Opposition parties in merger talks are shopping for a
young northerner with a pan-Nigeria disposition that can be fielded as a
presidential candidate in 2015.
young northerner with a pan-Nigeria disposition that can be fielded as a
presidential candidate in 2015.
SUNDAY PUNCH’s investigations showed that the search was part of the plan of
the merger partners, if the Congress for Progressive Change Presidential
candidate in 2011, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) dropped his ambition.
the merger partners, if the Congress for Progressive Change Presidential
candidate in 2011, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) dropped his ambition.
It was gathered that the opposition
parties might shift attention to a former Minister of the Federal Capital
Territory, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, and the Action Congress of Nigeria
presidential candidate in 2011, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
parties might shift attention to a former Minister of the Federal Capital
Territory, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, and the Action Congress of Nigeria
presidential candidate in 2011, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
It was, however, learnt that the
search was not restricted to the two as it would be extended to technocrats,
with progressive disposition.
search was not restricted to the two as it would be extended to technocrats,
with progressive disposition.
Such a candidate, it was gathered,
must be able to take on President Goodluck Jonathan or any other politician
that would be the flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party in 2015.
must be able to take on President Goodluck Jonathan or any other politician
that would be the flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party in 2015.
A chieftain of the CPC, who spoke in
confidence with our correspondent, said, “We are working on a plan B. If Gen.
Buhari does not contest, the parties will shift attention to younger
candidates.
confidence with our correspondent, said, “We are working on a plan B. If Gen.
Buhari does not contest, the parties will shift attention to younger
candidates.
“Our search will be extended to
non-politicians, including young technocrats from the North. El-Rufai and
Ribadu will be among the pool of candidates who will be screened.”
non-politicians, including young technocrats from the North. El-Rufai and
Ribadu will be among the pool of candidates who will be screened.”
Buhari, had after the 2011 elections
said he would not contest again having contested three times and failed.
said he would not contest again having contested three times and failed.
But at the inauguration of the CPC
merger committee on January 16, 2013, Buhari said the outcome of the merger
would determine his 2015 ambition.
merger committee on January 16, 2013, Buhari said the outcome of the merger
would determine his 2015 ambition.
It was earlier reported that Buhari
might drop his presidential ambition as parties in the merger had an initial
understanding that leaders must be ready to make personal sacrifices for the
success of the merger.
might drop his presidential ambition as parties in the merger had an initial
understanding that leaders must be ready to make personal sacrifices for the
success of the merger.
Such a sacrifice, it was gathered,
might see Buhari dropping his presidential ambition, if it would thwart the
merger plan.
might see Buhari dropping his presidential ambition, if it would thwart the
merger plan.
An aide of el-Rufai, who pleaded
anonymity, told our correspondent that, “There have been various
speculations. There was a report that there was tension between Gen. Buhari and
el-Rufai. There is nothing of such.
anonymity, told our correspondent that, “There have been various
speculations. There was a report that there was tension between Gen. Buhari and
el-Rufai. There is nothing of such.
“The former minister is concerned
with the success of the ongoing talks among some opposition parties.”
with the success of the ongoing talks among some opposition parties.”
Efforts to get Ribadu did not succeed
as calls to his mobile telephone did not go through, neither did he respond to
a text message sent to him.
as calls to his mobile telephone did not go through, neither did he respond to
a text message sent to him.
A member of the PDP Board of
Trustees, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, had said the merger plan by opposition
parties would not stop the PDP from emerging victorious in 2015 elections.
Trustees, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, had said the merger plan by opposition
parties would not stop the PDP from emerging victorious in 2015 elections.
Iwuanyanwu described the move as one
that would neither pull PDP down nor succeed.
that would neither pull PDP down nor succeed.
“As a democrat, I should sound a note
of warning; I have read recently about the coming together of some political
parties. They are not coming together on the basis of ideology. They are coming
together because they are afraid that unless they gang up, PDP will win the
elections in 2015. This is a wrong political calculation.”
of warning; I have read recently about the coming together of some political
parties. They are not coming together on the basis of ideology. They are coming
together because they are afraid that unless they gang up, PDP will win the
elections in 2015. This is a wrong political calculation.”
The parties involved in the merger
have however accused the PDP of frustrating their plan.
have however accused the PDP of frustrating their plan.
They said the merger plans had driven
the PDP-led Federal Government to resort to tactics aimed at tarnishing the
image of key opposition leaders.
the PDP-led Federal Government to resort to tactics aimed at tarnishing the
image of key opposition leaders.
Source: Punch
