Presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina, has faulted claims
that the President, Muhammadu Buhari, asked members of the Progressives
Governors’ Forum to pick a consensus presidential candidate for the ruling All
Progressives Congress.
He said that contrary to reports, the President only met
with the governors and gave them his “expectation” for the forthcoming
presidential primary of the party.
Adesina, who is the Special Adviser to the President on
Media and Publicity, stated these in a piece titled, ‘Visit to Spain: Let’s
Buga for Mr President’.
Making clarifications on what transpired during the meeting, the presidential spokesperson explained that Buhari never discussed issues bordering on zoning, consensus, or imposition of candidates during his conversation with the governors.
According to him, President Buhari told them of what he
would like to see at the APC presidential primary to elect a presidential
candidate early next week.
He said, “No word about zoning, consensus, or imposition of
candidate. He just charged them to let their plans converge, so that the party
would put its best foot forward. Shortly after the meeting, we headed for the
airport.
“A short time into the about five hours flight, I went on
social media, to see that all hell had broken loose. Trust some Nigerians. When
there’s no controversy, they simply create one. They will die of boredom if
they don’t have something to wail or ululate about.
“What were they bellyaching on? Oh, he used the words ‘my
successor,’ instead of ‘APC candidate.’ That means he wants to rig the
election. Otiose.
“Oh, he talked about Governors who performed well being
given opportunity to get a second term, for continuity. That means he wants to
impose someone from within the government to succeed him. Consensus is what he
wants. Puerile.
“Is consensus not one of the acceptable ways of choosing
candidates, according to the Electoral Act? So the party can jolly well decide
on the method it wants.
“Oh, he didn’t talk about zoning. APC wants to give its
ticket to the North. Really? Did you see anything like that in the speech?
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“I tell you. When some Nigerians don’t see what they expect
in a speech or statement, they simply conjure and create their own. And the
wailing starts.”
Meanwhile, Buhari had while addressing the governors on
Tuesday ahead of the party’s presidential primary taking place on Monday,
stated, “The party has successfully established internal policies that promote
continuity and smooth succession plans even at the state and local government
levels.
“For example, first-term governors who have served credibly
well have been encouraged to stand for re-election. Similarly, second-term
governors have been accorded the privilege of promoting successors that are
capable of driving their visions as well as the ideals of the party.”
Buhari said he would be seeking reciprocity from the
governors ahead of the presidential primary which comes up in the next six
days.
“In keeping with the established internal policies of the
party and as we approach the convention in a few days, therefore, I wish to
solicit the reciprocity and support of the governors and other stakeholders in
picking my successor, who would fly the flag of our party for election into the
office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2023,” the
President added.
He asked the governors to ensure that all interests
‘converge’ as regards the outcome of the presidential primary. The President
added that the person who emerges as the presidential candidate must be one who
could give Nigerians a sense of victory even before the polls.
Buhari stated, “As we approach the convention, I appeal to
all of you to allow our interests to converge, our focus to remain on the
changing dynamics of our environment, the expectations of our citizens, and the
global community.
“Our objective must be the victory of our party and our
choice of a candidate must be someone who would give the Nigerian masses a
sense of victory and confidence even before the elections.”
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