By Yusuf Adua
Contrary to the reports that made the rounds in the last hour, President Muhammadu Buhari has assured that he has no rubber stamp presidential candidate inthe APC.
In a crucial meeting with APC governors at the State House, Abuja, President Buhari let out that the party is as important as its members, therefore, all aspirants should be respected and treated with fair inclusion.
This message was contained in a press statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity, Garba Shehu, titled, ‘I have anointed no one, there shall be no imposition, says President Buhari’.
“President Muhammadu Buhari, Monday afternoon cleared all doubts about where he stands on the choice of a presidential candidate for the governing All Progressives Congress, APC, declaring before the party’s 14 governors of northern states that he has ‘no preferred candidate’, and has ‘annointed no one’, and is determined to ensure that ‘there shall be no imposition of any candidate”, the statement reads.
According to the statement, Mr President’s mind is clear and direct regarding the next action to be taken by the party.
“You were elected as I was. Have a clear mind as I have. God gave us the chance; we have no reason to complain”, he charged.
“We must be ready to take pain as we take the joy. Allow the delegates to decide. The Party must participate, nobody will appoint anybody,” President Buhari furthered.
Reports surfaced earlier in the media space that the National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, confirmed Senate President, Ahmad Lawan as the consensus presidential candidate that would run under the party’s platform in the forthcoming presidential election.
It appears that Senator Ahmad Lawan’s name that surrounded the fourth estate like ants guarding cubes of sugar lately was a no-brainer, same as a winner of a formula 1practice winner that has no consequence on the winner of the actual race.
This reporter gathered that Senator Kashim Shetima and other big wigs in the party had earlier invalidated the myth of Senator Lawan to coast the party to victory if given the ticket.
Another presidential aspirant, Governor Yahya Bello of Kogi state stormed out of a meeting with the gladiators. Some political observers reacted that he left the congregation of governors with toxicity because proceedings were not favourable to him and his camp.
Meanwhile, presidential aspirants from the Southwest are in the sunshine state mourning the tragic unsavory and, inhuman attack on churchgoers in Owo, Ondo state.
But none of the names of these aspirants from the Southwest made the driver’s seat in this contest.
The Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garuba Sheu saw today as the right time to respond to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu who made a hugely controversial statement in Abeokuta last week.
Additionally, with the purported support of President Buhari for the president of the senate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s fate is hanging in the balance.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Rotimi Amaechi, former governor of Rivers state alongside Senator Ibikunle Amosun who reports have it that are top picks of the bunch too would have taken a chill pill now that President Muhammadu Buhari has come out to say he’s not rooting for anyone.