2023: What Buhari told Tinubu, Osinbajo, Amaechi, other presidential aspirants to fight for APC ticket

Ahead of the Presidential election in Nigeria, the source from the presidency has revealed what President Muhammadu Buhari told presidential aspirants in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The source revealed that President Buhari told the APC presidential aspirants who fighting for the ticket of the party to go to the field and sell their candidatures to the electorate.

Buhari did not ask any of those who consulted him to either run or drop their ambitions, the Punch Newspaper reports.

Rather, the President was quoted to have advised them not to compromise the integrity of the APC and the Federal Government in their campaigns.

Newsflash Nigeria gathered that about eight aspirants in the party have declared their interest in taking over from President Buhari when his tenure expires on May 29, 2023.

The aspirants are Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; a former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi; Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello; a businessman, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim; a former governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha; and Ihechukwu Dallas Chima.

Newsflash Nigeria also confirmed that the Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi had informed Buhari of his intention to seek the APC presidential ticket.

Fayemi visited Buhari two weeks ago and informed him to run for President and would declare his aspiration at the end of the ongoing Ramadan.

The Presidency source said though Buhari spoke differently to the aspirants when they met with him, it would be difficult for any of them to claim to have gotten the President’s endorsement.

The source said, “I think the President was being careful when he met with each of them on their presidential aspirations. He specifically told them to be careful in their campaigns.

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“He also asked them to go ahead with their campaigns and that he would be watching them from afar. Besides that, he asked them if they were popular enough to win and if they felt they could deliver the presidency to the ruling party. As expected, all of them answered in the affirmative.

“The President also interrogated them on their programmes and if they equally believed in his administration or not.”

Asked what some of the aspirants told the President, the source said, “All they said was that they wanted to contest the presidency on the platform of the APC and that they would need his support. They did not ask for his permission.

“But I think only one of them actually sought his permission and asked if he should join the race. I will not reveal the name of the candidate so that you do not think that is the man the President will support.”

Recall that the President had expressed fear that his preferred aspirant might be “eliminated” if he was known now.

Buhari said this during an exclusive interview with Channels Television in January while noting that he had no special interest in the 2023 presidential election.

“It is not my problem,” he replied when asked about the next presidential election, adding, “I am not interested. I believe that whoever wins the poll should be sworn in as the next leader of Nigeria.

“All important things have been documented. No one should ask me to appear before the court to give evidence on any issue (public funds). All important things are already on record. I am sure about that,” he added.

When asked about his favourite presidential candidate, the President replied, “I won’t tell you my favourite for 2023; he may be eliminated if I mention. I better keep it a secret.”

One of the aspirants, however, confirmed that the President permitted him to enter the presidential race.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, he said he could not have entered the race without the consent of the President.

“You think I would enter into this race without securing the permission of the President? It is not possible,” he said.

Meanwhile, some of the aspirants have been making moves to secure the attention of the President.

For example, Fayemi followed the President to his office on Thursday after the Council of State meeting in Abuja on Thursday.

The governor, who is also the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, flaunted the attention given to him by the President on his Twitter handle with his picture and that of Buhari.

He wrote, “Walking with the President to his office after the Council of State meeting today. I am always impressed with his deep insights on many issues borne out of years of experience. We all have a lot to learn.”

Fayemi’s comment, however, attracted criticisms from some social media users, who asked the Ekiti governor what he had to learn from the President they believed had failed.

One @henryshiled said, “Kayode, Nigerians are still missing from the bombed train, over 130 killed in Plateau, 20 killed in Benue a few days ago, diesel is almost N1,000, national grid down, hyperinflation destroying homes. Why do you think your picture with the cause of our problem deserves attention?”

In his comment, Franklin Adebayo, said via @Franklinbayo, “My governor is learning from a President that plunged the country into recession twice, under him Nigeria picks the poverty capital of the world. He said he is impressed by his deep insight into many issues. Ha! And Fayemi would one day wish to be my president o.”

Meanwhile, it was gathered that Buhari would reveal his preferred candidate in May before the conduct of the party’s primaries.

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