[ARCHIVE]2019: Why Atiku Will Never Be President Of Nigeria – PDP Drops Major Bombshell
As the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, prepares ahead of the 2019 Presidential candidates nomination, the party had in a statement on Saturday, December 17, rejected those it described as, “political prostitutes”.
According to the party, those who are only interested in seeking positions, and have been moving from one political party to the other in the last few years, in a bid to realise their ambition, would not be nominated.
Making its stance known through its Chairman, Board of Trustees, Senator Walid Jibrin, the PDP said aspiring individuals for the party’s Presidential ticket, would henceforth be strictly rated on performance.
The move however, according to Political Analysts, has presently dampened the chances of the former Vice-President, Atiku Abubarkar, from emerging as the party’s 2019 Presidential candidate, as speculated in many quarters.
Jibrin said, “We want people who are devoted to the principles and ideals of the PDP, and who are ready to serve the masses, rather than those pursuing individual ambitions.
”Where you have self-seeking individuals fighting to get the party’s ticket, it would not serve the interest of the PDP, because even the electorate would be careful before voting for candidates in the elections.
”So, nobody should destroy the party through personal ambitions, particularly in the contest for Presidential ticket. We must see their contributions first.
“We don’t want those who personal ambition have been taken to different political parties. They move from one party to the other, because of their ambition. We don’t want professional aspirants.”
Recall, that Atiku has taken a shot at the Presidency for the fourth time. He had in 1992, sought to occupy the Presidential seat during the botched Third Republic, under the platform of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, one of the two parties decreed into existence by the military junta, headed by Ibrahim Babangida.
He was however, made to withdraw for Moshood Abiola, who eventually emerged the party’s candidate, and was coasting home to victory in the June 13, 1993 Presidential poll, which was eventually annulled by the General Ibrahim Babangida military regime.
Atiku, again tried his luck in 2007, as he contested on the platform of the defunct Action Congress, AC, on the eve of the exit of the Obasanjo administration, in which he served as Vice President.
He formally announced his plan to contest on November 25, 2006, and was chosen as the AC flag-bearer, on December 20, 2006. In that election, the former Vice President lost woefully.
In 2011, Atiku made another move to contest for Presidency. First, he returned to the PDP, and was granted waiver in September, 2010. The following month, he announced his plan to again seek the highest political office in the land.
The former Vice President, subsequently ran in the party’s primaries in January 2011, but was roundly defeated by former President, Goodluck Jonathan.
Dumping the PDP for the APC in February 2011, barely 3 months after he played a host to the party’s leaders, who came to his Abuja home to woo him, those familiar with his politics easily knew Atiku was hatching a fresh political plan.
While contesting the APC primary prior to 2015 general election, Atiku lost to President Muhammadu Buhari, who defeated the then PDP ruling party.
