REVEALED: Tinubu, Saraki are ‘backing Buhari’ for APC’s presidential ticket

REVEALED: Tinubu, Saraki are ‘backing Buhari’ for APC’s presidential ticket

Story by opeyemi omoriwo

It has been reported by The Cable that the national leader of the All Progressives’ Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, will throw his weight behind Muhammadu Buhari in the contest for the main opposition party’s presidential ticket.

Former Kwara State Governor, Bukola Saraki, who has publicly shelved his own ambition, will also support the former head of state in the indirect primary election scheduled for December 2. It had already been reported that Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State has equally pitched his tent with Buhari.

Reports say Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State is under intense pressure to step down for Buhari.

Tinubu’s decision to back Buhari is believed to be a major boost to the ambition of the retired General, whose toughest opponent in the primary will be former vice-president, Atiku Abubakar.

When the current structure of the party is taken into consideration, Tinubu and his associates are expected to have majority of the delegates who will vote in the primary which will be held simultaneously in the 36 states and the FCT.

With Tinubu, Saraki, Amaechi and former governor of Bayelsa, Timipre Sylva, pitching their tent with Buhari, Buhari will be heading into the primary as the favourite as most south-west, north-west and south-south delegates are likely to vote for him.

Meanwhile, Atiku looks set to garner a majority of delegate votes from the north-east and south-east, and a significant number from the north-central.

Analysts forecast that his battle-tested political machinery across the country will contest every inch on the electoral field while his financial war-chest will play a significant role in the final outcome.

Tinubu’s support for Buhari will be a shocker to many analysts who had thought that Atiku was a more like-minded politician than Buhari, but the word in Tinubu’s camp is that Atiku is “too desperate” to become president, an ambition that has seen him change parties in almost every election year.

A senior member of APC, who also chairs a state chapter of the party, told the online medium that “what Nigeria needs now is leadership and Asiwaju (Tinubu) is convinced beyond reasonable doubt Buhari is the best bet to deliver it.”

While there are fears in Tinubu’s circle that Buhari may decide to make a point by probing him on getting to office, the former governor of Lagos state is said to have had assurances that he has nothing to fear.

“Buhari’s view is that it would be counterproductive to go after Tinubu. He said the most important thing now is for Nigeria to make progress, and this is a very urgent task,” an APC governor said, adding that: “In any case, Tinubu has nothing to fear. All attempts to probe him have always ended up vindicating him.”

With regards to who would be Buhari’s running mate, the party official said Tinubu has shelved his ambition, saying, “the only elective post he could seek now is to be a senator. The wife is the senator representing Lagos central. If he decides to run, he can take her slot.”

When requested to speak on what becomes of the ambition of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the party stalwart said it was no longer “feasible” to back the seasoned lawmaker from Sokoto state.

“Governorship is a better bet for him. The calculations have changed,” the source said about Tambuwal, who is still a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), asserting that “he too knows.”

Just yesterday, Buhari was in Lagos State to invite Governor Babatunde Fashola to his declaration scheduled for Wednesday.

He received a warm welcome from Fashola who said: “We feel honoured by your presence and God will honour you and his grace will continuously be sufficient for you in the undertaking that you are about to commit to.”

It remains to be seen if Fashola and other APC top-shots will attend Buhari’s declaration to hold at Eagle Square in Abuja, since they were absent at Atiku’s declaration which took place last month.