There are strong indications that either former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar or ex Head of State, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar, may be the presidential flag-bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in next year’s election.
. Already, Atiku has been moving round the country strengthening old and forming new alliances to realise his dream of succeeding President Muhammadu Buhari, having formally declared his interest in the presidential race under the PDP banner. As part of his preparation for the race, Atiku reportedly bankrolled many All Progressives Congress’ (APC) lawmakers and some governors in the 2015 polls.
On his own, Abdulsalami, Nigeria’s eighth military ruler, whose administration handed over power in 1999 to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, at the inception of the current democratic dispensation, which is the nation’s fourth republic, has not formally shown interest in the plum job. But it was learnt that the PDP leadership has been wooing him.
Besides, Atiku has been the most prominent and vocal voice in the clamour for proper restructuring of this country into a true federalism in line with the recommendations of the 2014 Sovereign National Conference, a position overwhelmingly supported by a majority of Nigeria’s composite ethnic nationalities.
He, recently in Port Harcourt, formally announced he was seeking his party’s nomination for the presidency, when he visited Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, who has carved out a reputation as a power broker in the PDP. The visit was followed by other behind-the-scenes deft activities to establish him as the PDP presidential candidate.
A political pundit reportedly said that Atiku and other presidential aspirants believe that whosoever Wike legacy bloc supports in the national congress will automatically win the PDP ticket for the 2019 polls. His words: “He feels that Wike is PDP’s energy centre and clearly, his performance during the last PDP convention attested to this fact.
“Wike’s ability to coordinate things is what I think Atiku is banking on for his 2019 bid. I think the essence is that Wike is the epicentre of PDP politics right now, and the party’s national chairman also hails from Rivers State.”
In recognition that he might be up against powerful forces, Atiku, together with a close-knit group of trusted associates, spent days in Rivers State, negotiating with various groups in a bid to convince them to support his candidacy.
There are already influential people in Wike’s camp, who think that Atiku will bring value to the party, as he has the financial war chest and network to generate funds for prosecuting the 2019 presidential election.
As a mark of prudent political gamesmanship, meant to mask his natural instincts, Wike told Atiku that he had earlier received former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, who had intimated him of his desire to seek PDP presidential ticket.
A source in the PDP, who pleaded anonymity, disclosed that Governor Wike’s pendulum would initially swing between Atiku and Lamido, because both of them have strong selling points. Presently, however, the odds seem to favour Atiku, who is said to have a strong grip on Adamawa State, as well as a strong appeal in Taraba, Bauchi, the northeast and other sections of the country.
It was also gathered that some governors are uncomfortable with Lamido’s closeness to former President Obasanjo. However, it was also observed that Lamido has appeal in the north among the conservatives. He said: “Lamido has the appeal of the North, meaning that he will do better there, but Atiku will do better nationally, in the sense that he has a strong appeal in the South. He is the biggest landlord in Rivers State. He has an Igbo wife, who will sell him in the southeast, as well as a wife from the southwest. In the South-south, he has business contacts and has created jobs. Atiku did not just come and go. He stayed three days consulting.
“I think Lamido comes in with the dimension of former President Olusegun Obasanjo cartel, which PDP may need. Obasanjo likes Lamido. There is the likelihood that, in order to form a coalition with the SDP, the PDP may decide to go for Lamido. If they have to negotiate for coalition; that will be the chance Lamido has. If they are to bring a unifying candidate, he is most likely to be the one.
“The bottom line is: I think Atiku has a stronger momentum, but I also think if the PDP must get into a coalition, that is where Lamido has a stronger hand. He has a strong conservative root. Obasanjo will never support Atiku.”
Atiku had explained that he was vying for the presidency because the country is presently at a crossroads. He said he has never seen Nigeria so divided on ethnic and religious lines, which had been brought about by APC’s alleged mismanagement. He said he has been facing political persecution from some powerful political forces, ever since he refused to support tenure elongation, while in office as Vice President.
He said: “I am still going through tribulation, because up till now, some people are saying because I insisted on removal of tenure elongation in our constitution, they are still hunting for my head.
“But if I had supported the removal of tenure elongation in our constitution, all those who became governors, National Assembly members, local governments chairmen and councilors from 2007, would not have been able to do so. And we would have continued with the same set of people, but that was not why we fought the military to return democracy. And that is why we should not forget, but continue to remember those that have made those supreme sacrifices.”
