APC presidential primary: Onu’s chances brighten as Badaru withdraws

By Tom Okpe

As the All Progressives Congress, (APC) is set for its Presidential primary election at the party Special Convention on Monday through Wednesday, 6th-8th June, 2022, chances of Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, an aspirant from the South East, emerging as the Presidential candidate of the party has brightened.

This is just as President, Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday at a dinner meeting with all the aspirants’ made a call that all aspirants of the northern region should withdraw their ambitions for the south, for a formidable candidate.

Recall that two out of the 23 aspirants screened for the race- Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, former Minister of Science and Technology and Governor of Jigawa State, Mohammed Abubakar Badaru were noted as candidates to watch, as it concerns the party’s Presidential ticket, DailyTimes gathered.

This is based on their perceived loyalty to the Presidency, party and the top echelon of the ruling party, coupled with individual self-comportment they exude in performing their official duties and party assignments.

A source at the party secretariat said for the former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Onu stands a better chance for equity, fairness and the unification of Nigeria.

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President Buhari, while at dinner with aspirants on Saturday at the Presidential Villa called on the aspirants to come up with a formidable consensus candidate before the party primary.

The party fixed 6-8 May for the Special Convention to elect its flag-bearer for the famous election.

In a statement signed by Femi Adesina, presidential spokesman on Saturday, President Buhari said: “Looking at this assemblage of personalities and considering your rich pedigree of accomplishments in life, I have come to conclusion that our party is rich in human resources also, our nation, blessed with capable people that can successfully steer the ship of state into the future.

“Our party has won two successive presidential elections in 2015, first when we were in the opposition and in 2019 when I sought re-election.

“Both processes were achieved through unity of purpose, strategic alignment, consultation, fairness, determination and effective leadership. In both instances, national and party interests were overriding factors in our deliberations and decision-making.

“The 2023 General Elections are fast approaching in a global, regional and national environment that is constantly changing and challenging. This demands that our party should become more aware of the changing environment, be responsive to the yearnings of our citizens, re-evaluate our strategy and strengthen our internal mechanism so that we would sustain the electoral successes.

“I am pleased to note that the party, recognising the significance of all these demands, has over time, developed several democratically acceptable processes and policies, that promote consultation, internal cohesion and leadership to facilitate victories at the polls.”

While reacting to what he described as good gesture for the unity of the country from President Buhari, the northern Governors’, particularly Governor Badaru, Chief Ray Murphy, a Chieftain of the party from Cross-River State, said the governors are ‘great patriots’ for backing power shift to the south in 2023.

Chief Murphy, who is also the convener of Rebuild Nigeria, a forum canvassing for genuine re-orientation of Nigerians and her institutions for better development, commended the official statement released by the APC Northern Governors and Stakeholders in which they urged President Muhammadu Buhari to look southwards for his successor.

According to the APC Northern governors’ statement after its deliberations on Saturday evening, “It is a question of honour for the APC, an obligation that is not in any way affected by the decisions taken by another political party.

“We affirm that upholding this principle is in the interest of building a stronger, more united and progressive country.

“We therefore, wish to strongly recommend to President Muhammadu Buhari that the search for a successor as the APC’s presidential candidate be limited to our compatriots from the southern states.

“We appeal to all aspirants from the northern states to withdraw in the national interest and allow only the aspirants from the south to proceed to the primaries.”

Chief Murphy, in a statement released on Sunday also commended the Jigawa state Governor Abubakar Badaru for his patriotic quest by withdrawing his presidential aspiration.

“The Northern governors have demonstrated their commitments to a united Nigeria, hence they are Patriots and shining light of our democracy.

“I however, commend the signatories of the document. History will be kind to them for putting Nigeria first at this critical juncture of our nation’s trajectory,” he said.

The APC chieftain also called on the Southern APC leaders to reciprocate the good gestures of the Northern counterparts by peacefully and amicably, agreeing on a formidable consensus candidate with capacities needed to turn around fortunes of Nigeria.

The party Governors’ after its meeting with Mr President also agreed in a statement that northern aspirants should shield ambitions for their southern counter parts.

According to the statement, Abubakar Badaru, governor of Jigawa state, has withdrawn from the race “to contribute to this patriotic quest.”

The statement reads: “APC governors and political leaders from the northern states of Nigeria today met to review the political situation and to further support our Party in providing progressive leadership amidst our national challenges.

“During our discussions, we welcomed President Muhammadu Buhari’s invitation to governors and other stakeholders to contribute to the emergence of a strong presidential candidate for the APC.

“After careful deliberation, we wish to state our firm conviction that after eight years in office of President Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the APC for the 2023 elections should be one of our teeming members from the southern states of Nigeria.

“It is a question of honour for the APC, an obligation that is not in any way affected by decisions taken by another political party.

“We affirm that upholding this principle is in the interest of building a stronger, more united and progressive country.

“We therefore wish to strongly recommend to President Muhammadu Buhari that the search for a successor as the APC’s presidential candidate be limited to our compatriots from the southern states.

“We appeal to all aspirants from the northern states to withdraw in the national interest and allow only the aspirants from the south to proceed to the primaries.

“The APC has a duty to ensure that the 2023 elections offer a nation-building moment, reaffirming that a democratic pathway to power exists for all who value cooperation and build national platforms.

“This moment calls for the most sober and inclusive approach to selecting our party’s candidate, and we call on all APC leaders to fulfil their responsibility in this regard.”

The statement was signed by Aminu Bello Masari, governor of Katsina state; Abubakar Sani Bello, Niger; Abdullahi Sule, Nasarawa; Babagana Zulum, Borno State and Nasir El-Rufai, Governor of Kaduna.

Others are Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, governor of Gombe; Bello Matawalle, Zamfara; Simon Lalong, Plateau; Abdullahi Ganduje, Kano state; and Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Governor of Kebbi state.

Meanwhile, National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu speaking with journalists on Saturday said national leader of the party and Presidential aspirant, Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s remarks against President Buhari was uncalled for, and doesn’t befit the president of the Federal Republic which he said, “the party will not take lightly.”

Tinubu had earlier told an audience in Abeokuta that if not for him, Tinubu, President Buhari wouldn’t have won the 2015 and the 2019 Presidential elections and for that reason, it’s his turn in 2023 to rule the country.

In his reaction, a member of the National Working Committee, (NWC) of the party, Salihu Moh’ Lukman, Deputy National Chairman, North West said everyone, including Tinubu, acknowledged that it was unfortunate he made those statements and it is his right to express his frustration and should be recognized as such.

He said: “Nobody, no matter the position of the person can use it against him unless the party follow due process through the rightful organs of the party to discuss it.

“So, the opinion expressed by Abdulahi Adamu was his personal opinion and, his own right to present it to any organ of the party for consideration but, until that opinion is adopted by organ of the party, it cannot be considered as position of the party.”