In a bid to step up survival battle to remain in position ahead of the 2015 elections, Vice President Namadi Sambo has launched a drive to mobilise support for both President Goodluck Jonathan and himself across the North West zone and other parts of the north.
This is in response to recent calls from some northern youth groups and a clique politicians, who believe the Vice President has neither helped the north with his position nor promotes the interest of the region, as the most senior northerner in Jonathan’ administration.
Sunday Independent gathered that already some northern youth groups and politicians, regardless of party affiliations have tipped Katsina State governor, Ibrahim Shema for simple reason that he hails from late Umaru Yar’Adua’s State, Jigawa Governor, Sule Lamido, for his doggedness and popularity and Niger governor, Babangida Aliyu, due to his position as the Chairman, Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF).
In twos and threes, in some high profile social and political circles, it is being discussed in hushed and sometimes, animated tones that distinguished member of the House of Representatives, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has her eyes on the Lagos governorship seat. The seat becomes vacant after the expiration of the illustrious tenure of the incumbent Governor Babatunde Fashola next year.
For the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, especially the Godfather of southwest politics, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the issue of Fashola’s successor has been a hot-button issue considering the importance of the state on one hand, the continuation of Fashola’s legacies and the need to ensure whoever succeeds him does not lower the bar of governance on the other hand.
Of course, a lot of politicians and technocrats have shown keen interest in succeeding Fashola, however, there are insinuations that Asiwaju Tinubu is more disposed to a Christian technocrat given that only Muslims have ruled the state since the return to democracy.
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