Investigations by the Nigerian Tribune revealed that leaders of the APC are currently mounting pressure on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to deploy his finances in support of the challenge against PDP in 2015.
It was learnt that a team of experts raised by party leaders on the possible financial outlay of the general election had estimated that the party would need funds in the region of N50 billion to prosecute the February elections in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
To get the resources, the committee had advised that the party tap into its traditional financiers and other well-meaning Nigerians.
It was, however, learnt that most of the traditional financiers, including state governors and some leaders, had complained of being stretched in the build-up to the December 10 national convention in Lagos.
Some party leaders were said to have complained that APC adopted the delegates option, which was quite expensive.
It was further learnt that some party chieftains were forced to deploy resources to overwhelm the support base of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, as it was becoming obvious that he was initially ahead in wooing the delegates.
Sources confirmed at the weekend that the N54 million so far raised by the Buhari campaign team was not only a far cry from the financial projections, but could hardly pay for only a few live television coverages.
The reality, according to sources, was to embark on underground sourcing of the required funds, with the source adding that one of the main targets was Atiku Abubakar.
Since his defeat at the Lagos convention, Atiku had been largely silent on party activities.
After receiving General Mohammadu Buhari, the former vice president had remained largely anonymous, with sources saying that he had, since last week, travelled out of the country to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Sources in the APC, however, revealed that since his defeat, Atiku had decided to play it cool and observe the terms of agreement he and other aspirants signed ahead of the primaries by remaining in the party.
It was, however, learnt that having been recognised as one of the key persons with required funds that could unsettle the PDP, the party, last week, kickstarted a manhunt for Atiku.
A number of party leaders were said to have reached the Turaki to deploy his financial capacity and bail the APC out of the financial crisis.
“Many of those who could deploy their resources are stepping back right now. Some of them are complaining of fatigue, having been stretched during the just concluded primaries. Not much is coming from General Buhari because his traditional financiers from outside the country are no longer forthcoming.
“The situation from the states is not that encouraging as a result of the financial travails the country is going through generally,” a source said on Sunday.
Another source said “we know Atiku has enough resources to prosecute the election and his defeat at the primaries does not mean that the funds have dried up, he only need to be prevailed upon to deploy his financial support for his party at this time.”
Sources said nothing concrete in terms of power sharing arrangement had been put in place so far by the APC, in case it wins the presidential election.
The factors to be considered include Atiku, the class of governors and some internal and external stakeholders.
But it was learnt that the meeting between Buhari and Atiku only explored things in general without a concrete promise on the power sharing.
Sources also said while some party leaders had been whispering some power sharing formula, nothing concrete had been laid on the table to enable persons like Atiku to consider deploying their resources.
Source: Tribune
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