The
search in the North for a consensus candidate to challenge President Goodluck
Jonathan in the 2015 presidential election may soon be over.
search in the North for a consensus candidate to challenge President Goodluck
Jonathan in the 2015 presidential election may soon be over.
Although Jonathan has not signified an intention to seek
re-election, there is serious speculation that he will.
re-election, there is serious speculation that he will.
Multiple sources told SUNDAY
PUNCHon Friday that the region’s powerbrokers are rooting for the Speaker
of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, to run for President.
PUNCHon Friday that the region’s powerbrokers are rooting for the Speaker
of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, to run for President.
Our correspondents gathered that some senior politicians in the
opposition mega party, the All Progressives Congress, have made overtures to
Tambuwal to dump the ruling Peoples Democratic Party and be the APC flag bearer
in 2015.
opposition mega party, the All Progressives Congress, have made overtures to
Tambuwal to dump the ruling Peoples Democratic Party and be the APC flag bearer
in 2015.
A former Head of State and presidential candidate of the
Congress for Progressive Change in the 2011 general election, Major-General
Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), and the National Leader of the Action Congress of
Nigeria, Senator Bola Tinubu, reportedly held a private meeting with the
Speaker last week to persuade him to join the mega party.
Congress for Progressive Change in the 2011 general election, Major-General
Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), and the National Leader of the Action Congress of
Nigeria, Senator Bola Tinubu, reportedly held a private meeting with the
Speaker last week to persuade him to join the mega party.
Some leaders of the North, in separate interviews with SUNDAY PUNCH on Friday, described Tambuwal as a
credible alternative to Jonathan, stating that he would get their support,
whether as the flag bearer of the PDP or APC. However, they stopped short of
declaring the Speaker as the consensus presidential candidate of the region.
credible alternative to Jonathan, stating that he would get their support,
whether as the flag bearer of the PDP or APC. However, they stopped short of
declaring the Speaker as the consensus presidential candidate of the region.
The Northern Elders’ Forum said although it had not decided on a
consensus northern candidate for the presidency in 2015, Tambuwal’s
“youthfulness and performance” as the Speaker made him an attractive option in
the region’s bid to reclaim the presidency.
consensus northern candidate for the presidency in 2015, Tambuwal’s
“youthfulness and performance” as the Speaker made him an attractive option in
the region’s bid to reclaim the presidency.
The spokesman for the forum, Dr. Paul Unongo, in an interview
with one of our correspondents, said Tambuwal would get the support of many
Nigerians, especially northerners, should he emerge the presidential candidate
of any political party.
with one of our correspondents, said Tambuwal would get the support of many
Nigerians, especially northerners, should he emerge the presidential candidate
of any political party.
He said, “I have a very deep respect for the Speaker. He is an
amiable and courageous young man who, I believe, has served his country well.
He is somebody that I know that will enjoy the support of a lot of Nigerians.
amiable and courageous young man who, I believe, has served his country well.
He is somebody that I know that will enjoy the support of a lot of Nigerians.
“The Northern Elders Forum will support a candidate from the
North. But we have yet to zero in on anybody, whether Christian or Muslim.
However, with what Tambuwal has done as the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, he looks quite attractive. If Tambuwal emerges as the
candidate of any party he associates with, whether PDP or APC, we will be happy
to discuss with him. And I’m sure he will enjoy the support of some of us.”
North. But we have yet to zero in on anybody, whether Christian or Muslim.
However, with what Tambuwal has done as the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, he looks quite attractive. If Tambuwal emerges as the
candidate of any party he associates with, whether PDP or APC, we will be happy
to discuss with him. And I’m sure he will enjoy the support of some of us.”
Another influential group in the North, the Coalition of
Northern Politicians, Academics, Professionals and Businessmen, noted that
supporting Tambuwal was not based only on the preferences of the people of the
region.
Northern Politicians, Academics, Professionals and Businessmen, noted that
supporting Tambuwal was not based only on the preferences of the people of the
region.
The coordinator of the group, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, told one of
our correspondents that Tambuwal had the potential to turn the fortunes of the
country around.
our correspondents that Tambuwal had the potential to turn the fortunes of the
country around.
He said, “It’s not a question of a northerner throwing a
challenge to Jonathan, it’s a question of what is good for Nigeria. Looking at
the prospects, Tambuwal is good for Nigeria. What he did during the election
that made him the Speaker was a very positive development for democracy in the
nation and also a sobering warning to all the parties to be more internally
democratic.
challenge to Jonathan, it’s a question of what is good for Nigeria. Looking at
the prospects, Tambuwal is good for Nigeria. What he did during the election
that made him the Speaker was a very positive development for democracy in the
nation and also a sobering warning to all the parties to be more internally
democratic.
