BUHARI’s HEALTH | North braces up for the worst, shuffles cards as Tinubu and Obasanjo wait
Notwithstanding successive pronouncements that the president is “hale and hearty,” for a section of the core Northern political elite, the reality of an ailing President Muhammadu Buhari is spawning significant distress.
The painful memory of loss of the presidency in 2010 is forcing the region’s politicians to go back to the drawing board as suspense mounts over Buhari’s constant trips abroad for medical check-up.
Investigations revealed that Northern politicians, traditional rulers, serving and retired military officers are worried stiff over the development, prompting several meetings across the region on how to deal with the situation, without sending the country into deep crisis.
A source confirmed the fears of the region saying that “we never knew it will come so soon.
“Some of us thought the man would be strong till 2019, when we will groom another young northerner to take over. As it is now, it is only God that will determine the next thing.”
He disclosed that the fear of an acolyte of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu taking over as president is still a source of fear.
His words: “You know, Tinubu withdrew once he was not well taken care of. We know he is not happy. If his protégé takes over the Villa, what will be the fate of the North? We also know that Obasanjo and others will rally round their brother. He has of recent spoken out against Buhari.”
“We are not afraid of Osinbajo. He doesn’t look like a power hungry person, but the people around him will definitely want to get back at the North.”
Other sources further dis-closed that the North wants to choose a candidate in 2019 in the event that the health condition of Buhari will not permit him to run for another term.
“In 2007, Obasanjo gave us an ailing President; in 2015, Tinubu gave us Buhari. If they are allowed to determine 2019, we envisage another political disaster for the North. How are we sure a pliant person will not be presented again?”
“The region is deep in prayers to God to help us deal with the situation. It is God that owns the life of man, especially political office holders. Some of them have gone to Mecca to pray.”
The fear of Tinubu running the government from behind and likely taking a shot at the presidency in 2019 is a source of morbid fear.
“For some of us in the APC, Tinubu can decide to seize control of the party and run for presidency in 2019. He can manipulate the machinery of state to work for him. That of course is the end of APC.
Source: Breaking Times
