Muhammadu Buhari - News Proof

Muhammadu Buhari

President Buhari returns Tomorrow - Presidency

President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to return to the country tomorrow, Friday the Presidency said on Thursday.  According to a statement signed by the Presidential spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina stated that “President Buhari expresses app...

BREAKING: SICK Buhari Hosts Archbishop of Canterbury in UK; See Photos

Ailing President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday received the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, in London. Buhari is currently on an extended medical  vacation in London, United Kingdom. The meeting took place in Abuja House. The...

Buhari's 35 Minutes Call Disrupts Osinbajo Peace Meeting In Edo, Aggrived Youths Too

The president Muhammadu Buhari’s telephone call disrupted Osinbajo’s meeting with Niger Delta stakeholders for about 35 minutes. Osinbajo was in Edo, as part of his tour of the Niger Delta. Details of the telephone conversation between Buha...

Phone Call: Grant Fayose request, Rights group tells Buhari

By Adeniyi, Alimi Sulaiman, A human rights group in Nigeria, the Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ) has called on the ailing Nigeria President,  eneral Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) to grant the request of the Ekiti State governo...

At Last, Buhari To Return Today - Ex-Information Minister, Nakande Reveals

A former Minister of State for Information, Ibrahim Dasuki Nakande, has been quoted as saying that he has information suggesting that President Muhammad Buhari could return to Nigeria today (Monday). Nakande was quoted as saying this during an...

Only Me Can Clear Nigerians Mind On Your Healthy Health, Speak To Me - Fayose Dares Buhari

The Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has advised President Muhammadu Buhari, to speak with him to prove he is hale and hearty instead of shopping for outsiders to speak with. Fayose said Nigerians would be more convinced if the president ...

Buhari's Presidency Is Actually DEAD - Northern Leader, Junaid Reveals Shocking Details

Nigerian Tribune - Honourable Junaid Mohammed, second republic lawmaker and convener, Coalition of Northern Politicians, Academics and Businessmen,  speaks with Senior Deputy Editor, TAIWO AMODU, on the administration of President Muhammadu...

2019: Buhari Likely To ENDORSE Osinbajo To Vie Against, Tinubu, Atiku, Others; See 15 Politicians Who May Run For President

By Dansu Peter President Muhammadu Buhari may present his Deputy, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo to run the Presidency to succeed him in 2019 should he finally decide not to recontest, an analytic report by the Daily Trust Newspaper suggests. Dailly Tru...


Showing posts with label Muhammadu Buhari. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Muhammadu Buhari. Show all posts

President Buhari returns Tomorrow - Presidency

Muhammadu Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to return to the country tomorrow, Friday the Presidency said on Thursday. 

According to a statement signed by the Presidential spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina stated that “President Buhari expresses appreciation to teeming Nigerians from across the country, and beyond, who had prayed fervently for him, and also sent their good wishes.” 

It will be recalled that the President left the country on January 19, 2017 for a vacation, during which he had routine medical check-ups. He was originally billed to return on February 6 but the holiday was extended based on doctors’ recommendation for further tests and rest


Below is the press statement by Femi Adesina

President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to return to the country tomorrow, Friday March 10, 2017.

The President left the country on January 19, 2017 for a vacation, during which he had routine medical check-ups. The holiday was extended based on doctors' recommendation for further tests and rest.

President Buhari expresses appreciation to teeming Nigerians from across the country, and beyond, who had prayed fervently for him, and also sent their good wishes.

FEMI ADESINA
Special Adviser to the President
(Media and Publicity)
March 9, 2017

BREAKING: SICK Buhari Hosts Archbishop of Canterbury in UK; See Photos

buhari and Archbishop of Canterbury
Ailing President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday received the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, in London.

Buhari is currently on an extended medical  vacation in London, United Kingdom.

The meeting took place in Abuja House.

The Presidency tweeted pictures of the President and his guest on his Twitter handle, @NGPresident on Thursday afternoon.

The Presidency twitted, “Archbishop of Canterbury, @JustinWelby this afternoon visited President @MBuhari in Abuja House, London..”

Buhari was decked in a golden yellow prayer gown with white skull cap while Welby was in black suit with clerical shirt and collar.

They were both seated in the pictures.

In one of the pictures, Buhari and Welby were exchanging handshake.

Since he left the country on January 19, the Presidency has been releasing photographs of those who visited the President in its quest to dispel the rumour of his death.

Those who have visited Buhari included the national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; the party’s former national chairman, Chief Bisi Akande; and Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun; President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; and the Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan.

The President had also made telephone calls to some state governors and some presidential aides.

More Photo:

buhari and Archbishop of Canterbury

Buhari's 35 Minutes Call Disrupts Osinbajo Peace Meeting In Edo, Aggrived Youths Too

Buhari Osinbajo on phone call
The president Muhammadu Buhari’s telephone call disrupted Osinbajo’s meeting with Niger Delta stakeholders for about 35 minutes.

