2015: Tinubu Dumps Buhari, Atiku For Kwankwaso
There are strong indications that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu may have
dumped General Mohammadu Buhari and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar
for Kano Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
As the race for who picks the All Progressive Congress' (APC) flag heats
up, Pointblanknews.com has learnt that Tinubu has switched interest, just
as he has told General Muhammadu Buhari to back a younger, more dynamic
and “fresh candidate.”
Sources hinted that Tinubu had never toyed with idea of a Buhari candidate
so when Atiku came he assured the former vice president of his support.
Sundry issue we learnt informed this. Atiku is viewed as a more marketable
candidate and a man many in the south can trust when it comes to the issue
of Islam.
A source privy to a recent meeting with some followers of the former Lagos
State Governor hinted Pointblanknews.com that Tinubu is much more
favorably disposed to Kwankwaso as the APC Presidential candidate.
“Asiwaju is prefers Kwankwaso to others because he seem to be a breath of
fresh air. We do not want to toy with any Presidential candidate. We want
someone who can win and who can appeal to voters,” the source who does not
want to be named hinted.
Although, it is yet to be seen if such moves will augur well for the
already fragmented opposition party. A chieftain of the party who does not
want to be named told Pointblanknews.com: “we are more divided now than
before and as it stands now, we are going to be more divided ahead of the
primaries.”
Last Saturday Atiku hosted a forum on twitter with the hashtag, meetAtiku,
where took sundry questions from Nigerians at home and in the diaspora on
his ambition and vision.
A group in the South-west zone has also endorsed Atiku as the
presidential candidate of the party in the 2015 presidential
election. The caucus, known as the Atiku Abubakar Collectives, made the
announcement of its endorsement of the former Vice-President at an
interactive session with Atiku.The group, which members were drawn from
the six states of the South-west and Kogi State, is led by Chief Bode
Ajewole.
It was gathered that Tinubu was one of those who has been urging Kwankwaso
on for a while. Kwankwaso is seen as young and dynamic, and also a “fresh
pair of legs” unlike Atiku and Buhari.
However, while Atiku appears more liberal, Kwankwaso and Buhari are viewed
as too passionate about Islam and sharia. Kwankwaso has what he calls the
Hisbah police that punish those who run beer salons. Kwankwaso's Hisbah
police destroyed recently more than 240,000 bottles of beer.
The 240,000 bottles of beer weren't the only thing destroyed in the
operation; more than 8000 litres of a local alcoholic brew called
“burukutu” and 320,000 cigarettes were also wiped out.
“We hope that this measure will help restore the tarnished image of Kano,”
said Aminu Daurawa.
The destruction of the bottles of beer follows several operations
initiated by Hisbah after the governor of Kano State, Rabiu Musa
Kwankwaso, vowed to clean up the city of its “immoral practices.”
The Hisbah, founded in 2001, is a police force established by the state
government to enforce Sharia. Hisbah works alongside civilian police and
has 9,000 members.
Considering the fact that most of those affected by the activities of
Hisbah are southerners, his candidature may be a head scratcher for them.
While Atiku, whose wife is from the south-west has some appeals down
south, his track record does not help him at all. He is believed to be
wanted in the United States for his role in the Halliburton deal.
As a matter of fact, the Mike Okiro panel indicted him alongside General
Olusegun Obasanjo and a former GMD of NNPC, Funsho Kupolokun got $74
million from the slush fund.
Another problem the pro Kwankwaso and Atiku groups are looking at is how
Buhari will take his rejection. One thing is clear, aside from his
perceived pro sharia stance, Buhari appears the most credible of the
three.
Therefore, considering how he reacted the last time, if he is dumped, it
may affect the electoral fortunes of Kwankwaso or Atiku in Buhari's zone..
Even if Buhari accepts the decision, there are fears most of his
supporters may not support any other which could spell doom for the APC.
From the last election figures , Buhari will still not get many votes in
the South South, South East, South West and North central. So even if his
supporters throw eight behind Kwankwaso, the Kano Governor would still
have a herculean task down south.
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