Disenchanted over President Mohammadu Buhari’s poor performance, some
state Governors from the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, and the
opposition people’s Democratic Party, PDP, may have struck an agreement to
back one of theirs for President in 2019.
This is even as cabals in Buhari’s Presidency have also perfected plans to
blackmail state Governors who campaigns against Buhari ahead of 2019,
using records of how Governors are allegedly looting bailout funds and
Paris refunds.
Sources close to the Nigerian Governors Forum hinted Pointblanknews.com
that ahead of the 2019 presidential elections, the Governors have closed
ranks and vowed to ensure Buhari is not supported for a second term but
rather a member of the forum or a former Governor.
Pointblanknews.com gathered that Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State,
Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara and Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State are
spearheading the anti-Buhari campaign in the North. Governor Abdullahi
Ganduje of Kano state who recently hosted President Buhari is allegedly
supporting Atiku for President and have been clandestinely working for
Atiku’s Presidency while at the same time pledging support for Buhari.
Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state, the source hinted, is neither here nor
there as he is trying not to rock the boat and jeopardize a chance of
picking the APC Presidential ticket should Buhari decides not to run in
2019.
Governors Hassan Dankwambo of Gombe State, Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State,
Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna State, former Governor Sule Lamido, Rabiu Musa
Kwamkwaso, Ahmed Makarfi, have all made moves to contest for the 2019
Presidential election on the platform of the APC or PDP.
The source who would not want to be named because he is not authorized to
speak on the issue disclosed that the Governors reasoned that Buhari
should be the last former military man to be presented for a presidential
election and should not be supported for a second term.
Another reason adduced by the Governors, according to sources is that
while Buhari has reached his last political lap, it would amount to a
political suicide should they continue to tag along with him at a time his
administration has been adjudged to have failed.
According to the source, the reason why the APC Governors have not yet
declared a support for Buhari’s second term is as a result of what some of
them described as “a new strategic thinking.”
The source confirmed the Governors stressed that there decision is not
about party politics but to save themselves from political doom having
observed that Buhari’s support base has been reduced drastically, leaving
them in a political limbo.
It was gathered that from public opinion, President Buhari no longer has a
strong support base in the North and South West and as such would become
very difficult to market during the 2019 campaigns.
Meanwhile, sources have confirmed to pointblanknews.com that most APC
Governors seen to be working against Buhari’s second term bid are being
closely monitored and records of expenditures of the Paris refunds and
bailout funds being kept.
Director General of State Security Services, DSS, Mamman Daura, is said to
have been specifically mandated to gather information about Governors
expenditures of allocations including Paris refunds and Government
bailouts ahead of 2019 elections.
A Governor who spoke to Pointblanknews.com but would want to remain
anonymous said, “I have nothing to hide, my expenditures of all funds
would be made public but the truth is, I cannot commit a political suicide
and support Buhari’s candidature. I don’t know what to tell my people he
has achieved.”