12 APC Governors Endorse Buhari - Politics - dhabworld

Atiku taps delegates to snatch victory
•Ex-head of state in last minute push, reaches out

By Onyebuchi Ezigbo and Shola Oyedipo in Lagos

Ahead of the commencement of voting today by the 8,000 delegates accredited for the national convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC), 12 governors of the party met in Lagos in the wee hours of Wednesday and unanimously agreed to back former military Head of State, Major-military General Muhammadu Buhari for the presidential ticket of the APC.

However, the decision by the governors did not deter Buhari’s main rival, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, from focusing on getting the support of the delegates who would determine the outcome of the presidential primary.

It was gathered that at a meeting, which was said to have taken place at Adeola Odeku Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, 12 of the APC governors agreed to support Buhari as the presidential candidate.

The state governors are: Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe), Kashim Shetima (Borno), Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Aliyu Wammako (Sokoto) and Chibuike Ameachi (Rivers).

Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha and his Kano State counterpart Rabiu Kwankwaso are contestants for the presidential ticket of the APC and were not part of the meeting.

It learnt that the reason for the endorsement of the former head of state by the governors was aimed at creating a bandwagon effect that would influence most of the delegates into toeing the line of the governors to cast their votes for Buhari.

The governors, it was gathered, openly opted for Buhari following fears that Atiku had several delegates on his side.

A party source informed THISDAY: “The party leadership is concerned that with Atiku’s war chest he would be able to eke out a victory, so the governors met to throw their weight behind Buhari, in the hope that this would sway the delegates from their states to vote for him (Buhari).”

Another ploy, the source revealed, was to try to match Atiku in the funding stakes, which was being spearheaded by the Rivers State governor who has never hidden his desire to emerge as Buhari’s running mate in the presidential election.

Following the support by majority of the APC governors for Buhari, Kwankwaso and Okorocha were said to have been prevailed upon to step down and back the former head of state.

However, Kwankwaso’s deputy, Umar Ganduje, denied that his principal was stepping down, adding that the Kano governor would remain a contender in the race.

A similar denial was issued by the Founder of Leadership Newspapers, Sam Nda-Isaiah, stating that it was untrue that he had withdrawn from the APC presidential contest.

A statement by his campaign organisation said: “Contrary to reports in some online media that Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah is withdrawing his presidential ambition, the Sam4Nigeria Presidential campaign organisation would like to categorically state that the reports are not in any way factual.

“Mr. Sam Nda Isaiah is fully in the race and wishes to notify his teeming supporters to kindly disregard such reports. The reports are the handiwork of mischief makers who are threatened by the outpouring support from all states for the aspiration of Sam Nda-Isaiah.”

However, notwithstanding the governors’ backing of Buhari, Atiku remained focused all of the day by lobbying intensively for the delegates’ votes in cash and in kind.

The APC source said the former vice-president’s strategy was to capture the delegates from the 22 non-APC controlled states where the party’s governors wield less influence, and possibly split the votes of the 14 APC-controlled states, confirming THISDAY’s exclusive report last month that delegates from the non-APC states will play a major role in determining the outcome of the presidential primary.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported yesterday that Atiku had zeroed in on delegates from 16 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), which they considered winnable.

The states, according to NAN are: Adamawa, Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Benue, Plateau, Bauchi, Jigawa, Taraba, Yobe, Delta, Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu, Ekiti and Ondo.

Also, one of Atiku’s loyalists dismissed the endorsement by the 12 governors and the move to get two of the aspirants to step down, saying it is the delegates that count.

Similarly, the former Governor of Osun State, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, who spoke to THISDAY on the issue, said as far he was concerned what was important was for the delegates to cast vote for their choice of aspirant.

According to Adeleke, no one can decide the winner unless delegates cast their votes during primary.

But not wanting to leave anything to chance, Buhari yesterday in a personal letter to the delegates, tried to appeal to their conscience and asked them to shun monetary inducements in arriving at their choice for the party’s standard-bearer.

He said: “As you gather for our convention, please remember that history, change and the hopes of Nigeria are there with you. They are there to ask you to perform according to your best judgment and patriotic conscience. I also ask you to do the same.
“We seek a new Nigeria. It starts with us. It starts today. I have placed myself before you seeking your help to nominate me as your standard-bearer for our progressive party, APC.”

He informed the delegates that he was not driven by personal ambition, adding, “I seek to be the next president of our beloved nation because I believe I have something to offer Nigeria at this time of multiple crises. “Insecurity, corruption, and economic collapse have brought the nation low. Time is past due that we work together to lift Nigeria up. I am ready to lead Nigeria to its rightful future.”

He reminded them that he has always served Nigeria to the best of his ability and has always tried to give more to the nation than it has given him. 

“This is the principle of service that has guided my public life. Thus, I am not a rich person. I can’t give you a pocketful of dollars or naira to purchase your support. Even if I could, I would not do so.  The fate of this nation is not up for sale.

“What I will give you, and this nation is all of my strength, commitment, sweat and toil in the service of the people. What I can give you is my all. I do not intend to rule Nigeria. I want to democratically govern it with your help.

“I seek a Nigeria where Christians and Muslims may practise their faiths in peace and security; a Nigeria that is just and where corruption no longer trespasses into our institutions and national behavior; and a Nigeria where our diversity could be used for our national prosperity.
“Nigeria is our home. Let us now turn it into the great nation we know it can and should be,” Buhari said. 

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Presidential Convention Committee of the APC charged with organising the primary to elect the party’s standard bearer, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, yesterday gave reasons for delay in the commencement of the convention.

Fayemi, who spoke to THISDAY at the venue of the convention, said the organisers are waiting for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to round up with its convention in Abuja before declaring theirs open.
“We cannot be sharing air space with the Abuja people. We want Nigerians to listens to us and watch and hear what are doing,” he said.
When asked to comment on the rumours that two aspirants, Kwankwaso and Okorocha, were going to step down for Buhari, Fayemi said the party was yet to be notified.

As at last night APC leaders who had arrived at the venue of the convention were Atiku, who was the first presidential aspirant to show up, Okorocha, the APC National Chairman John Oyegun, former interim chairman Bisi Akande, former Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu, Ajimobi, Amosun, Fashola, Ogbonnaya Onu, Audu Ogbeh, Oshiomhole, Amaechi, Al-Makura, Shettima, Aresegbola, Ahmed, Speaker of the House of Representatives Aminu Tambuwal and former Osun State Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola.