• Roots for northern Christian candidate
• Considers T.Y. Danjuma • CPC, ANPP kick
The newly-registered All Progressives Congress (APC) may be
courting trouble soon after its acceptance by the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC), as sources within the party informed the Sunday
Newswatch, in graphic details, of current moves that may tear the new party
apart.
courting trouble soon after its acceptance by the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC), as sources within the party informed the Sunday
Newswatch, in graphic details, of current moves that may tear the new party
apart.
The latest crisis, which may shake the party to its
foundation, the Sunday Newswatch learnt, is borne out of a
clandestine motive, allegedly orchestrated by the leadership of the defunct
Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to scheme former Head of State and
presidential candidate of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC),
General Muhammadu Buhari, out of the 2015 presidential race.
foundation, the Sunday Newswatch learnt, is borne out of a
clandestine motive, allegedly orchestrated by the leadership of the defunct
Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to scheme former Head of State and
presidential candidate of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC),
General Muhammadu Buhari, out of the 2015 presidential race.
Checks by our correspondent revealed that the new scheme is
aimed both at fostering the party’s desire to checkmate President Goodluck
Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and also to meet a proviso for
a presidential candidate of northern extraction, given to the party by some
northern elders, during a recent meeting.
aimed both at fostering the party’s desire to checkmate President Goodluck
Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and also to meet a proviso for
a presidential candidate of northern extraction, given to the party by some
northern elders, during a recent meeting.
The newly-registered party, it was gathered, has therefore,
set machinery in motion to shop for a candidate of northern extraction, but
preferably of the Christian faith. To this end, the stalwarts of the party have
drafted a list of some perceived credible and notable northern Christians, whom
they feel would be readily acceptable to Nigerians at the polls, the Sunday
Newswatch can reveal.
set machinery in motion to shop for a candidate of northern extraction, but
preferably of the Christian faith. To this end, the stalwarts of the party have
drafted a list of some perceived credible and notable northern Christians, whom
they feel would be readily acceptable to Nigerians at the polls, the Sunday
Newswatch can reveal.
According to highly-placed sources within the party, some
northern political bigwigs met shortly before the registration of the party
last week and gave a condition to the financiers of the party that the
presidency must return to the North in 2015, if they are to offer their
support.
northern political bigwigs met shortly before the registration of the party
last week and gave a condition to the financiers of the party that the
presidency must return to the North in 2015, if they are to offer their
support.
The attempt by the APC to meet this ‘northern condition’ may
have, however, thrown a spanner in the wheels of the party, as some factions
within the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), and the All Nigeria
Peoples Party (ANPP), are now kicking against the ‘foreign’ idea and insistence
on a Christian candidate, allegedly imported into the deal by leaders of the
ACN.
have, however, thrown a spanner in the wheels of the party, as some factions
within the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), and the All Nigeria
Peoples Party (ANPP), are now kicking against the ‘foreign’ idea and insistence
on a Christian candidate, allegedly imported into the deal by leaders of the
ACN.
Insisting that Christianity cannot be put on the front
burner in the agreement reached with the ‘Northerners’, the aggrieved CPC and
ANPP chieftains are also of the view that the new game plan was the handiwork
of the ACN caucus, whom they alleged are working towards a selfish motive and
“just want to ride on the back of the CPC to power.”
burner in the agreement reached with the ‘Northerners’, the aggrieved CPC and
ANPP chieftains are also of the view that the new game plan was the handiwork
of the ACN caucus, whom they alleged are working towards a selfish motive and
“just want to ride on the back of the CPC to power.”
According to one of the sources who belongs to the CPC
caucus, “It is true that we met some people from the North, and they insisted
that anybody that would fly the party’s flag in 2015 must be a Northerner.
Sequel to that condition, the ACN caucus met and decided to scheme in the
Christianity aspect. This is all in a bid to ensure that a certain bigwig of
the ACN becomes the Vice President.
caucus, “It is true that we met some people from the North, and they insisted
that anybody that would fly the party’s flag in 2015 must be a Northerner.
Sequel to that condition, the ACN caucus met and decided to scheme in the
Christianity aspect. This is all in a bid to ensure that a certain bigwig of
the ACN becomes the Vice President.
“But when we met with the Northerners, there was never a
time they asked us to bring a Christian. It is true they want a Northerner as
the presidential candidate, but this new twist is what we don’t understand.”
time they asked us to bring a Christian. It is true they want a Northerner as
the presidential candidate, but this new twist is what we don’t understand.”
