*Say they are too silent to be trusted
There is disquiet in
the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the camp of President Muhammadu
Buhari over the disposition of some stalwarts of the party to the
fortune of the party ahead of next year’s elections.
Senate
President Bukola Saraki; House of Reps Speaker Yakubu Dogara; Sokoto
State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal; ex-Governor Musa RabiuKwankwaso;
ex-Governor Aliyu Wammako; ex-Governor Danjuma Goje; ex-Governor Ahmed
Sani Yerima and some APC governors are among such party chieftains.
Some
of them dumped the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to be
part of the coalition which led to the birth of the APC.
Authoritative
party sources told The Nation that none of the leaders has made any
commitment to a possible second term ticket for President Buhari because
they are weighing their own options on the way forward.
A few of
them have a strong political relationship with ex-President Olusegun
Obasanjo, who wrote a toxic letter to the President during the week.
Obasanjo,
in widely applauded letter, asked Buhari to jettison any plan to seek
reelection next year and pay attention to his health.
He called
for the formation of what he called a Third Force to wrestle power from
the APC and stop the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from
returning to power.
Prominent politicians across party divide are said to be already lining up to join the “Third Force.”
Investigation
by our correspondent indicated that the Presidency is worried by what
sources termed the “silence and cold attitude” of these leaders to
Buhari’s second term bid.
Although some of the leaders believe it
is too early now to start politicking, some APC leaders and Buhari’s
strategists are suspicious of such position.
The closeness of some of them to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo has compounded the fears of those in Buhari’s camp.
It
was learnt that a few of them, including some APC Senators and members
of the House of Representatives, have practically abandoned the party.
It
was gathered that a minister recently met one of the leaders on the
second term bid of the President but the highly-placed match-maker
allegedly said: “It is the President who should tell me, not you.”
According
to findings, the development accounted for the series of dinners being
organised by the President to interact with these leaders to gauge their
mood and indirectly seek their support.
The President has already dined with Senators and members of the House of Representatives.
The
last dinner he had was with a group comprising ex-Senate President Ken
Nnamani, ex-Governor Orji UzorKalu, ex-National Chairman of PDP,
AbubakarKawuBaraje and others.
A top source in Buhari’s camp
said: “Most of these top leaders have not been forthcoming on the second
term aspiration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Some of these leaders are too silent to trust. Look, the loyalists of Buhari are also not taking things for granted at all.
“Virtually
every day, consultations and negotiation are going on with leaders,
political groups across the six geopolitical zones.
“While some
are weighing options, we are also suspecting that some of them are
behind the Coalition for Nigeria (CN) campaign by ex-President Olusegun
Obasanjo because they don’t want to come out ; they don’t want a direct
confrontation with Buhari.
“We are however giving some of them
benefit of the doubt because the political climate might be
unpredictable in their states and they may have no option than to remain
in APC with Buhari.”
But a source, who had attended some dinners
with Buhari, said: “I think the President is also watching his steps
because he has not come out categorically that he is interested in a
second term.
“For instance, at the last dinner with ex-Governor
Kalu and others, he only ate with us. In spite of the fact that
ex-Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso was at the session, Buhari did not tell us
he would seek a second term ticket.
“He gave us so much to eat and did the talking alone. The President’s handlers did not allow him to have any feedback from us.
“Such a dinner would have been a golden opportunity to speak our minds and forge a new rapprochement.
It
is not sufficient to say at a dinner that you have not forgotten some
party leaders without telling us what you are driving at.
“In
fairness, I do not see these leaders as mind readers. The President will
now need to do more to consult individually and in group on his
re-election ambition.”
A source in Tambuwal camp, who spoke in confidence, said: “You should know better that the governor does not pretend.
“When
he was the Speaker of the House of Representatives, it was obvious to
all Nigerians that his heart was with the APC. I can tell you that by
now, if he has alternative plan, you would have known.
“I think
some leaders in the party are suspicious of Tambuwal because he has
refused to commit himself to the seven governors spearheading the second
term aspiration of the President. Oga has repeatedly told them that the
mood of this country is not for politics now. He has always said during
politics, we will play politics.
“But some of these governors
are in the forefront of second term agitation because their political
fate is tied to Buhari because they have not performed in office.”
A
source in Saraki’s camp said: “The President of the Senate has
cooperated with this government and he is focusing on governance. The
truth is that as a politician, he prefers tactical maneuvering to doing
the talking. And do not forget that his office is too strategic to be
politically flippant.
“I know we are already using an airline
(APC) but we don’t know yet if we will stick to the airline or book
another flight. One thing is sure; we will get a boarding pass at the
end of the day. We are watching the lips of our leader although our
dilemma is that it is difficult to read his body language on this type
of issue.
“You cannot rule out consultations and weighing of options by Saraki and others.”
A
close strategist of Kwankwaso said: “If the President is seeking
re-election on the platform of APC, you should not expect that Kwankwaso
with presidential aspiration to remain in the same party.
“But if Buhari is not contesting, Kwankwaso will remain in APC. This is a straightforward matter and it is discernible.”
Asked
of the next move, the source added: “Once Buhari declares interest in
running for second term, Kwankwaso may join a stronger party after
weighing options and consulting widely.”
A source in Dogara’s camp said: “I have not really discussed the issue with him. I will find out and get back to you.”
Another
source said: “Those leaders from the North are keeping their game plan
to their chest because of the consequences of early opposition to
Buhari’s second term ambition by some of his blind loyalists who can
start hurling missiles at every occasion.
“Some of those in this group include a few Northern governors who are not keen on Buhari project.”
