● As Atiku, Tambuwal, Wike others reject reports
The Convener of Northern Elders’ Forum(NEF), Professor Àngo Abdullahi, has said the endorsement he granted two presidential aspirants in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as consensus candidates for the North in 2023 was not done on behalf of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF).
Speaking in a telephone interview with AIT, Abdullahi said the endorsement did not in anyway reflect the opinions or views of the Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF) he currently chairs.
The elder statesman said the report was merely his personal assessment and evaluation of four Northern aspirants on the platform of PDP who willingly submitted themselves to the consensus exercise they requested former Nigerian leader, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) to conduct on them to select a consensus candidate for the North.
AIT on Friday obtained a copy of the report released in Minna, Niger State and clearly signed by Abdullahi.
A closer look at the document however revealed that Abdullahi did not actually sign the report in his capacity as Chairman of the highly reverred Northern Elders’ Forum.
He did in his personal capacity as Magaji Rafin Zazzau.
Abdullahi further clarified that his report did not foreclose other aspirants of Northern extraction from throwing their hats in the ring to test their popularity, stressing that those interested are at liberty to do so.
Abdullahi’s report had narrowed the choice of Northern aspirants down to two candidates, former President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki representing North Central and the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Muhammed from the Northeast.
A move that could potentially deliver telling blows on the aspirations and chances of other aspirants from the North including that of former Vice-president, Atiku Abubakar.
But in a swift reaction, the Chairman, Technical Committee for the Actualization of Atiku Abubakar Presidency, Chief Raymond Dokpesi fired back strongly when he made it abundantly clear in a press statement that Atiku was never a party to the Northern consensus reached and as such was not bound in anyway by the recommendations and conclusion of the report.
“It must be stated categorically and equivocally that Waziri Atiku Abubakar MA, GCON Vice President Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999-2007 was NEVER a part of this purported consensus arrangement, neither did he at any time nor in any place, subject himself to any purported consensus process.
“Therefore, Waziri Atiku Abubakar is NOT BOUND by any of the recommendations and conclusions of the purported report”, he said.
Dokpesi added that there was no way Atiku- being a nationalist would have been a part of a “gang up” premised on the same regional, zonal and ethno-religious factors that had kept Nigeria sharply divided over the years.
“As an avowed nationalist, Waziri Atiku Abubakar strongly believes that Nigeria has never been as divided as it is today. He strongly believes that any ‘consensus’ arrangement premised on any regional, zonal, ethno-religious, and/or sectional gang-up will further deepen and widen this divide, and worsen the wounds that urgently need to be healed. Consequently, Vice-president Atiku Abubakar is anxious to implement plans, policies and programmes that will rescue and rebuild Nigeria. This is his unwavering and resolute pledge and commitment”.
The statement also called on all supporters of Atiku across the country to disregard the said report and continue to concentrate on their massive consultations and mobilizations ahead of PDP Presidential primaries scheduled for for Saturday/ Sunday May 28 and 29, 2022.
“We urge all our numerous supporters to continue with consultations and town hall meetings with delegates across the country. We urge them neither to be deterred nor distracted in our collective mission to rescue our nation”.
In the same vein, the Deputy Chairman, North Central Zone of the Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF), Ambassador Yahaya Kwande, picked holes in the report even as he completely dissociated himself from the document that endorsed Saraki and Mohammed.
Speaking with AIT from his base in Jos, Plateau State, the former Nigerian envoy to Switzerland insisted that the decision was at best the opinion of an individual and not that of the Northern Elders’ Forum, pointing out that at no time was he and other members of the Northern Elders’ Forum consulted.
According to Kwande, those pushing for consensus candidate are cowards who are too afraid and lack confidence in themselves.
He therefore called on the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to whip Saraki, Muhammad and the Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambulwa into line before they destroy the party.
Also reacting to the report, Presidential aspirant and Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike rejected the move, describing it as a “scam”, and an attempt by some aspirants to pull the wool on the eyes of others in the race.
Wike denounced any consensus arrangement, stressing that he will never step down for anyone in the race.
“Some people think they can deceive me with consensus. It’s a scam. I don’t like being deceived in my life,” he said.
“If you want to do consensus, there must be equity and fairness. Are the hands of those demanding consensus clean? People talking about consensus are the ones running the election. Is it the party’s decision?”
“It is not the party that is talking. In politics, there is something called shine shine bobo. The more you look, the less you see.”
“Why will I step down for anybody?
“The only thing that can make me step down is death. If I am alive, we will run this thing; we will hold the primaries on May 28/29″.
Meanwhile, the report may have suffered its biggest upset yet after one of the principal actors mentioned in it, the Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal in a statement released by his campaign organization also rejected the consensus arrangement.
He said the exercise which he denied being a part of had failed and that he was now ready for the Presidential primaries in May.
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