2019: THE NORTH SHOPPING FOR ANOTHER CANDIDATE

PROF ANGO ABDULLAHI

Following what many have described as a departure from their expectations, it seems all is set for a clash between the President and some prominent top notch political forces in the north.

Reports making the rounds have it that top northern politicians and powerful political blocs are reportedly plotting to have a new face in the nation’s number seat, come 2019 as they have commenced the search for a replacement for Muhammadu Buhari as President.

Blunt and fiery Spokesman for the Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF), Prof. Ango Abdullahi, revealed that the Forum only supported the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2015 election because it fielded General Muhammadu Buhari as its presidential candidate “who happens to be a northerner”.

It is therefore no surprise to many as political groups in the North have commenced moves on how to get an acceptable and marketable candidate as replacement for replace Buhari in 2019.

According to NAIJNEWSALERT sources, the different groups from the North have sent emissaries to notable candidates, such as former Vice President under the Obasanjo government and a strong contender for the Presidency, Atiku Abubakar, Ibrahim Dankwanbo (Gombe Governor), Rabiu Kwankwaso, Sule Lamido, Ibrahim Shekarau, among others to join the fray in the search for a credible replacement for Buhari in the General elections of 2019 election.

The grouse of many in the region is the pervasive mass hunger and poverty including the high cost of food items which are daily going beyond the reach of the average man on the streets, with the government unable to provide solutions.

An associate of one of the presidential hopefuls disclosed that; “more than in 2015, we are receiving requests from different interest groups who are telling us that they want to work with us. I can tell you that most of the groups are from the North. Their complaints are the same – the economy and hunger in the land”.

“There are calls for another change in 2019”.

Generally, the mood in the North is dampened. Buhari is not as popular as he was in 2015 now”, the source stated.

“In 2019, we are going to take him out of that seat for sure as we had donated Buhari to Nigerians who were demanding for a change in 2015”, another stated.

There are strong consultations going on presently in the North as it relates to mending fences and finding solutions to the crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). If we get the calculations and all other things right, then, we are ready to sack Buhari. At least, “it is clear to Nigerians now that the man has failed. He is unelectable”.

However, the President’s aides are not relenting as they have equally commenced moves at realignment with some strong forces ahead of his re-election in 2019.

Accordingly, reports say Mallam Mamman Daura, one of Buhari’s nephew and closest confidant; David Babachir Lawal, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), and another former SGF, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe as well as some state governors are the forces pushing for the President’s second term agenda. These men, some serving including ministers, have been holding series of meetings, transvering the region canvassing for patience and support for the President’s re-election.

“The President has been faithful to his promises and at appropriate time, we will dispel this noise of non-performance. Though we are in a challenging time, President Buhari has done well in governance”, says one prominent insider source in the government.

Ruling out blind support for Buhari in case he runs for a second term, the insider source stated that, if other northerners indicate interest in the presidency, “we will put all the cards on the table and evaluate all the candidates and see what they have in store for the north”.

He however revealed that the north has so far been short changed by the present administration because many of the ministerial appointments that the region received are not commensurate with the votes that APC received in the last election from the region.

But for the former Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria and Spokesman for the NEF, “it is rather too early to say that the north is shopping for Buhari’s replacement, but when the time comes, we will tell our people which way to go”, Ango Abdullahi stated.