• Offer last-minute concessions
The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj- Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, and the National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, have initiated moves to pacify aggrieved top members of the party over the choice of Prof. Yemi Osinbajo as the vice-presidential candidate. Sunday New Telegraph learnt that there was disquiet in the party following Tinubu’s insistence on nominating Osinbajo as Buhari’s running mate.
Particularly miffed were the APC governors, who felt that their contributions and sacrifices were not considered in the process leading to the emergence of Osinbajo. Although only two APC governors, Owelle Rochas Okorocha of Imo State and Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano, contested for the presidential ticket with Buhari, the governors of Rivers and Edo states, Rotimi Amaechi and Adams Oshiomhole respectively, were said to have shown interest in becoming the vice-presidential candidate. Also, Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, as well as the immediate past governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, were tipped to pick the slot.
There were reports that Tinubu was considered at a stage but had to withdraw due to the likely negative perception of a Muslim – Muslim ticket. Another source of disquiet was the fact that Tinubu’s perceived ‘overbearing posture’ denied the governors the opportunity of producing the party’s national chairman.
Though they backed former governor of Bayela State, Timipre Sylva, the national leader eventually had his way by ensuring victory for his candidate, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun. Kwakwanso was also said to have been aggrieved that his funding of the party’s Northern chapters had not been acknowledged by the leadership. Some of the governors openly threatened to stop funding the party because they were no longer comfortable with Tinubu’s posture. They said that since they supported Buhari’s election, they ought to have been allowed to produce his running mate. Party sources said the emergence of Osinbajo almost led to a revolt spearheaded by former Kwara State Governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki.
The party’s leadership moved in swiftly to quench the tension by reaching out to one of the defeated presidential aspirants, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. It was in a bid to douse the tension that Amaechi was offered the position of director-general of Buhari’s campaign organisation. Also, the party had to adjust its projections to offer Saraki the slot for Senate president if it produces the majority in the 2015 National Assembly elections. Tinubu has reached out to some of the governors and pleaded with time to allow peace to reign.
He also pleaded with them to work for the party’s interest. Already, the former governor has met Atiku in company with the former national chairman, Chief Adebisi Akande, and Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, in Abuja on the future of the party. Sunday New Telegraph learnt that Buhari has called all the governors on phone and personally met some of them, appealing for support. A member of the APC National Working Committee, who did not want to be named, confirmed the ongoing reconciliation. The source also said the party leadership was aware of the discontent among major stakeholders the party and was doing its best to reconcile all aggrieved interests.
When contacted, the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said he was not aware of the development and therefore would not react to it. But Governor Rochas Okorocha said does not believe in looking back but moving on. His Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, said their focus is not on how anybody emerged but on the ability of the candidates to deliver. “You will recall that Owelle had made a speech accepting the outcome of the presidential primaries and promised to work in the interest of the party. How Buhari emerged is inconsequential, the question should be if he can deliver on the aspirations of the people.
And we are saying the same for the vice-presidential candidate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. Our focus is not on who influenced what or on how they emerged; our focus is on the character of the candidates and their ability to deliver on the APC mandate. “Osinbajo, for instance, is a well groomed leader of men who can hold his ground with integrity. And if indeed the governors really wanted anybody different from the people who emerged, they would have influenced that. However, this is not the appropriate time to cast blame,” he said.
Source: New Telegraph
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