Maj.-Gen. Buhari Rtd, former Head of
State is set to contest presidential primary of the All Nigeria Peoples Party.
His loyalists said that despite the
anti-Buhari lobby in the APC, the general would contest the primary.
It was 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.
Tags
Politics
U people don't have what it takes to beat PDP.
ReplyDeleteIf apc refus to bring yuong blood as dier candidat dey will fall again
ReplyDeleteHahahaha all people confusionist apc 2015 still far ahead n yet a vigin party like apc is in a state confusion. Pls go n sit down, d devil u know is better Dan angel u done know
ReplyDeleteYorubas will out smart him , he is a joker
ReplyDeleteLet's give Buhari a chance. He has never claimed to be an angel and he sure has his antecedents. I however strongly believe that he will make a difference surely bcos he knows he has to right the wrongs he made in the past. We need someone who knows Nigeria! Understands Nigerians! Knows the corrupt and has the capacity to root them out. Buhari is all these.
ReplyDeleteAm sorry for this young party if adamant old general beriefed of ideas is allowed to contest 2015 general elections because, what is on ground now is not what a young party like APC can contend with. Better, capable and young hand should be sort after if not, I forsee the party lossen even some of her senators and members house of reps in 2015 elections. Go back to the drawing board and redesign to win and not rotating former leaders or even some decamped PDP members. You know why? They often times said, they brought this country into this present mess when they were in PDP and they can also put it back to better come 2015. But, I asked this question, "if u truly have the interest of this country at heart, why will u used your hands to messed it up and you want to back and govern who again? All this all fools and their cohorts should go back and sleep, their time has been warned out. Nigerians are painfuly and passionately crying for justice with our so much abundant resources in abundant. Do something, act now. Alaku Dennis
ReplyDeleteWhen pple started making noise abt APC I laughed bcos with d likes of Buhari I strongly believe we will win as usual. Buhari is a fanatic, a man who doesn't hv d mind of a Sportsman, he wants 2 win at all times shouldn't be allowed 2 occupy any important office. Come 2 think of it. Does he (Buhari) wants 2 die in Power like Mugabe? Sir, u are Retired and so ur expected 2 play advisory role and nothing more. Rest In Peace APC.
ReplyDeleteToo many bad cooks in APC such as Buhari, Tinubu, Lai Mohammed etc will spoil the broth or rock the boat
ReplyDeletelrufai or jonathan am less concern all we want is PDP out of Villa com 2015. The only way out is for Tinubu and Buhari to present to Nigerians Rochas Okorocha as APC presidential candidate, PDP is finished dats the only Person that can match Jonathan, in d north Rochas is an house hold name, all the north want is yes Buhari presented Rochas to them, south west Tinubu south east Which igbo man will vote for an ijaw man? political analyst please analyse and advice APC this d only and best way to remove PDP com 2015
ReplyDeletePlease someone should educate me, is there no age limit for political role in Nigeria? Abeg make una nor vex oh! I just wan know, because how come these people have been ruling us for decades and today, still struggling to enter power? Am tired of all these expired old retired politically frustrated prostitutes.
ReplyDeleteBuhari is the best candidate for APC so u guys should go 4 him is the right person and the right president GOD will b with u APC 4 LIFE!BABS UK!
ReplyDeleteIf una try vote buhari na go surpris say president musl Vic musl d man no dey understd how power dey work
ReplyDeleteAPC: I dey laugh o!I pity pple wey wey think say them fit use person like Buhari remove PDP 4m power ooo! Ha confusionist party. U pple think that Nigerians are still fools? Ok, may b then want this contry to be islamize.
ReplyDeleteBuhari has already used his mouth to lilled his political ambition in Nigeria cos he thought that Northern States alone can garantee his ticket to Aso Rock, in other to get back @ his enemies and to Islamize Niger. Too bad 4 u cos he has used his mouth to open the eyes of the masses.
ReplyDelete