“Goodluck Jonathan and the gangs around him pose a very serious
threat to us in this country by their sheer incompetence and irresponsibility.
Competence and integrity are clearly lacking in the government and the
Presidency, which Jonathan leads. I’m sure Nigerians will be more than happy to
have an opportunity to support Tambuwal.”
threat to us in this country by their sheer incompetence and irresponsibility.
Competence and integrity are clearly lacking in the government and the
Presidency, which Jonathan leads. I’m sure Nigerians will be more than happy to
have an opportunity to support Tambuwal.”
Mohammed further described Tambuwal as a credible alternative to
Jonathan.
Jonathan.
“He is a kind of leader who will give alternative tendencies a
chance to overthrow the PDP, Jonathan and all that they stand for. I believe
Tambuwal will be a better leader and a better person for the presidency.
chance to overthrow the PDP, Jonathan and all that they stand for. I believe
Tambuwal will be a better leader and a better person for the presidency.
“I’m saying this because I know Tambuwal and I also know
Jonathan. So, I can say, with some certainty, who is a better leader; Tambuwal
or Goodluck. We have seen how Goodluck has performed or underperformed in the
past few years as the President, and we have seen how Tambuwal has performed as
the Speaker, clearly Tambuwal is a better leader than Jonathan.”
Jonathan. So, I can say, with some certainty, who is a better leader; Tambuwal
or Goodluck. We have seen how Goodluck has performed or underperformed in the
past few years as the President, and we have seen how Tambuwal has performed as
the Speaker, clearly Tambuwal is a better leader than Jonathan.”
Similarly, the National President, Arewa Youths Consultative
Forum, Yerima Shettimah, said Tambuwal could win the hearts of youths in the
North but only if he was not sponsored by “northern politicians who contributed
to the woes of the region.”
Forum, Yerima Shettimah, said Tambuwal could win the hearts of youths in the
North but only if he was not sponsored by “northern politicians who contributed
to the woes of the region.”
Shettimah said, “We saw Jonathan as a young man and we felt he
came from a poor background like some of us. We felt that he was going to come
up with our aspirations. At the end of the day, what happened? We want a
young leader but not one that is being used by older politicians.”
came from a poor background like some of us. We felt that he was going to come
up with our aspirations. At the end of the day, what happened? We want a
young leader but not one that is being used by older politicians.”
The Arewa Consultative Forum, however, stated that it was too
early to crown North’s consensus candidate, since all the northern aspirants
had yet to declare their intention to run.
early to crown North’s consensus candidate, since all the northern aspirants
had yet to declare their intention to run.
The spokesman for the forum, Anthony Sani, said, “I think it is
too early to start talking politics to that level at this time, precisely
because such talks will not only heat up the polity but distract us from
governance. It is premature to talk of which candidate is qualified to be
President and deserving of support, since we do not know all the aspirants yet.
But when the time comes, nobody will tell us what to do.”
too early to start talking politics to that level at this time, precisely
because such talks will not only heat up the polity but distract us from
governance. It is premature to talk of which candidate is qualified to be
President and deserving of support, since we do not know all the aspirants yet.
But when the time comes, nobody will tell us what to do.”
However, the Speaker’s office denied knowledge of any plans by
the APC to pick Tambuwal as its presidential candidate.
the APC to pick Tambuwal as its presidential candidate.
His Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Imam Imam,
told one of our correspondents in Abuja that talks about 2015 presidency were
“distracting Tambuwal who has a four-year mandate, as a member of the House of
Representatives, to serve.”
told one of our correspondents in Abuja that talks about 2015 presidency were
“distracting Tambuwal who has a four-year mandate, as a member of the House of
Representatives, to serve.”
Imam added, “We have spoken on this issue (2015 presidency)
several times and our position has not changed. The Speaker is preoccupied with
serving his four-year mandate. He is about to enter the mid-term of the
four-year mandate. All his efforts and attention are devoted to serving his
term as a member of the House of Representatives. That is all we can say.”
several times and our position has not changed. The Speaker is preoccupied with
serving his four-year mandate. He is about to enter the mid-term of the
four-year mandate. All his efforts and attention are devoted to serving his
term as a member of the House of Representatives. That is all we can say.”
Source: Punch