Another member of the APC, who was hitherto in the ANPP also
told Sunday Newswatch of the feeling of bias within the ANPP caucus,
saying that they, in the ANPP, believe that the ACN caucus had devised the plan
all along, but kept it under wraps. He buttressed his point with the earlier
formation of the interim executive committee of the party, which he claimed
were mostly Muslims.
told Sunday Newswatch of the feeling of bias within the ANPP caucus,
saying that they, in the ANPP, believe that the ACN caucus had devised the plan
all along, but kept it under wraps. He buttressed his point with the earlier
formation of the interim executive committee of the party, which he claimed
were mostly Muslims.
He also explained that the CPC group was ignorant of the
whole idea, until the Nasir el-Rufai committee was set up to meet with some
notable people from the North, especially former Heads of State, Generals
Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar, in order to sell the idea of the
party to them.
whole idea, until the Nasir el-Rufai committee was set up to meet with some
notable people from the North, especially former Heads of State, Generals
Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar, in order to sell the idea of the
party to them.
“They asked el-Rufai and some people to meet the big people
in the North, but the idea was to let them know that a Northerner would be
fielded as the (presidential) candidate, so that they can support our party.
But all of a sudden, we started hearing that a Christian must be chosen.
in the North, but the idea was to let them know that a Northerner would be
fielded as the (presidential) candidate, so that they can support our party.
But all of a sudden, we started hearing that a Christian must be chosen.
“In fact, it is news to us. Even el-Rufai and his committee
people cannot claim to be in the know. That was never in the plan. How they
came about it, is strange; they knew what they wanted to do all along, that is
why they put a majority of Muslims in key positions in the exco, and they are
now saying that we have Muslim executives, so we must have a Christian
president.
people cannot claim to be in the know. That was never in the plan. How they
came about it, is strange; they knew what they wanted to do all along, that is
why they put a majority of Muslims in key positions in the exco, and they are
now saying that we have Muslim executives, so we must have a Christian
president.
“This is a ploy to give an opportunity to their bigwig to
become the Vice President, because they know that a ticket featuring Buhari and
the said VIP would not work, since they are both Muslims. That is why they need
to remove Buhari from the race,” he said.
become the Vice President, because they know that a ticket featuring Buhari and
the said VIP would not work, since they are both Muslims. That is why they need
to remove Buhari from the race,” he said.
He also added what he believed would be a clincher to quell
the alleged plan, saying that there are more Muslims in the region, and that
majority of Northerners wouldn’t vote for a Christian candidate.
the alleged plan, saying that there are more Muslims in the region, and that
majority of Northerners wouldn’t vote for a Christian candidate.
While insisting that Buhari would sell the party in the
North, the CPC chieftain vowed that his group and the ANPP caucus would work
together to scuttle any illegitimate moves by the ACN.
North, the CPC chieftain vowed that his group and the ANPP caucus would work
together to scuttle any illegitimate moves by the ACN.
However, those in support of the Christian presidency within
the party are not leaving anything to chance, as they have reportedly started
approaching some Christians pencilled down for the job.
the party are not leaving anything to chance, as they have reportedly started
approaching some Christians pencilled down for the job.
Top on their list, and the first port of call, Sunday
Newswatch learnt, was the home of 74-year-old former Minister of Defence,
General Theophilus Danjuma, whom they believe has the popularity to lead the
party.
Newswatch learnt, was the home of 74-year-old former Minister of Defence,
General Theophilus Danjuma, whom they believe has the popularity to lead the
party.
Meanwhile, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on
Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, has condemned the formation of the APC,
saying, “its foundation is wrong, its combination is faulty and its ideologies
are not clearly defined.”
Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, has condemned the formation of the APC,
saying, “its foundation is wrong, its combination is faulty and its ideologies
are not clearly defined.”
In a statement issued to the press in Abuja on Friday,
Okupe, who thumbed up his boss for ‘allowing’ the registration of the APC,
said, “political liberalism of President Jonathan would not have happened under
many African presidents, especially when it is obvious that there were hurdles
and obstacles to that registration.”
Okupe, who thumbed up his boss for ‘allowing’ the registration of the APC,
said, “political liberalism of President Jonathan would not have happened under
many African presidents, especially when it is obvious that there were hurdles
and obstacles to that registration.”
Reiterating his earlier statement that the PDP is not afraid
of the new party, Okupe said, “these are people that were beaten individually
and collectively before, but we are glad that at least, instead of fighting
three or four parties, we can concentrate on one and get it done. I can assure
you that there is nobody in the Presidency that is worried. For us, it is a
good thing, it is a great development. We will see how far they can go,” he
said.
of the new party, Okupe said, “these are people that were beaten individually
and collectively before, but we are glad that at least, instead of fighting
three or four parties, we can concentrate on one and get it done. I can assure
you that there is nobody in the Presidency that is worried. For us, it is a
good thing, it is a great development. We will see how far they can go,” he
said.
Source: Daily Newswatch
