential aspirant come 2015
ReplyDeleteGMB is d man abeg. U got my vote any day....
ReplyDeleteI am from the South East. I think he alone can fight corruption. Fight corruption alone in Nigeria and we will rule the World. So simple.
ReplyDeleteWith all senses of responsibility. I think Nigeria needs Buhari at this time. With all the level of decadence in our public lives. Pls can anybody point to me who amongst our current set of potential candidates can stand tall when the list of vices are read out. Corruption,indiscipline,selfishness, winner-takes-all syndrome etc.I strongly support the emergence of Gen Buhari at this time to clean the polity.To change the old order , to effect that sincerity of purpose in the discharge of government businesses. Nigeria can not continue like this where Government is being run to please a set of few in the society - the strong,the violent and the elite . Please what happens to the meek,the weak,the everyday nigerians,and the downtroddens.All these people irrespective of status has a stake and part in this country.
ReplyDeleteAnd therefore must be accommodated and catered for . Nigeria needs this man of proven integrity.
Move on General, we are always behind you...
ReplyDeleteIn as much as General Buhari has the mass appeal among the so called Talakawas especially,me think age is not really on his side.In this modern day of e-governance(electronic governance),the APC would do well to look beyond the General,whose personality I adore personally.
ReplyDeleteThe hallmark of a successful leader is the ability to identify,Mentor and groom worthy protégés,who he can assuredly handover the baton of political race to,and support such with everything,including his fabled goodwill,in order to help achieve his own unrealised vision/ambition!
Thank God,the Northern part of Nigeria has millions of younger,equally credible and monumentally more cerebral than the General.These highly educated younger northerners can match the legendary performance of General Murtala Mohammed and globally acclaimed competence of the likes of Clinton,Obama,Rawlings,Fashola,etc!
The likes of Nasir El Rufai,Sanusi Lamido Sanusi,Junaid Mohammed,Col Abubakar Dangiwa (Rtd),Nuhu Ribadu,Tambuwal,Bello Maccido,Aliko Dangote,etc would be an excellent President in any country.El Rufai or Nuhu Ribadu as known APC members especially,are the type of no nonsense that the near decadent Nigeria of today needs.Like them or hate them,El Rufai or Nuhu Ribadu would sanitise Nigeria within four years to the extent that the generation of Looters in the Executive,Legislature,Civil Service,Private Sector,Foreign Companies,etc would readily beg for Visas to check out of Nigeria,but the pauperised majority of helpless Nigerians would be better for it!
I have always said it that,the greatest mistake made by President Obasanjo was his unaltruistic failure to IMPOSE or RIG in Nasir El Rufai as the President in 2007!!!Nigerians would had protested then and abused OBJ,but today he (OBJ) would have been celebrated as a national hero and an Icon!Asiwaju Tinubu on the occassion of his 60th Birthday was asked for his singular LEGACY as the then Lagos State governor;the smart man's answer was a 7 letter word:FASHOLA!
I am not a fan of El Rufai,not after demolishing two properties of mine and unnecessarily signed a baseless petition against me at Nuhu Ribadu's EFCC then in 2006,based on frivolous information by his boys and bootlickers.But the issue at stake trancends my personal losses or bad belle;it is a call to national redemption and retrieval of our dear nation from the precipice!Nigeria at this point in time needs an energetic young middle-aged man,who can work from 8 am till 4 am of the following day and still get up to resume by 8am!Can General Buhari or any of the generoatic elders that are overstaying their ability do that?We need younger men and women who can GROW EARLY OLD AGE WHITE HAIR like the Obamas,Fasholas,Clintons,etc as a result of governance pressure!
Let General Buhari,Asiwaju Tinubu,Baba Akande,etc bury their elective ambitions if any and rise up to a patriotic call of the dying majority by supporting the radically minded younger politicians in their APC and save this country in 2015 or NEVER!Nigeria of today,tomorrow and next urgently requires a slightly 'MAD' but highly cerebral no nonsense young leader like Genera Murtala Mohammed of most blessed memory,and NASIR EL RUFAI fits the bill,if a Northerner must be APC candidate.President Jonathan is a fine gentleman with a Godly heart,who would had been ideal for the Nigeria of early Independence years,not now that the political and Economic arena is populated by hardened crooks and vampires!He is too gentle and nice to handle them,as the reverse is now the case.They have virtually caged him and the country and only God can rescue both through a mentally charged and angrifully fellow like Buhari or Rufai or Ribadu,but General Buhari at 70+ is a spent force!
Regards to all and bitterness to none,I remain yours patriotically,AA.
Please, is there a way that you can publish this write up in one of the national dailies? This captures the mind of every patriotic Nigerians. This write-up is straight to the point. This is what Nigerians need. These are the roadmaps to a greater Nigeria.
DeleteThe best president Nigerians are expecting.
ReplyDeleteFor those who have sight and not just eyes, and for those who have sense and not just empty brain, knows what is good for Nigeria.. I am of the opinion that those groups insisting on GMB to side step primaries or shun contesting for President comes 2015 are PDP members from the inside while bearing APC from the outside.. GMB is the only tested and trusted leader Nigeria has ever seen, the cleanest and stainless, devoid of all corrupt practices. The uncompromised, the transparent, the charismatic, above all A born LEADER.. The Sky is your limit..
ReplyDeleteAny time any day, the worst Buhari can do is far better than the best any other Nigerian can do. Buhari was the president for less than two years and he made history till today. What a remarkable achievement!
ReplyDeleteGod forbid bad thing in Nigeria
ReplyDeleteGMB, U alone can not "de CORRUPT" Nigeria. Besides, even during Ur time as MILITARY PRESIDENT it was my UNCLE of BLESSED MEMORY- TUNDE IDIAGBON, that was really fighting a WAR against CORRUPTION & INDICIPLINE. However, in DEMOCRACY where U're being "CHECK MATE" by very SELFISH & CORRUPT LEGISLATURES, U alone will & can not CHANGE Nigeria. So why not RETIRE to Ur VILLAGE & be a BEHIND the SCENE player rather than trying to become an ABRAHAM LINCOLN of UGWU HAUSA.
ReplyDeleteGMB, U alone can not "de CORRUPT" Nigeria. Besides, even during Ur time as MILITARY PRESIDENT it was my UNCLE of BLESSED MEMORY- TUNDE IDIAGBON, that was really fighting a WAR against CORRUPTION & INDICIPLINE. However, in DEMOCRACY where U're being "CHECK MATE" by very SELFISH & CORRUPT LEGISLATURES, U alone will & can not CHANGE Nigeria. So why not RETIRE to Ur VILLAGE & be a BEHIND the SCENE player rather than trying to become an ABRAHAM LINCOLN of UGWU HAUSA.
ReplyDeleteu people are not serious attall......u talk as if u are all an ilitrate .....when we are saying youth should take over power is it only this retired army has the right to rule this country are they not other people who can rule...na wa buhari go sleep for house...ur time don go
ReplyDeleteListen to this anonymous opinion ""The likes of Nasir El Rufai,Sanusi Lamido Sanusi,Junaid Mohammed,Col Abubakar Dangiwa (Rtd),Nuhu Ribadu,Tambuwal,Bello Maccido,Aliko Dangote,etc would be an excellent President in any country""
ReplyDelete...YOU A TYPICAL BOKO HARAM MEMBER. Thank you for listed your Boko Haram sponsors. Big fool, Nigeria is not for the BOKOs
come rain come son buhari can not win even his brother will not alow him atall.
ReplyDelete