Osinbajo was in Edo, as part of his tour of the Niger Delta.

Details of the telephone conversation between Buhari and Osinbajo were, however, not made public.

Meanwhile, the acting president has ordered contractors handling projects awarded by the management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to return to site and complete their projects or face sanctions. 


Osinbajo gave the marching order during a stakeholders’ meeting held at Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia College, Benin, when he visited the state yesterday.

He said an audit body would be set up to look into the contracts awarded by the commission and the monies spent on the projects with a view of bringing the overall spendings before the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for necessary action.

The acting president assured Nigerians that the Federal Government’s new era and vision, aimed at developing the oil-bearing communities and other areas will boost development, unity and peaceful co-existence of all segments of the country.

He noted how people in oil-bearing communities and other key productive sectors of the economy across the country have suffered untold neglect and development due to the insensitivity, stealing spree and corrupt activities of leaders and politicians entrusted with positions of trust.

Regardless, aggrieved elders, leaders and youths from oil and gas-producing community and other Ijaw communities of the state staged a protest, midway into the discussions, over failure of the organisers to allow them make presentations at the event.

They vowed to make oil prospecting activities hard for multinational firms if their communities are not given due attention in the scheme of things and failure of the acting president’s team to visit the oil-bearing communities “to see things the way they are.”

It took the intervention of key stakeholders and Governor Godwin Obaseki, his deputy, Philip Shuaibu and pleas from the acting president to douse the tension.

Dispelling fears of any form of insecurity and violence among communities in the state, Osinbajo said as an “emissary of president Buhari, the visit was aimed at engaging the people and the leadership to seek for better understanding as well as offer the oil communities a new vision and a new compass.” 

He said the story of devastation remains the same across the country as farmers and fishing communities daily miss their means of livelihood while many were deprived in the process. 

“We are committed to every one of the things we say we want to do; it does not make sense for leadership to look away at the plight of the people, especially in the oil-producing areas. This is the source of the wealth of the nation and to ignore the people, even if it is for a while; the time will come when you can no longer ignore them. So, there is no question at all that we are committed to doing what we said we would do and that is a pledge coming directly from Mr. President himself.”

On his part, governor Obaseki disclosed the state has 38 oil communities and 205 flowing oil wells.

He said just like other oil-producing communities in the Niger Delta, Edo oil communities have had their share of neglect, and added that several projects embarked upon by the federal government in the areas have yielded no results, due to corruption and ineptitude and lack of capacity.

Obaseki said the youths have a strong feeling of deprivation and  marginalisation which was why they expressed themselves earlier in the programme.

Phone Call: Grant Fayose request, Rights group tells Buhari


Fayose and Buhari phone call
A human rights group in Nigeria, the Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ) has called on the ailing Nigeria President,  eneral Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) to grant the request of the Ekiti State governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose by speaking with Fayose instead of acclaimed world leaders to have been speaking  with,on phone by the President as a way to confirm his present health status, urging the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) and Presidency to stop deceiving Nigerians over the present health situation of Mr. President.

The group also stated that the call became imperative because Nigerians have been skeptical about various set of orchestrated media hype on the calling of President Buhari to some ruling APC chieftain and world leaders, saying that it was high time for Buhari to speak with the opposition leaders in the country to affirm the President alive message “of hale and hearty” since beginning of his medical vacation in London.


It will be recalled that Governor Fayose, who doubles as Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governor’s Forum, at the weekend, encouraged President Muhamamdu Buhari to speak with him from his London sick bed to convince Nigerians that he is hale and hearty instead of looking for outsiders to convince Nigerians.

Quoting Fayose that “Let the President Buhari speak with me. If I tell Nigerians that President spoke with me, they will believe. I can be reached on 08035024994.I am credible and Nigerians will believe me”.

Throwing weight behind the Fayose’s request, in a signed statement by the CHRSJ’s Executive Chairman, Comrade Adeniyi, Alimi Sulaiman, which a copy was made available to newsmen on Monday, stated that the news surrounding the Buhari’s medical vacation has been suspicious by
Nigerians because the Presidency failed to reveal the true picture of Buhari’s state of health.

Comrade Sulaiman who disclosed that the group and its affiliates would soon set up the five men Committee to visit President Buhari in London in order to ascertain the state of his health by properly briefed Nigerians after the visit, noting that continue staying of Buhari in London over medical vacation has been called for concern by well meaning Nigerians.

According to the group: ”President Muhammadu Buhari should use all the media means to tell Nigerians that he is alive and  well by returning to the country and face the governance of the land. To staying away from duty post for certain period, is unconstitutional and illegal”.

