By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
Efforts by Presidential aspirants from the Nothern part of the country to present a consensus candidate has suffered a major setback following the withdrawal of Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar from the arrangement.
Aspirant from the North including Sen. Bukola Saraki, Gov. Bala Mohammed, Dr. Hayatudeen Mohammed have been working together and meeting with critical stakeholders to produce a consensus.
Consequently, there was an information that Sen. Saraki and Sen. Mohammed allegedly emerged as the Presidential and vice-president consensus candidates.
Reacting to the development, Nicholas Msheliza Director Organization and Mobilization, Tambuwal Campaign Organization (TCO) distanced itself from the meeting held in Minna Niger state where former Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Gov. Bala Muhammad of Bauchi state allegedly emerged as consensus candidates from amongst other four aspirants.
“The correct situation” according to the group “is that the team met on Wednesday 20th April, 2022, at Bauchi Governor’s lodge in Abuja and had a review meeting; and, unanimously agreed that the consensus arrangement was not working.
“The team further agreed that Sen. Saraki should come up with a draft statement on how to communicate this decision to the Nigerian public. This was the last time that members of the team sat and mutually agreed on anything. The proposed meeting to review and vet the statement scheduled for 10 pm of the same day was aborted unilaterally by Sen. Saraki via a WhatsApp message.
“However, on Thursday, 21st, 2022, same Sen Saraki circulated yet another WhatsApp message suggesting that members of the team should head to Minna for a meeting on Friday, Gov. Tambuwal reached other members of the team and informed them that he stands by the decision of the team that the initiative is not working. This is the reason Gov. Tambuwal was absent at today’s (Friday) meeting in Minna. As a result therefore, the outcome of the Minna meeting has no consequence or any implication on the aspiration of Gov. Tambuwal, who had earlier on informed his colleagues of maintaining their agreed position that the initiative has collapsed”.
TCO reminded stekeholders that what was canvassed for was a consensus candidate and not consensus candidates.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Gov Tambuwal has submitted his Presidential nomination forms and now that the quest for a consensus candidate out of the four has clearly collapsed, will go ahead and face screening and indeed contest the PDP presidential primaries.
“This is in consonance with his acclaimed outlook as a pan-Nigerian candidate, with pedigree of national service as the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, life member of the Body of Benchers and now in his second and final term as Governor of Sokoto state” the group stated.
On the same note, Technical Committee for the actualization of Atiku Abubakar’s Presidency in 2023, TEECOM has disclosed that Atiku Abubakar was never a party to northern consensus arrangement.
The group said that it has been inundated with several calls and text messages from concerned party members, supporters and other critical stakeholders on the purported report of Consesus efforts amongst four Northern Aspirants in the Peoples Democratic Party by Prof Ango Abdullahi CON,Magajin Rafin Zazzau released at a press conference in Minna on Friday,April 22,2022,asking it’s supporters to disregard the proclamation in the alleged consensus.
According to TEECOM, “Waziri Atiku Abubakar GCON Vice President Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999-2007 was never a part of this purported consensus arrangement and did not subject himself to this process.
“Therefore,he is not bound by any of the recommendations and conclusions of the purported report.
“Waziri Atiku Abubakar as a nationalist strongly believes that Nigeria has never been so divided as it is today,and any regional, zonal, ethno-religious gangup or consensus driven in this manner will further deepen and widen the wounds that urgently require to be healed.
“He is anxious to implement plans, policies and programmes that will rescue and rebuild Nigeria”
TEECOM urged it’s supporters to continue with consultations and townhall meetings with delegates across the country as the party prepares for the presidential primaries scheduled for Saturday/ Sunday May 28 and 29, 2022.
Earlier, Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state had urged the aspirants that any consensus devoid of fairness, equity and justice is bound to collapse just as Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike doubted the sincerity of the motives behind the clamour for consensus by nothern Presidential aspirants.
