POLITICS

Buhari Breaks 2011 Pledge, Runs for President Again

APC chieftain Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) may have broken a pledge he made in 2011 by declaring his intention to take part in the APC presidential primaries already slated for October 16-18. His formal declaration is expected on or before October11, but, at a media briefing on September 30, he openly indicated that he would seek the office in 2015.

Toward the end of his presidential campaign in 2011, Buhari announced that it would be his last shot at the presidency. He wept. He later explained that he wept for the masses of Nigeria who would keep suffering if he was not elected.

The former head of state, it seems, has not resisted pressure from his associates most of whom hope to ride to power at his back. In the next few days, he will announce his bid to run for president in next year’s election under the platform of the APC which he helped to co-found.  A fortnight ago, he said he would make his intention known after the Sallah.  This will be his fourth attempt since 2003.

Buhari will be joining a long line of APC presidential aspirants. On September 24, former vice-president Atiku Abubakar declared his interest. The first to declare, without organising a carnival like Atiku, is Mr Sam Nda-Isaiah, a pharmacist and publisher of LEADERSHIP newspapers. Others expected to declare soon are Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and former Kwara governor Bukola Saraki.

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has since accepted to bury his ambition of running as Buhari’s deputy, to avoid a Muslim-Muslim ticket. Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo and Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers seem to be angling for running mate. But Tinubu may pick the eventual winner’s running mate from the south-west. Names that have been mentioned include Hon. Abike Dabiri-Elewa and outgoing Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State.

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