Signed:
Comrade Adeniyi, Alimi Sulaiman,
(Revolutionary Alfa)
Executive Chairman, Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ)
+2348038591504, +2348022697573

At Last, Buhari To Return Today - Ex-Information Minister, Nakande Reveals

 Buhari Returns
A former Minister of State for Information, Ibrahim Dasuki Nakande, has been quoted as saying that he has information suggesting that President Muhammad Buhari could return to Nigeria today (Monday).

Nakande was quoted as saying this during another special prayer session, attended by hundreds of clerics, for the quick recovery of the president that was held on Sunday, March 5 at the Jos Central Mosque.

If Nakande’s information is correct, then President Buhari could return today March 6 after over thirty days in the UK.


“From the information I gathered, President Buhari is hale and sound and may come back today (yesterday) or tomorrow (today). All what is needed from us is prayer for the full recovery and God’s guidance for the president to deliver his campaign promises,” Nakande said.

Nakande was also quoted as saying President Buhari has been speaking with different stakeholders, including the leadership of the National Assembly including Senate president, Bukola Saraki, who had visited the Nigerian leader in London and confirmed that he is doing well.

Nakande said Buhari is Nigeria’s saviour from the current economic and political mess that it is in.

Only Me Can Clear Nigerians Mind On Your Healthy Health, Speak To Me - Fayose Dares Buhari

Buhari and Fayose
The Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has advised President Muhammadu Buhari, to speak with him to prove he is hale and hearty instead of shopping for outsiders to speak with.

Fayose said Nigerians would be more convinced if the president spoke with him.

The governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, noted that Buhari had reportedly in one week spoken with the king of Morocco and the president of the African Union.

Fayose said, “If their problem is that they are looking for a credible person who can help them convince Nigerians that all is well with our President, I’m their best bet.


“Let the president speak with me. If I tell Nigerians that the president spoke with me, Nigerians will believe.

“Since they are eager for the president to speak to people; believing in this way to convince Nigerians that their President is hale and hearty, let president Buhari talk to me. I can be reached on 08035024994. I am credible and Nigerians will believe me”, he said.

According to him, Nigerians are getting suspicious of all the purported visits to Buhari in London as well as his orchestrated telephone conversations with international figures who Nigerians cannot trust to give a true and unbiased report about the president’s state of health.

He added,  “They said he spoke to President Donald Trump; despite the hype, Nigerians were skeptical. Then they said he spoke to the king of Morocco; again, Nigerians were suspicious. Before we recovered from that, it is now the AU president that they said President Buhari spoke to.

“A president that can speak with outsiders should be able to whisper or wave to his own people. The people gave him the very important platform of President on which he stands today and, therefore, Presidential aides should stop giving the unhelpful impression that Buhari has no respect for the Nigerian electorate.”

Buhari's Presidency Is Actually DEAD - Northern Leader, Junaid Reveals Shocking Details

Muhammadu Buhari
Nigerian Tribune - Honourable Junaid Mohammed, second republic lawmaker and convener, Coalition of Northern Politicians, Academics and Businessmen,  speaks with Senior Deputy Editor, TAIWO AMODU, on the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo and the cabal that has held the country hostage. Excerpts:

The state of health of President Muhammadu Buhari seems to be shrouded in secrecy, with his aides giving conflicting remarks. Nigerians are much worried that the present situation speaks volumes about the administration’s claim to transparency. What is your take?


It is unfortunate. Just as the average politician,  what Buhari said during the campaigns is in conflict with what he does after coming to power. I sympathise with Nigerians for voting Buhari. Buhari the aspiring politician and Buhari  the incumbent president, if you compare and contrast what he says with what he does and from that , you can then draw your own  conclusion. As far as I am concerned, a lot of what we heard from Buhari, from his friends,  from the leading members of the party was sloganeering and that unfortunately hasn’t helped him. What we are hearing now is an attempt to hide the truth from Nigerians and much more confound his problem. It shows that quite a number of people who are either cronies or friends of Buhari who helped him to government, whatever it is, have nothing to do with the party which is supposed to be the ruling party.

So, they have clearly messed up and I knew they were going to mess up and I said. It is nothing but an indication of the fractured nature and lack of principle of our leaders and it is still the same principle which has encumbered  a lot of meaningful intentions to deliver Nigeria.

The media aides have insisted that President Buhari reserves the right to or not  to address Nigerians from his London, where he is having his vacation. Do you align with that submission?

I think that is an irresponsible statement from people who claim to speak on behalf of the president.  Frankly speaking, he reserves the right to talk or not to talk to the people as Buhari, the person, but not as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He owes allegiance to the people who lined up and voted for him to be the president of Nigeria. This isn’t  a personal matter. What Nigerians are asking Buhari to do is what any responsible people will ask their leader to do. If Buhari talks to Nigerians to assure them that he is alive, even if he is frail, he isn’t doing Nigerians any favour. In fact, it is the right of Nigerians to know about their president. If he is living as a private man in his village in Daura or Kaduna, nobody will care. He is today, by the grace of God and, of course, the votes of Nigerians, the president. This cannot be reversed and in fact, it is absolutely absurd for people who haven’t won election, who cannot organise a ward election, whether as members of a cabal,to be making the pronouncement they are making on behalf of Buhari.

