• Tinubu backs president second term, may seek commitments
With
2019 general election just 13 months away, it has come to light that
President Muhammadu Buhari may have finally thrown his hat into the ring
to seek re-election next year by reappointing his Minister of
Transportation and former governor of Rivers State, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi,
as the Director-General of his 2019 election campaign.
Already,
Amaechi, who led Buhari’s campaign in 2015, THISDAY gathered, has been
issued a letter of appointment for next year’s election and would make
an official announcement on his appointment anytime soon.
Twice
last year, Buhari had hinted at a possible presidential run, albeit
subtly. First, he did so during a summit on counter-terrorism in
Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, and the second time last November, when he
visited Kano State on a two-day working visit.
THISDAY gathered
that although the president has refused to share his 2019 aspirations
with many people, he has however intimated Amaechi of his intention to
seek re-election.
Amaechi before the 2015 elections had convinced
Buhari, who after losing to former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011
had said he would not contest for the presidency again, to re-contest in
order to stabilise the polity and implement the “change” agenda of the
All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, this time around,
Buhari was said to have confirmed his intention to run strictly to the
“Buharists”, a group of loyalists formed by Amaechi and comprises
governors of the APC, ministers, party chieftains and some prominent
Nigerians, all of whom share the ideals of the group.
Amaechi,
THISDAY gathered, formed the Buharists group at the height of growing
criticism against the Buhari presidency and convinced its members to
alter the narrative against the president.
With the formation of
the group, Amaechi was also said to have consulted with critical
stakeholders in government, the party and the country, to first seek
their buy-in and enjoin them to join the 2019 election bid, which
according to sources, is expected to be much tougher than the 2015
contest.
Sources close to the APC also hinted that although a
majority of party members are not averse to the president’s re-election
bid, they have however craved that things be done properly and expect
Buhari to reach out to them personally to intimate them of his
re-election bid.
According to sources, the National Leader of the
APC, Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu was also believed to have told some of
those close to the president that whilst he and his loyalists in the
South-west were ready to back Buhari’s re-election bid, the condition
for their support would be different this time around.
According
to one source, the APC chieftain had told those who approached him on
Buhari’s re-election bid that “let it be known that we supported him in
2015 based on trust. This time, around, we have to negotiate proper
agreement”.
Although it is almost a fait accompli that the
president would run in next year’s election, sources in the APC are
nonetheless very concerned that the contest will be much tougher due to
the disappointment, mistrust and discontent with the administration by a
large section of Nigerians.
Accordingly, the Buharists have been
reaching out to seek the understanding and cooperation of all that
matter, as they forge ahead with Buhari’s re-election.
In the
meantime, Amaechi, the sources revealed, would hold a press briefing in
the next few days to announce his appointment as well as unveil the
agenda for the Buhari 2019 project.
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