• I’ve not endorsed any candidate, says Ex-president
• Saraki stepped down voluntarily – Buhari
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has declared that former President Olusegun Obasanjo was free to endorse any presidential aspirant he chooses, stressing that he does not need Obasanjo’s endorsement to win 2015 presidential election. Atiku stated this at a press conference in Abuja yesterday, while speaking on a proposed ‘Policy Review Document’ of his campaign organization due for presentation at Obasanjo’s Library Ota, Ogun state soon. He also said he had prepared himself for governance if given the opportunity. “I have prepared myself to be President; it is up to Nigerians to elect whom they want. I believe you should not learn on the job. Running government is like running business and if you cannot run business successfully, you don’t venture into governance,” he said. When asked whether his choice of Obasanjo Library as venue for the October 25 event was a sign of Obasanjo’s endorsement of his ambition, he quickly dismissed it, saying the former president is a member of a different political party and was at liberty to support any candidate he chooses. In a veiled reference to recent reports that the former president allegedly advised the All Progressives Congress, APC not to field him, he (Atiku) was vehement in saying Obasanjo’s endorsement does not mean much. “The choice of Obasanjo’s library in Abeokuta is because Abeokuta is a more serene environment for thinking. It is not the issue of Obasanjo’s endorsement. He has the right to endorse whoever he likes or not, so do not bother yourself whosoever endorses me. If you believe in me, cast your vote for me, if you do not, take your vote to another place,” he concluded. Atiku picks APC nomination form Meanwhile, the former vice president has picked the APC’s presidential nomination form. While handing over the bank teller for purchase of the presidential nomination form worth N27.5 million to the national chairman of the party, at the party’s secretariat in Abuja yesterday, Atiku pleaded for a level playing field for all aspirants. “Mr. Chairman, I need not let you know my political antecedents as far as the provision of a level playing field for every member of this party is concerned because that is the only thing or one of the things that will make us different from the so called ruling party. “Anybody who believes he has a democratic right to exercise should be given that opportunity to exercise that right. It is left to the members of this party and the Nigerian public to make a decision. I don’t think it is the responsibility of any one of us as individuals or group to decide for this party or its membership for the people of this country. Yes, as leaders, we have a responsibility to guide those coming behind but the guidance should be based on this firmly rooted democratic principles. “Mr. Chairman, therefore, it is my singular honor and privilege to hand over to you or your representative two receipts: one, presidential expression of interest and the second one, presidential nomination form all totaling N27.5m and I believe I am now entitled to receive my forms and then go onto the next stage,” the former vice president said. In his reaction, the National Chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, prayed that God should give to Nigerians a President that will defend the interest of Nigeria. “As you have come, we expect others to come. We are looking forward to a rancour-free contest among all our aspirants. We also expect them to make sacrifices where necessary. No sacrifice is too great to salvage this nation. This is what we expect from our aspirants, Odigie-Oyegun said. I’ve not endorsed any candidate, says Ex-president Meanwhile, Chief Obasanjo has refuted media reports that he had endorsed an aspirant for the presidency in the February 2015 election. Chief Obasanjo, who spoke through one of his allies, Oyewole Fasawe in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital yesterday, declared he had neither endorsed nor condemned any of the aspirants for the office irrespective of their political parties. In a statement he issued, Fasewe said that the former president regards all the aspirants as his political children and associates and would therefore not endorse any contender. He said: “Obasanjo has not endorsed anyone and has not condemned anyone. A statesman of his stature and pedigree can only pray and work towards peace and progress in Nigeria, Africa and the world at large. Those trying to exploit his friendliness to gain political advantage over other contenders are being unfair and doing so without Obasanjo’s approval.” Saraki stepped down voluntarily – Buhari In another development, former Head of State and APC National Leader, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, has said that he never persuaded nor begged Senator Bukola Saraki to drop his presidential ambition on the party’s platform. Nigerian Pilot recalls that Senator Saraki, who is also the immediate past governor of Kwara State, had at the weekend announced his withdrawal from the presidential race in the interest of the nation and the APC. Gen. Buhari, who spoke in Ilorin when he visited Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed at the Government House, Ilorin, said: “I read it in the newspaper, I didn’t beg him to leave it for me but it is his own decision, he has been a two-term governor. He knows the politics