Frankly speaking, I find that disgusting and disgraceful and I want to assure you  that whether Buhari is well enough to talk or not well enough to talk, from what his conditions are today, those spokespersons cannot claim to speak on behalf of Buhari, because  occasionally they don’t have the true picture . I recall one of them saying he has never had any private audience with Buhari since becoming Buhari’s aide.

That throws more light on the kind of president we have. We have a president who doesn’t have a friend, outside the North and that’s a tragedy. Nigeria’s president must be a man who is nationally and internationally exposed, who appreciates people and feels comfortable with people no matter their religion or ethnic background. That’s not the case with Buhari. Though that doesn’t make him a good or bad president,  we need somebody who is sufficiently confident of himself, so that the country can move forward.

Are you insinuating that the president suffers from inferiority complex?

I didn’t use those words; those are your words! I am too old in this game . I don’t have problem with that, whether it is an issue of complex or not. The truth is that Buhari as a man has issue relating with people he isn’t comfortable with. People he is comfortable with represents a tiny minority of Nigerians and as far as I am concerned, you don’t have to see yourself either as an Hausa man or a Moslem. None of those makes you eligible for the office because the Constitution didn’t say you have to be an Hausa or a Moslem to be the president of Nigeria. The requirements for being president are there in the Constitution. Go and read them. Being of a certain faith or ethnic background isn’t a qualification for being the president of Nigeria.

Talking about the cabal, would you say the acting president is effectively in-charge, because there has been speculation that he has to contend with a certain cabal within the precinct of the Presidential Villa?

Look, even if Buhari’s own biological son is given the mantle of leadership, he is going to have to confront with the reality of the cabal. The fact is that this cabal doesn’t represent the interest of Nigeria. If you believe you have a problem, the fact is we expect that you are going to do something about it. Now, Nigeria is trapped because the President of Nigeria hasn’t been Buhari, but one man called, Mamman Daura. In his entire life, he has never won an election and the only opportunity he had was when in the old Kaduna State, he wanted to be a senator from Kaduna or Katsina and some people wanted Mamman Daura to pick the ticket. The people in Daura and eastern part of Kaduna said they were prepared to concede that senatorial seat to somebody from Daura, even though they are in the minority, but that they wouldn’t accept Mamman Daura as the person. So, he has never won an election.

Why would somebody like that, who is a relation of Buhari, assume the office over and above Buhari that Nigerians voted for?

That’s the point.  Number two, some of the appointments which have now become a disaster made by Buhari , that include the Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari and the Secretary to Government of the Federation. Buhari has made a mistake of conceding sensitive positions in his government to people who are neither politicians nor technocrats. They see their appointment as a life time opportunity and that’s why the cabal is a problem to Nigeria today. It isn’t a problem for Osinbajo; the acting president himself is in a very tricky situation and I don’t know much about him. But from the way he is handling issues and from the way he has started dealing with some of the people who are above everybody, that’s the cabal, then if he succeeds, there is the likelihood that Nigeria will succeed. But we have a precarious situation, whereby the elected president is infirm, incapacitated. He is out of the country physically and he has written a  letter to concede all his powers to  the vice- president who now becomes acting president.

If we continue with this situation, perhaps some sanity can be brought back, but the plan of the cabal is to bring back Buhari  from London. If they bring him back to Nigeria they can do a lot of things in the name of the president and they will be claiming it is the president! So, they are now so desperate to bring him back at all costs even if his condition doesn’t warrant his return. In fact, he cannot afford to come back now as president of Nigeria.

But the SGF, Babachir Lawal, has said his boss is very fit and would be seeking a fresh mandate in 2019.

But we have had this kind of statement before. I remember Chief Tony Anenih said the same thing as regards the presidency of both Chief Obasanjo and Jonathan, but the will of the people must be respected. In fact, there is going to be an election in 2019 and if Buhari were to be in good health and contest, I am sure he will lose and if he attempts to rig the election, there will be violence in this country. So, as far as I am concerned,  I won’t dignify the comment of the SGF with any response, because who was Babachir Lawal, until he was picked from nowhere and made the SGF by Buhari? What has been his performance since becoming the SGF and what is the justification for his statement on 2019 presidency? The man has no quantum of experience as a civil servant.

There have been startling revelations from the Senate regarding crude oil lifting. According to its findings, there is no record of crude oil lifting from May 2015 till date. How do you reconcile that with this administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability in governance?

