Atiku Ready to Declare for Presidency, APC Plans for National Convention
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar
By Onyebuchi Ezigbo
By Onyebuchi Ezigbo
There are indications that former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar is set
to make good his intention to seek the presidential ticket of his new
party, All Progressives Congress (APC), ahead of the 2015 elections.
Atiku's plan to declare for the presidency is coming on the heels of
moves by the leadership of the APC to commence consultations on the
guidelines for the presidential primaries and preparatory to the party’s
national convention scheduled for December.
The party, THISDAY gathered, might have slated its presidential primary
election for November, ahead of the December national convention where
the party's flag-bearer is expected to emerge.
The National Publicity Secretary of APC, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, while
explaining APC’s plan of action at the weekend said that the party's
leadership would soon meet to approve the guidelines for the party's
presidential primaries.
THISDAY also learnt from reliable sources that baring any last minute
hitches, the former vice-president is set to declare his intention to
contest for the presidency in 2015.
Atiku has never hidden his desire to rule Nigeria and contested for the
number one job on the platform of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in
2007. He however lost to the late President Umaru Yar’Adua.
He also sought the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2011, after his return to the party, but again lost to President Goodluck Jonathan.
He also sought the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2011, after his return to the party, but again lost to President Goodluck Jonathan.
If Atiku makes good his promise and declares for presidency for the
third time, he will be squaring up against another formidable contender,
former military Head of State, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari who has
already started setting up his structures for the presidential campaign.
An informed source who spoke to a group of reporters at the weekend on
Atiku's presidential ambition, confirmed that the frontline APC
chieftain had embarked on extensive consultations with stakeholders at
home and abroad.
THISDAY also learnt that Atiku, apart from relying on his extensive contacts, has developed an all-encompassing road map designed to tackle most of the sore challenges staring the country in the face, ranging from security, unity and equity to socio-economic development.
THISDAY also learnt that Atiku, apart from relying on his extensive contacts, has developed an all-encompassing road map designed to tackle most of the sore challenges staring the country in the face, ranging from security, unity and equity to socio-economic development.
The former vice-president is said to be planning to embark on what has
been tagged the “Atiku Peace Tour” that will take his delegation to key
places and people nationwide.
“The former vice-president and his newly formed team shall be
interfacing with diverse religious and professional bodies locally and
in the international arena,” the source disclosed.
His mission, according to the source, would be to gauge the pulse of
the people on the many troubles bedevilling the country with the aim of
finding genuine and lasting solutions to them.
Atiku, who is believed to be a strong advocate of interfaith dialogue
as a way of reducing tension in the land, may actually begin his
campaign by taking messages of peaceful co-existence, true nationalism
and an end to religious fanaticism and extremism that have led to
violence.
The source further indicated that what the Turaki of Adamawa intends to
achieve this time around, is the need to foster a harmonious working
relationship between Christians, Muslims and traditional believers in
order to have all hands on deck to rebuild Nigeria.
Another close aide of the former vice-president said his boss would be
seeking to exploit his detribalised stance and unlimited networking
contacts within and outside the country during the meet-the-people tour
to rekindle their patriotic zeal, duty to country and responsibility to
society.
“To make good his promise, Atiku was also said to have built a solid
intellectual and people-based capacity and competence reservoir to be
unveiled in the coming weeks,” the source said.
Atiku had promised recently that he would unfold his next political plan soon after the conclusion of the Muslim Ramadan fast.
Atiku had promised recently that he would unfold his next political plan soon after the conclusion of the Muslim Ramadan fast.