of the country; his father worked extremely hard and virtually established a dynasty voluntarily supported by people of this state.” The APC chieftain also described consensus candidate for the party as a move that would save its time and resources, stressing that the party must however provide a level playing ground for all aspirants to test their strengths. According to him, “I contested three times, I lost three times and I ended up in Supreme Court three times. We thank God the constitution did not limit how many times you can contest once you are 18 years and above. I have done it before in a different system and from 1999 till now, I am sure you know what happened and what has been happening. “I believe what Nigeria needs now is to be secured and efficiently managed. This is the APC’s stand and I will like to use the opportunity through my party, through the system to secure and efficiently manage Nigeria.” On whether APC would adopt a consensus candidate, Gen Buhari said: “It is up to the party and it is up to the people. We want a fair playing ground for everybody, let Nigerians be given the impression and let them believe that they do matter.” Kwankwaso backs consensus arrangement Another APC presidential aspirant and Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has underscored the importance of the party picking a consensus candidate for the presidential election next year. He also claimed that two of the G-7 governors still in the Peoples Democratic Party would soon join APC while more governors would follow suit. The governor stated this yesterday at the Government House, Ilorin when he visited Governor Ahmed as part of his consultation for the APC presidential ticket. He described APC members as practical people with extensive grassroots reach who would rejuvenate the national economy, tackle corruption and ensure national growth. The governor said: “Our economy can never be good in a situation of crisis; our economy can never be good in the face of corruption. Those who are trying to convince us that the economy is good don’t know what they are saying. Yes, their economy is good. The masses’ economy is bad. That is the situation today. And that is what the APC wants to correct.” Speaking on the issue of APC consensus candidate for the presidential election, Kwankwaso declared that in line with its constitution, the party would explore the possibility of consensus option within the ambit of democratic culture. In his remarks, the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, said that the choice of the All Progressives Congress Presidential candidate for the 2015 general elections would not only be devoid of acrimony but strengthen the fortunes of the party.
Source: Nigerian Pilot
• Saraki stepped down voluntarily – Buhari
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has declared that former President Olusegun Obasanjo was free to endorse any presidential aspirant he chooses, stressing that he does not need Obasanjo’s endorsement to win 2015 presidential election. Atiku stated this at a press conference in Abuja yesterday, while speaking on a proposed ‘Policy Review Document’ of his campaign organization due for presentation at Obasanjo’s Library Ota, Ogun state soon. He also said he had prepared himself for governance if given the opportunity. “I have prepared myself to be President; it is up to Nigerians to elect whom they want. I believe you should not learn on the job. Running government is like running business and if you cannot run business successfully, you don’t venture into governance,” he said. When asked whether his choice of Obasanjo Library as venue for the October 25 event was a sign of Obasanjo’s endorsement of his ambition, he quickly dismissed it, saying the former president is a member of a different political party and was at liberty to support any candidate he chooses. In a veiled reference to recent reports that the former president allegedly advised the All Progressives Congress, APC not to field him, he (Atiku) was vehement in saying Obasanjo’s endorsement does not mean much. “The choice of Obasanjo’s library in Abeokuta is because Abeokuta is a more serene environment for thinking. It is not the issue of Obasanjo’s endorsement. He has the right to endorse whoever he likes or not, so do not bother yourself whosoever endorses me. If you believe in me, cast your vote for me, if you do not, take your vote to another place,” he concluded. Atiku picks APC nomination form Meanwhile, the former vice president has picked the APC’s presidential nomination form. While handing over the bank teller for purchase of the presidential nomination form worth N27.5 million to the national chairman of the party, at the party’s secretariat in Abuja yesterday, Atiku pleaded for a level playing field for all aspirants. “Mr. Chairman, I need not let you know my political antecedents as far as the provision of a level playing field for every member of this party is concerned because that is the only thing or one of the things that will make us different from the so called ruling party. “Anybody who believes he has a democratic right to exercise should be given that opportunity to exercise that right. It is left to the members of this party and the Nigerian public to make a decision. I don’t think it is the responsibility of any one of us as individuals or group to decide for this party or its membership for the people of this country. Yes, as leaders, we have a responsibility to