I have said it earlier, that what politicians say shouldn’t be believed unless it is backed by what they do.  Apparently, since they have made claim of transparency and with this kind of thing, they should  have made frantic move to explain the situation. What it means is that from June 2015 till date, a lot of terrible things have happened. I expect them to react to this, but if they don’t want to respond,  then we must be prepared to go through the excruciating process to recover our money, otherwise the country is going to be run permanently prostrate until something happened. We are talking about billions of dollars not accounted for.

Finally, each time you criticise this administration, what is the kind of feedback you get?

I don’t, because the president himself, it is either he isn’t in charge or he doesn’t consider the issue worth commenting on. And when they comment, it is at variance with what you said. What I expect from them is to confront fact with fact, not abusing somebody like his aides do . They know I am saying the truth and I know  what I am talking about. I have been in power in this country since some of these people around Mr. president are either in  primary or secondary school. I am not somebody who is an entire outsider. I have served in the national assembly, two terms and I have served in the executive arm of main stream government and in some of the leading ministries, departments and agencies of government. So, if somebody wants to take me on, somebody who has never worked as a clerk in government, then we are in serious trouble. I don’t see how they can lie their way out of the situation they have now found themselves. They said the president went on vacation and later they changed the story. I remember what an American president, Abraham Lincoln said, that once a leader has lost the confidence of its citizens it can never regain it. You can deceive some of the people, some of the time, but you cannot deceive all the people all the time. Now, as far as I am concerned, this government has been lying and they imagine they can succeed in deceiving all Nigerians at the same time.  From all indications, their game is over. As I am talking to you, I am convinced that President Buhari’s presidency is dead. He may be physically alive and I wish him good health, but as far as governance is concerned, his presidency is dead and nothing can be done to resuscitate it. A presidency can be alive in terms of a leader, but in terms of programmes and achievements  it can be dead and historically forgotten!

2019: Buhari Likely To ENDORSE Osinbajo To Vie Against, Tinubu, Atiku, Others; See 15 Politicians Who May Run For President

Muhammadu Buhari and Yemi Osinbajo
By Dansu Peter

President Muhammadu Buhari may present his Deputy, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo to run the Presidency to succeed him in 2019 should he finally decide not to recontest, an analytic report by the Daily Trust Newspaper suggests.

Dailly Trust in it report headlined '15 politicians who may run for president in 2019', where it enumerated 15 likely politicians who could vie for the presidency come 2019, listed Prof. Yemi Osinbajo among others.


The report posited that the possibility that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo may run for the 2019 Presidency cannot be ruled out, and those who do not see him as a potential candidate for the next presidential election might be shocked. There are permutations that if Buhari chooses not to seek a re-election, he might present his deputy for the job. Those who uphold this position are relying on the fact that the president is known for rewarding loyalty, which they believe Osinbajo has so far demonstrated.

Professor Osinbajo has been acting as president since January 19 when his boss embarked on vacation in the United Kingdom. And already, some have argued that with the various policy decisions taken in Buhari’s absence, Osinbajo has the gravitas to govern the nation. Nevertheless, if President Buhari decides to run for second term, the question of whether or not Professor Yemi Osinbajo should be considered for the country’s number two position might arise, especially from vested interests within the APC. 

Below is full report by the Daily Trust

Midway into the mandate of the current political leaders, the body language of many prominent politicians and those close to them in major political parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) among others, indicate that a struggle for the coveted presidential seat is being nursed surreptitiously. While some may likely seek new political platforms, some will remain where they are to slug it out, a development that will prove intriguing. We took a look at some of those who may likely test their political might come 2019.

President Muhammadu Buhari

Although President Muhammadu Buhari has not declared his interest in seeking a second term, the possibility that he will do so cannot be ruled out as his loyalists and political associates have continued to fly that kite, some quite enthusiastically. Just this January, the chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, asked his fellows in the South-East not to talk about an Igbo presidency until after Buhari’s tenure, saying the president has a tenure to work for four or eight years according to the zoning arrangement of the ruling APC, a claim yet to be debunked by the party.

Buhari’s handlers in the Presidency also seem to believe that the earlier they begin to woo Nigerians for Buhari’s re-election, the better. Last month while addressing a pro-Buhari crowd, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal hinted at the possibility of President Buhari running in 2019.

One of the presidential spokesmen, Malam Garba Shehu, had also last year expressed confidence that the electorate would not abandon Buhari in 2019, claiming that the president’s “enormous” goodwill remained strong because the people were convinced that he was acting in their best interest despite “temporary, unintended consequences of reforms.” The president, as usual, will have the final word on the subject.

Professor Yemi Osinbajo

The possibility that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo may run for the 2019 Presidency cannot be ruled out, and those who do not see him as a potential candidate for the next presidential election might be shocked. There are permutations that if Buhari chooses not to seek a re-election, he might present his deputy for the job. Those who uphold this position are relying on the fact that the president is known for rewarding loyalty, which they believe Osinbajo has so far demonstrated.

