The All Progressives Congress has pruned its
search for Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s (retd.)
running mate to three incumbent governors
and a former one.
SUNDAY PUNCH reliably gathered on Saturday
that the leadership of the party has the Lagos
State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN);
his Edo State counterpart, Mr. Adams
Oshiomhole; and Governor Rotimi Amaechi of
Rivers State, as well as former Ekiti State
Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, on its final list of
four.
It was learnt that the APC governors had
demanded that one of them should be picked
as the running mate of Buhari, who emerged
as the party’s presidential candidate on
Thursday.
Our correspondents gathered that Oshiomhole
and Amaechi made the list because some
leaders of the APC feel that South-South should
produce the vice-president in order to cut
down the votes of President Goodluck Jonathan,
who is also from the geo-political zone.
Other party leaders are pushing for the South-
West because of the massive support the zone,
gave to Buhari at the presidential primary. This
group believes that the zone which has
suffered so much marginalisation by the
Jonathan-led Federal Government, should be
rewarded for the sacrifices made towards
building an alternative platform.
A top ranking member of the party, who
pleaded anonymity because he was not
authorised to speak to the media on the issue,
confided in SUNDAY PUNCH that Buhari
received block votes from South-West delegates
during the party’s presidential primary.
The source said, “Buhari got almost 100 per
cent of votes from the South-West; that is even
more than what came from the North-West
where he comes from because the delegates
there were divided between Atiku Abubakar,
Rabiu Kwankwaso and him.
“You must agree that the four aspirants we
have on the list showed uncommon
sportsmanship and they have different
strengths. It is going to be a tough decision for
us to make on Monday. With the Edo State
governor, we can get South-South votes and the
labour movement. With Amaechi, we can also
get South-South votes. Fashola is immensely
popular but he is a Muslim and that is where
Fayemi, a Christian comes in.”
Another source, who is a governor said Buhari
prefers a Christian as his deputy.
His preference for such a person, it was further
gathered, was aimed at erasing the notion that
Buhari is a “religious fanatic.”
The governor, who spoke with our
correspondent on Saturday afternoon on
condition of anonymity, also said the South-
West really wants the position.
He said, “The zone came to the merger with
about five governors, many senators and
members of the House of Representatives.
They deserve to be considered for a top
position in the APC if we form the government
at the centre.
“Again, the zone is the most marginalised in the
current dispensation. So, they deserve to be
pampered.”
He said it was true that Prof. Yemi Osibajo
(SAN) was also considered from the South-West.
The governor said, “Osibajo is not only a strong
member of the RCCG, he is a pastor there. He
is also a right hand man of the General
Overseer of the church, Pastor Enoch Adeboye,
who is well respected across the country and in
the Christian community.
“So, those who are favourably disposed to him
argued at the meetings we had in Lagos on
Friday that his pairing with the former head of
state would be beneficial to the party.”
The governor added that while Fashola seems
to be the toast of many for the position, his
religious background is working against him.
“Yes, he is seen as the most qualified for the
position in the country, but we don’t want to
play into the hands of our enemies who may
now use the religion aspect to campaign against
us. The country is in an unusual situation,” he
added.
He said Fayemi’s loss of the governorship
election in Ekiti was a minus for him and those
who are pushing his case.
“Some say his inability to win his reelection bid
is not good for him, even though we all agree
that he is a good material. Besides, he is the
only Christian among the governors from his
zone,” the source added.
The Director of Publicity of the Buhari 2015
Support Group Centre, Dr. Chidia Maduekwe,
told SUNDAY PUNCH that he was certain that
the party and its candidates would give
Nigerians a credible alternative.
Also speaking on Buhari’s running mate, the
Publicity Secretary of the APC in Ondo State,
Mr. Rotimi Fashakin said, “The APC has proven
to be a different party from all the parties the
General had been involved in.
“It is a truly national party and that is why it is
taking this long to come up with a name for his
running mate.
“Consultations are still ongoing and I can assure
you that the person that the party will present
to Nigerians is one that Nigerians will identify
with. I foresee a thorough shellacking of
Jonathan. This will be the first time an
incumbent will lose elections.”
Party reaches out to Obasanjo
One of our correspondents also gathered that
the party was reaching out to various interest
groups in the zone including former President
Olusegun Obasanjo.
A member of the APC National Working
Committee, who pleaded anonymity, said,
“Some months ago, the leadership of the party
met with the former president for his valuable
advice. We are also reaching out to him on the
issue of the vice-presidential candidate for his
input.”
Obasanjo had a few months ago warned the
APC against fielding presidential and vice-
presidential candidates of the same faith.
It was gathered that among the names that
had been suggested by Obasanjo was a former
Governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye
Oyinlola, who is a Christian from Osun State.
It was, however, learnt that some interests in
the party felt that the fact that Oyinlola is a
retired general like Buhari, might make the
joint ticket difficult to sell.
Amaechi’s aide backs govs’ demand
Speaking on reports that APC governors want
one of them to emerge as Buhari’s running
mate, an aide to Governor Amaechi and his
Chief of Staff, Tony Okocha, said the governors’
demand was in order.
Okocha maintained that the APC governors had
worked hard to lift the rating of the party and
would not be going beyond their bounds should
they request that one of them be nominated as
Buhari’s running mate.
On the possible nomination of Amaechi, the
governor’s aide explained that though his boss
remained qualified to be a running mate to the
APC presidential candidate, Amaechi’s efforts
towards the growth of the party was not for
him (Amaechi) to be rewarded.
“Amaechi is doing what he doing not for any
reward, but for positive change. To Amaechi,
becoming the running mate (to Buhari) is not a
do-or-die affair. He (Amaechi) has very minute
appetite for material things.”
When contacted on Saturday, the National
Publicity Secretary of the APC, Lai Mohammed
said,
“The party has yet to meet to discuss the issue
of a running mate.”....
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