Oshiomole, Fashola reject Vice President slot offer by ACN …Usman Bugaje to run for Presidency …Ribadu says I'm still consulting …Explains why the INEC job offer fell through
Moves by some forces within the Action Congress of Nigeria A.CN to ensure the emergence of Lagos Governor, Babatunde Fashola, or his Edo State counterpart, Adams Oshiomole as Vice Presidential candidate to their eventual flag bearer, may have failed.
Gov. Fashola
This is coming on the heels of anxiety within the top echelon of the party about dearth of formidable presidential hopefuls coming forward, with less than four weeks to the party's National Convention. Pointblanknews.com learnt that so far only the National Secretary, Usman Bugaje has showed interest, while that of Ex EFCC boss , Nuhu Ribadu is till on ice, as he is yet to formally join the party. There are however speculations that Ribadu could be adopted when he eventually joins the party.
Ribadu who told Pointblanknews.com that he was still consulting, explained why the invitation by President Goodluck Jonathan to be part of his administration did not materialize.
Pointblanknews.com learnt that after wide consultation by the duo of Fashola and Oshiomole, they responded with a 'no thanks' . According to our source, both Governors were handicapped by the bird in hand factor.
“ Both of them are very formidable VP candidates. Even though the party has not openly said it would zone the position, from all indications the eventual candidate would be a northerner. So they had to look for a formidable VP from the south, preferably, the south-south, or south-west. But both men, who still have years to be state chief executives, saw their presemt position as a bird in hand, being worth two in the bush. They are not too sure the AC can wrestle power from the PDP in the middle.”
Our source continued, “ The implication is, if they decide to run as VP, they have to vacate their seat, and if they should lose , that would be a disaster and personal setbacks”
Spokesman for the A.CN , Lai Mohammed, in a telephone chat said the party was not disturbed by the slow emergence of formidable aspirants. He said the party was looking for a younger, dynamic, candidate with a great deal of integrity.
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Mohammed who described the move to adopt Ribadu, and make either Oshiomole or Fashola VP as mere speculation said “ Ribadu is not yet a member, but we will welcome him. As we speak only Dr Usman Bugaje has showed interest, but he too is still consulting. “
The party spokesman however said “ We are having our convention by the end of September, after that we will come out with guidelines for primaries. But I can assure you, latest by end of November or early December we will have a presidential candidate…we also have not zoned the position “
One of Ribadu's spokesperson, Dapo Olorunyomi described claims by presidency sources that the ex EFCC boss was bent of becoming the nation's chief security adviser, as far from the truth .
According to him “ it is like they are genuinely disturbed by his (Ribadu) prospects of joining the race, its like anxiety is already mounting..that was not what happened ”
While confirming that Ribadu was still consulting, and would make his intentions known soon, disclosed that President Jonathan made promises of making Ribadu anti- corruption czar, INEC boss or security adviser. He said there were promises and consultations by the presidency but nothing concrete came out of it.
Olorunyomi said “ You offered him but there was nothing concrete. It was just word of mouth…At no time did he insist on anything. They said Special Adviser, INEC, then security adviser, but there was nothing concrete…so I don't know where they got this from”