Professor Osinbajo has been acting as president since January 19 when his boss embarked on vacation in the United Kingdom. And already, some have argued that with the various policy decisions taken in Buhari’s absence, Osinbajo has the gravitas to govern the nation. Nevertheless, if President Buhari decides to run for second term, the question of whether or not Professor Yemi Osinbajo should be considered for the country’s number two position might arise, especially from vested interests within the APC. 

Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu

The former governor of Lagos State is one politician whose likely declaration for 2019 presidency may not take people by surprise, because of what pundits see as his past attempts to become a vice presidential candidate to President Muhammadu Buhari under the APC, a move he dropped due to the sensitivity of a Muslim-Muslim ticket in a complex country like Nigeria.

Tinubu’s recent reaction to a question that sought to know his future political ambition caused a stir in political circles, as it was interpreted to mean that he had already begun preparation to contest in 2019. “There is nothing wrong with such ambition. It depends on the timing and the environment and what political leadership dictates. I will not brush aside such an aspiration,” Tinubu was quoted as having said during the an event in Ondo State.

Tinubu had, however,  in a tweet on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 dismissed this position, saying that he would not contest against President Buhari. “As long as that patriotic and committed President Buhari holds and seeks to hold the mantle as President, I stand behind him in unwavering support,” he said via his Twitter handle @AsiwajuTinubu. Analysts see this stance as conditional.

Tinubu’s possible presidential ambition may enjoy widespread support in the South-West geo-political zone, considering his political sagacity and large followership. He also has a sizeable financial war chest, as he invested heavily in the actualization of the Buhari presidency in 2015. But the odds against such ambition include the fact that Osinbajo came from his camp, and the South-West had earlier spent two terms of eight years under Chief Olusegun Obasanjo-led PDP administration between 1999 and 2007.

Atiku Abubakar

The one-time vice president has never kept hidden his presidential ambition. Atiku had contested the 2007 presidential election on the platform the defunct Action Congress (AC) after realizing that he could not get the PDP ticket because of his frosty relationship with former President Obasanjo. Also, the APC chieftain had contested the presidential ticket with former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 and with then-candidate Buhari in 2014 on different platforms.

The action, body language and utterances of the Turakin Adamawa are enough to show seriousness. He has already won the admiration of some in the South-South and South-East with a consistent advocacy for true federalism, calls considered to be subtle campaigns ahead of 2019, especially if President Buhari decides not to run.

Atiku maintains a vibrant media office with many staff who ensure he is a constant participator in national discourse. The Turaki is also noted to be a “big spender” when it comes to pursuing his interests, giving the PDP and ex-president Obasanjo a tough time by dragging them to court several times when they attempted to tame him in the past.

In the event the APC becomes a no-go channel for him, insiders say he may likely seek an alternative platform, either in the purported mega-party, the PDP, or any other one as the political equation suggests. More sources said Atiku would surely get the support of political bigwigs across the country should he declare to run again. But the odds against Atiku’s ambition include, notably, the ceaseless opposition of Obasanjo to his candidacy.

Bukola Saraki

Saraki is one of the politicians that are likely to contest for the Presidency come 2019. In 2015, he was one of the presidential aspirants of the APC but dropped the ambition two months before  the party’s primaries in 2014.

Saraki, a two-time governor of Kwara State is in a better position to vie for the presidency in view of his position as number three citizen of the country. With senators at his beck and call, he may go for the big seat. At present, he has the firm control of lawmakers, and his youthfulness and mien are added advantages, and also for the fact that he is from the North-Central tells a lot when it comes to political balancing.

But Saraki’s squabbling with his party, the APC, may negate his chances to clinch the ticket if he runs. He defeated his party in 2015 as a result of his romance with the PDP to emerge as the Senate President. That wound is yet to heal despite the recent consideration of Senator Ahmad Lawan as the Senate Leader. Lawan was the preferred candidate of the APC for the Senate presidency.

 Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso

Kwankwaso is a serving senator representing Kano Central at the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly and was a presidential aspirant in the last general election. A former governor of Kano State, who served the state from 1999-2003 and 2011-2015 respectively, he is said to have turned around Kano through laudable physical infrastructural development, especially during his second tenure.

Although Kwankwaso has been quiet for a while, his political network is not only intact but vibrant across the country. His political trademark, the Kwankwasiyya, which he established before the 2011 general elections is even expanding to other states. In the event he goes for the presidency, his large followership in Kano, Kaduna and other states in the North would give him added advantage especially if he picks a running mate from the South.

What will work against him is if decides to remain in APC, and President Buhari decides to go for a second term.

Sule Lamido

The dwindling fortunes of the PDP, occasioned by counter court cases and mass defection do not deter the former Jigawa governor from nursing his ambition of vying for the presidential position of this country under its platform.

