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Former Head of State and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC)
presidential candidate in the 2011 general elections, General Muhammadu Buhari
and the national leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Senator Bola
Tinubu, have dropped their ambition to contest for the nation’s number one job
on the platform of the newly formed opposition mega party, All Progressive
Congress (APC).
presidential candidate in the 2011 general elections, General Muhammadu Buhari
and the national leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Senator Bola
Tinubu, have dropped their ambition to contest for the nation’s number one job
on the platform of the newly formed opposition mega party, All Progressive
Congress (APC).
Saturday Sun gathered from close associates of the two
opposition leaders that barring last minute change of mind, the duo will not
contest the next presidential election as already being rumoured, in order to
prove that the recent merger is beyond their individual political ambitions.
opposition leaders that barring last minute change of mind, the duo will not
contest the next presidential election as already being rumoured, in order to
prove that the recent merger is beyond their individual political ambitions.
In place of their personal ambitions, they are now to work with
other leaders of the opposition party to present younger and credible
presidential candidate that can match and defeat whoever is going to emerge on
the platform of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2015 contest.
A very close associate of Tinubu, who had earlier shown signs of
contesting the next election either as a presidential or vice presidential
candidate, told Saturday Sun that the former Lagos State governor earlier in
the week offered to sacrifice his personal ambition and promised to also work
with others to persuade Buhari to do same, if he is still nursing any such
ambition.
contesting the next election either as a presidential or vice presidential
candidate, told Saturday Sun that the former Lagos State governor earlier in
the week offered to sacrifice his personal ambition and promised to also work
with others to persuade Buhari to do same, if he is still nursing any such
ambition.
“The good news is that Asiwaju Tinubu has made a commitment to
his inner circle caucus not to contest for the presidency in 2015. In that same
direction, a team has been set up to work on Gen. Buhari to also drop his own
ambition if there is still any. The essence of this is to prove that the whole
idea of merger by the opposition parties transcends the personal ambition of
the two main leaders.
his inner circle caucus not to contest for the presidency in 2015. In that same
direction, a team has been set up to work on Gen. Buhari to also drop his own
ambition if there is still any. The essence of this is to prove that the whole
idea of merger by the opposition parties transcends the personal ambition of
the two main leaders.
It is a move informed by national interest, to end PDP misrule,
provide Nigerians with a better alternative and also encourage others to join
the new party,” the source added. Also speaking in the same vein, a top
chieftain of CPC and Buhari’s ally said the former Head of State does not need
to be put under any pressure before he knows the honourable thing to do in the
present circumstance.
provide Nigerians with a better alternative and also encourage others to join
the new party,” the source added. Also speaking in the same vein, a top
chieftain of CPC and Buhari’s ally said the former Head of State does not need
to be put under any pressure before he knows the honourable thing to do in the
present circumstance.
According to him, “Buhari is not going to contest again. The
idea of pressures being put on him to drop his presidential ambition is being
spread by PDP and its agents who are desperate to create an impression that the
General is recalcitrant and over-ambitious. He has certainly dropped his
ambition in the interest of the merger arrangement, so that it can work and
create an open space for the emergence younger and acceptable candidates.”
idea of pressures being put on him to drop his presidential ambition is being
spread by PDP and its agents who are desperate to create an impression that the
General is recalcitrant and over-ambitious. He has certainly dropped his
ambition in the interest of the merger arrangement, so that it can work and
create an open space for the emergence younger and acceptable candidates.”
When asked about the development, National Publicity Secretary
of ACN and Tinubu’s close associate, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, neither deny nor
confirm that the duo had dropped their ambition but stressed that the issue of
ambition is not part of the focus of the new party at the moment. According to
him, “the two leaders and indeed, other leaders of APC are more interested in
ensuring the emergence of a strong and virile party that can rescue the nation
from the grip of the PDP. So, the talk of Buhari or Tinubu’s ambition is far
from our focus now. It’s a discussion coming up to distract us or possibly
cause disaffection among us.”
of ACN and Tinubu’s close associate, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, neither deny nor
confirm that the duo had dropped their ambition but stressed that the issue of
ambition is not part of the focus of the new party at the moment. According to
him, “the two leaders and indeed, other leaders of APC are more interested in
ensuring the emergence of a strong and virile party that can rescue the nation
from the grip of the PDP. So, the talk of Buhari or Tinubu’s ambition is far
from our focus now. It’s a discussion coming up to distract us or possibly
cause disaffection among us.”
He added that the issue of who runs for what post will come up
when the time for elections comes, adding: “The party machinery will then
democratically determine who runs for what post but most certainly, now is not
the time for all that. “This is the time we are all busy to ward off all evil
machinations of the PDP, which is trying to scuttle the smooth take-off and
running of the APC.”
when the time for elections comes, adding: “The party machinery will then
democratically determine who runs for what post but most certainly, now is not
the time for all that. “This is the time we are all busy to ward off all evil
machinations of the PDP, which is trying to scuttle the smooth take-off and
running of the APC.”
Tinubu had, after a peace meeting called to reconcile the CPC
leader, General Buhari and a faction of the party led by Senator Rufai Hanga on
Monday in Abuja, said every leader of the newly formed party must be ready to
make sacrifices and accommodate others. According to him: “The meeting was a
very good one, sweet. We met in the interest of our various objectives.
leader, General Buhari and a faction of the party led by Senator Rufai Hanga on
Monday in Abuja, said every leader of the newly formed party must be ready to
make sacrifices and accommodate others. According to him: “The meeting was a
very good one, sweet. We met in the interest of our various objectives.
To me, I am working in the interest of Nigeria and APC. I am a
committed individual; we are in a committed group, surrounded by people of
vision and great commitment. It will succeed; our rivals do everything to
scuttle us. But as committed people, we are ready to make sacrifices.
Leadership is about carrying people along and resolving conflicts with the
right people that are motivated to do those things that are necessary for the
progress of a nation. These are the things that we have achieved here today at
this meeting.”
committed individual; we are in a committed group, surrounded by people of
vision and great commitment. It will succeed; our rivals do everything to
scuttle us. But as committed people, we are ready to make sacrifices.
Leadership is about carrying people along and resolving conflicts with the
right people that are motivated to do those things that are necessary for the
progress of a nation. These are the things that we have achieved here today at
this meeting.”
Source: Sun
