Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu have been compelled by three northern leaders to drop his support for the 2015 All Progressives Congress Presidential Aspirant, General Mohammadu Buhari.
A source disclosed to Vanguard that “It is not that we dumped Buhari, the Islamic clerics, the imams and the political leaders in the north particularly three former heads of state said that they don’t want the man.”
It was also reported that there have been complaints about Buhari’s now dissolved Political Machine, The Buhari Organisation which in the past has been accused of fencing out people.
The Tinubu associates also dreaded that the perceptions of religious extremism which the ruling party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has tagged on Buhari could deny the party votes in the South where he to emerge as candidate.
There were also concerns that Buhari could be detached from responsibility, reference was made to his past roles as head of state and chairman of the Petroleum (Special) Task Force, PTF where his subordinates seized authority in his name.
The matter of General Buhari’s age was also cited as a reason that also came into consideration in the final deliberation to drop support for the former head of state as it was rationalised that 70 to 80% of voters fall between the age of 18 to 40+ and most of them don’t know Gen, Buhari.
Currently Presidential aspirants in APC includes Buhari and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Governor Rabiu Kwankwanso of Kano State and newspaper publisher, Sam Nda-Isaiah. Speaker of the House of Assembly, Aminu Tambuwal is the latest entrant to the race.
Osita Okechukwu, a strong Buhari Loyalist told Vanguard that “The entry of Rt.Hon. Aminu Tambuwal is a welcome development, the more the presidential aspirants or any aspirant to governor, Senate, national or state assemblies the merrier.
“Our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) will be the greatest beneficiary, as the mobilization of the electorate will be wider, penetrating and robust.
“Therefore, Hon Tambuwal is highly welcome into the presidential race. This is why the constitution of our party was amended penultimate week, to accommodate in less than one hour, any person who joins APC.
“On his chances, one cannot hazard a guess, as Tambuwal unlike Buhari or Atiku had never contested nationwide election. He only contested in a federal constituency and had never tested his popularity in Kano, Akure or Enugu.
“All one knows is that his entry will neither diminish nor cut-off the celestial bond between General Mohammadu Buhari and the masses and the middle class of our dear country. The masses and middle class had renewed at every election Buhari’s 12million Vote Bank, therefore the contest at the end of the day is between President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and Buhari .”
Muhammadu Buhari is a retired Major General in the Nigerian Army and a former military ruler of Nigeria from December 31, 1983 to August 27, 1985. He ran unsuccessfully for the office of the President of Nigeria in the 2003, 2007 and 2011 elections.