Lamido, who is passionate about the PDP, believes that it will soon overcome its travails and bounce back. While the party is suffering in other climes, it is thriving in Jigawa to the extent that some members of the ruling APC are defecting to it.

The declaration for his presidential ambition sometime last year did come to many as a surprise.  Lamido, who is among the founding fathers of the PDP, said if offered a ticket come 2019, he would be glad to offer himself. What is not clear is whether he will overcome the ambition of many alpha members of the PDP for the same ticket.

Aminu Waziri Tambuwal

Tambuwal, immediate-past Speaker of the House of Reps, was to contest for president during the 2015 when some of his friends reportedly obtained the APC presidential form for him to participate in the primary. He later shelved the idea and went ahead to contest for the Sokoto State governorship seat, and won. 

As part of future plans to realize his presidential ambition, the 51-year-old lawyer succeeded in installing his successor in the House of Reps, Yakubu Dogara. He also succeeded in expanding his political base among federal lawmakers from all parts of the country. Described as astute and shrewd politician by many, he leaves no-one in doubt that he would certainly go for the top job in the country in the future, which could be 2019.

In the event Buhari seeks a second term, he may likely shelve the ambition until 2013, considering the fact that age is on his side. But a major hurdle to cross for Tambuwal would be getting  the support of the South-West, who see him someone who ‘abandoned’ their own, Femi Gbajabiamila, for the position of Speaker, even though he later played a crucial role in his emergence as Speaker in 2011, against all odds.

At some point, the national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who did not only support Tambuwal in 2011 but also ensured that all opposition lawmakers voted for him as Speaker, was said to be “very angry with Tambuwal” for that perceived slight.

Ahmed Makarfi

Senator Ahmed Makarfi was governor of Kaduna State from 1999 to 2007. Within the eight years he was in office, he was able to mitigate religious and ethnic violence in the state and has through that feat projected himself as an objective and fair-minded leader. His outstanding performance in the state shot him into national limelight, seeing him clinch a seat at the Senate in 2007, even though he lost the bid to return a third time in 2015. But by then, his profile in the PDP had risen and party members appointed him Chairman of the party at a convention which held in Port-Harcourt last year.

Since then he has been battling for the position with former governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sheriff. As the PDP has made it clear that its presidential candidate in the 2019 elections would be from the North, there is the possibility that given the trust key members of the party -- especially serving governors -- have in him, and given his image as an objective leader and acceptability across geopolitical divides, he might be convinced to run for the party’s presidential ticket in 2019. He recently said in an interview in Lagos that he may likely go for the No.1 office. However, his handicap may likely be the platform, because it is not yet clear if the PDP will ever be the same again.

But it was gathered that Makarfi’s faction of the party is seeking for the registration of a new platform, the Advanced Peoples Democratic Party (APDP). If they succeed, he may easily get the ticket and slug it out with anyone paraded by the APC or other parties.

Nasir El-Rufai

Currently the governor of Kaduna State, El-Rufai has been in the news for long as one of those likely to run for the presidency in 2019. This is given his popularity and acceptability across the country. But it is not likely he will show any interest if President Muhammadu Buhari is contesting, as he would not stand any chance in the North and may also stand the risk of losing his political investments, given Buhari’s acceptability in the region.

The current twist in events, where Buhari has been on vacation for a while, has however raised the hope that he might contest as he is said to be one of the top three northerners being considered for the vice presidential slot if Buhari decides on more rest. If that happens, many say it is likely that el-Rufai may latch in on the issue of zoning to contest in 2019, given that the sympathy may be for a northern candidate.

Ali Modu Sheriff

Sheriff is at present the recognized National Chairman of the PDP. He was a two-time governor of Borno State and three times a senator representing Borno Central. When he wanted to be governor in 2003, he chased a sitting governor in Borno, the Late Mai Mala Kachalla out of the APP and got the ticket. Indeed, he did not only win the election but broke the Borno jinx and won a second term. He was however demystified in 2011 when he wanted to go to the Senate for the fourth time but was defeated by a PDP candidate, the Late Ahmed Zannah Khalifa.

That notwithstanding, analysts say Sheriff lost out because of  his poor handling of the Boko Haram crisis. A vicious fighter, and mass mobilizer, Sheriff is seen as someone who never runs away from a fight. Despite the fact that PDP governors, ex-ministers, former governors and other organs of the PDP had made many attempts to oust him as chairman of the PDP, Sheriff has defied them. Sources said he may end up easing out as PDP chairman and ultimately get its presidential ticket which has been zoned to the North.

From all indications, Sheriff may get the PDP ticket, as he has already liberalized many impediments on his way as some chieftains of the party are already contemplating dumping it for another platform. His albatross may likely be acceptability as a presidential candidate by Nigerians despite the fact that he has enough resources.