guide those coming behind but the guidance should be based on this firmly rooted democratic principles. “Mr. Chairman, therefore, it is my singular honor and privilege to hand over to you or your representative two receipts: one, presidential expression of interest and the second one, presidential nomination form all totaling N27.5m and I believe I am now entitled to receive my forms and then go onto the next stage,” the former vice president said. In his reaction, the National Chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, prayed that God should give to Nigerians a President that will defend the interest of Nigeria. “As you have come, we expect others to come. We are looking forward to a rancour-free contest among all our aspirants. We also expect them to make sacrifices where necessary. No sacrifice is too great to salvage this nation. This is what we expect from our aspirants, Odigie-Oyegun said. I’ve not endorsed any candidate, says Ex-president Meanwhile, Chief Obasanjo has refuted media reports that he had endorsed an aspirant for the presidency in the February 2015 election. Chief Obasanjo, who spoke through one of his allies, Oyewole Fasawe in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital yesterday, declared he had neither endorsed nor condemned any of the aspirants for the office irrespective of their political parties. In a statement he issued, Fasewe said that the former president regards all the aspirants as his political children and associates and would therefore not endorse any contender. He said: “Obasanjo has not endorsed anyone and has not condemned anyone. A statesman of his stature and pedigree can only pray and work towards peace and progress in Nigeria, Africa and the world at large. Those trying to exploit his friendliness to gain political advantage over other contenders are being unfair and doing so without Obasanjo’s approval.” Saraki stepped down voluntarily – Buhari In another development, former Head of State and APC National Leader, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, has said that he never persuaded nor begged Senator Bukola Saraki to drop his presidential ambition on the party’s platform. Nigerian Pilot recalls that Senator Saraki, who is also the immediate past governor of Kwara State, had at the weekend announced his withdrawal from the presidential race in the interest of the nation and the APC. Gen. Buhari, who spoke in Ilorin when he visited Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed at the Government House, Ilorin, said: “I read it in the newspaper, I didn’t beg him to leave it for me but it is his own decision, he has been a two-term governor. He knows the politics of the country; his father worked extremely hard and virtually established a dynasty voluntarily supported by people of this state.” The APC chieftain also described consensus candidate for the party as a move that would save its time and resources, stressing that the party must however provide a level playing ground for all aspirants to test their strengths. According to him, “I contested three times, I lost three times and I ended up in Supreme Court three times. We thank God the constitution did not limit how many times you can contest once you are 18 years and above. I have done it before in a different system and from 1999 till now, I am sure you know what happened and what has been happening. “I believe what Nigeria needs now is to be secured and efficiently managed. This is the APC’s stand and I will like to use the opportunity through my party, through the system to secure and efficiently manage Nigeria.” On whether APC would adopt a consensus candidate, Gen Buhari said: “It is up to the party and it is up to the people. We want a fair playing ground for everybody, let Nigerians be given the impression and let them believe that they do matter.” Kwankwaso backs consensus arrangement Another APC presidential aspirant and Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has underscored the importance of the party picking a consensus candidate for the presidential election next year. He also claimed that two of the G-7 governors still in the Peoples Democratic Party would soon join APC while more governors would follow suit. The governor stated this yesterday at the Government House, Ilorin when he visited Governor Ahmed as part of his consultation for the APC presidential ticket. He described APC members as practical people with extensive grassroots reach who would rejuvenate the national economy, tackle corruption and ensure national growth. The governor said: “Our economy can never be good in a situation of crisis; our economy can never be good in the face of corruption. Those who are trying to convince us that the economy is good don’t know what they are saying. Yes, their economy is good. The masses’ economy is bad. That is the situation today. And that is what the APC wants to correct.” Speaking on the issue of APC consensus candidate for the presidential election, Kwankwaso declared that in line with its constitution, the party would explore the possibility of consensus option within the ambit of democratic culture. In his remarks, the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, said that the choice of the All Progressives Congress Presidential candidate for the 2015 general elections would not only be devoid of acrimony but strengthen the fortunes of the party.
Source: Nigerian Pilot
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