Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi, and former Senate
President Bukola Saraki have reportedly been selected as the “consensus
candidates” to represent the northern region in the race for the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) presidential ticket.
Over the past months, four presidential hopefuls — Saraki,
Bala Mohammed, Aminu Tambuwal, governor of Sokoto, and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, a
former managing director of the now-defunct FSB International Bank – held
consultations across the country on consensus candidacy.
According to a report signed by Ango Abdullahi, elder
statesman, the four aspirants visited Ibrahim Babangida, former military ruler,
and “gave him the mandate to lead the process for a consensus, and agreed to
abide by the outcome of the decision”.
Abdullahi added that after several consultations with
northern stakeholders, a three-phase approach was taken.
“In the first phase,
the opinions of six distinguished persons each from the three geopolitical
zones were sought with regards to each of the four aspirants. Each of the zonal
delegates were allocated two votes to choose the first and second choice making
a total of 36 votes overall. The outcome of that consultation was as follows: 7
votes for candidate (A) Aminu Waziri; 10 votes for candidate (B) Bala Muhd; 10
votes for candidate (C) A-B Saraki; 5 votes for candidate (D) M Hayatu-deen,”
the report reads.
“One of the elders deferred his votes on grounds of
continuing consultations with traditional rulers and other major stakeholders.
Two members did not cast their second ballots bringing the total to 32 votes
casted out of 36.”
Abdullahi said the second phase of the exercise involved
zonal assessment “based on regions which was concluded as follows: a. North
Central – (Eight); b. North East- (Seven); c. North West – (Two); One is still
under consultation”.
For the third phase of the exercise, the consultations
involved looking into the past experiences of the PDP in terms of northern
candidates.
Abdullahi added that he made recommendations to Babangida,
which the latter approved.
“It was resolved that a leading aspirant from the North
Central and one from the North East are to be presented as northern
presidential candidates. The two would in turn be required to make further
concessions so that in the end one of them would be presented as the consensus
candidate, out of the four that presented themselves from the North,” he said.
“For the purpose of this exercise, it is hereby resolved
that Gov Bala Mohammed from the North East and former Senate President Bukola
Saraki from the North Central be presented as the northern consensus candidates
for the moment.
“The successful
aspirants are hereby urged to work together to make allowance for further
consultations to foster understanding among themselves, and the PDP community
to ensure a rancor free primaries in which all eligible candidates would be
free to exercise their right.”
But Tambuwal has rejected the outcome of the exercise,
saying that was not the agreement reached at a previous meeting involving the
four aspirants.
“The attention of Tambuwal Campaign Organisation (TCO) has
been drawn to a news item that former Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Gov.
Bala Muhammad of Bauchi state have emerged as consensus candidates from amongst
the four of us announced at a meeting in Minna, Niger state,” a statement by
Nicholas Msheliza, TCO director of mobilisation, reads.
“This is, to be candid and forthright, not correct. The
correct situation is that the team met on Wednesday, 20th April, 2022, at
Bauchi Governor’s lodge in Abuja and had a review meeting; and, unanimously
agreed that the consensus arrangement was not working.
“The team further
agreed that Sen. Saraki should come up with a draft statement on how to
communicate this decision to the Nigerian public. This was the last time that
members of the team sat and mutually agreed on anything. The proposed meeting
to review and vet the statement scheduled for 10 pm of the same day was aborted
unilaterally by Sen. Saraki via a WhatsApp message.
“However, on Thursday, April 21st, 2022, same Sen Saraki
circulated yet another WhatsApp message suggesting that members of the team
should head to Minna for a meeting on Friday. Gov. Tambuwal reached other
members of the team and informed them that he stands by the decision of the
team that the initiative is not working.
“This is the reason
Gov. Tambuwal was absent at today’s (Friday) meeting in Minna. As a result,
therefore, the outcome of the Minna meeting has no consequence or any
implication on the aspiration of Gov. Tambuwal, who had earlier on informed his
colleagues of maintaining their agreed position that the initiative has
collapsed.
“Members of the public should be reminded that what was
canvassed for was a consensus candidate and not consensus candidates. For the
avoidance of doubt, Gov Tambuwal has submitted his presidential nomination
forms and now that the quest for a consensus candidate out of the four has
clearly collapsed, will go ahead and face screening and indeed contest the PDP
presidential primary.
“This is in
consonance with his acclaimed outlook as a pan-Nigerian candidate, with
pedigree of national service as the Speaker of the Federal House of
Representatives, life member of the Body of Benchers and now in his second and
final term as Governor of Sokoto state.”
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