Ayo Fayose

Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose is largely seen as fearless as a result of  his controversial comments and leadership style.  His February 21, 2017 declaration of presidential ambition in 2019 was also seen by commentators as a joke, but he seems to be serious about it. Some insiders are already calling him the ‘Donald Trump of Nigeria’.

The 56-year Fayose, who is the chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, expressed his interest in the presidency during a live television interview that in the near future, he will take over the mantle to lead the nation as his future was tied to the presidency. “It is not by power. It is destiny. I did not believe it when I became Ekiti governor. After eight years, I will be the vice president of Nigeria, even the President very soon.”

The maverick governor may however have to contend with arrays of other interests within the PDP, some of who are seen as having brighter chances. He also has to grapple with the crisis rocking the PDP and the embattled national chairman of the party, Sheriff, who Fayose with other governors rejected despite an Appeal Court ruling affirming Sheriff’s chairmanship.

Rochas Okorocha

Governor Okorocha is not new at taking shots at the nation’s Presidency. In 1999,  Okorocha, who competed in the primaries to be PDP candidate for governor of Imo State, lost to Achike Udenwa. He then moved to the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) but was unsuccessful in his quest for the party’s ticket for the presidency in 2003 and therefore returned to the PDP.

Okorocha formed the Action Alliance (AA) in 2005, planning to become its presidential candidate for the 2007 elections. He again however returned to the PDP, and in September 2007 indicated that he was interested in becoming PDP national chairman. Okorocha decamped from the PDP to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and  ran as its candidate for Imo State governor in the April 2011 national elections which he won but then decamped to the ruling APC.

While the governor said he will not contest the 2019 Presidency, citing the successes of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, Okorocha, who is fluent in all the major languages of the country, is still seen as interested in taking another shot at the presidency in the event Buhari will not contest.

Babatunde Fashola

Lagos State governor from 2007 to 2015, Babatunde Fashola endeared himself to not only Lagosians, but indeed Nigerians as a whole, due to his impressive performance in the state. As a candidate of the then Action Congress party, Fashola succeeded Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and was re-elected on 26 April 2011. On November 11th 2015, he was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari to be the Minister of Power, Works and Housing.

Not a few analysts and observers believe Fashola  may be warming himself up for a higher political job after his current assignment as a minister. Indeed, a former minister Oby Ezekwesili was reported to have urged Fashola (SAN) to run for Presidency in 2019, and an online medium had quoted Ezekwesili as saying: “The day Tunde Fashola picks up a form to run for presidency, I Oby Ezekwesili shall sign up to volunteer for his campaign team.”

In the build-up to the 2015 elections, many were of the opinion that Fashola should serve with President Muhammadu Buhari as the shortest route to the Presidency. This school of thought reasoned that by so doing Fashola would be able to tender credentials superior to any other candidate’s in 2019. Although he has not indicated his interest, many say it may not be an easy ride for him as 2019 promises to be another titanic battle, given the number of gladiators in the fray.

Ken Nnamani

Ken Nnamani was President of the Senate of Nigeria from 2005 to 2007. A former member of the PDP, he was elected to the Senate from Enugu State in 2003 and served until 2007. He recently took many by surprise when he denounced his membership of the PDP to join the ruling APC. Currently the head of the Electoral Reform Committee set up by President Muhammadu Buhari, he registered as a member of the APC at his country home in Amechi-Uwani, in Enugu South Local Government Area, a move that many political analysts saw as a deft move ahead of the 2019 elections.

Coming from a zone (South-East) that has not produced a president since the return to democracy in 1999, many see the former senate president as throwing his hat in the 2019 presidential ring. He would certainly not be the only one from that zone who may be interested in the presidency, but his current role in the APC administration certainly makes him a potentially potent player, also considering his reputation for being one of the few decent politicians in Nigeria. He just may eventually throw his hat into the ring come 2019.

Tinubu’s recent reaction to a question that sought to know his future political ambition caused a stir in political circles, as it was interpreted to mean that he had already begun preparation to contest in 2019. “There is nothing wrong with such ambition. It depends on the timing and the environment and what political leadership dictates. I will not brush aside such an aspiration,” Tinubu was quoted as having said during the an event in Ondo State.

Tinubu had, however,  in a tweet on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 dismissed this position, saying that he would not contest against President Buhari. “As long as that patriotic and committed President Buhari holds and seeks to hold the mantle as President, I stand behind him in unwavering support,” he said via his Twitter handle @AsiwajuTinubu. Analysts see this stance as conditional.

Tinubu’s possible presidential ambition may enjoy widespread support in the South-West geo-political zone, considering his political sagacity and large followership. He also has a sizeable financial war chest, as he invested heavily in the actualization of the Buhari presidency in 2015. But the odds against such ambition include the fact that Osinbajo came from his camp, and the South-West had earlier spent two terms of eight years under Chief Olusegun Obasanjo-led PDP administration between 1999 and 2007.


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