Rotimi Amaechi, governor of Rivers state, has revived his hopes of getting the vice-presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC), launching a last-minute move to dislodge Bola Tinubu, former governor of Lagos, who had looked all set to fill the slot.
Bukola Saraki, former governor of Kwara state, as well as some APC governors are also opposed to the candidature of Tinubu.
Amaechi got the enlarged meeting of the party’s leadership in Abuja on Monday night to reset the entire selection process.
The opposition to Tinubu is based on the need to avoid a Muslim-Muslim ticket, an argument that will also knock out Babatunde Fashola, the governor of Lagos, who is well loved in many parts of Nigeria.
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Tinubu is also being opposed on the basis of his “past” ─ although his supporters argue that there is no case against him, neither has he been convicted in any court of law.
Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the party, had ceded the choice of his running mate to Tinubu as the political leader of the south-west, which is the second largest voting bloc in the country.
In his calculations, Buhari had sought to avoid the mistakes he made in the past when he picked his running mates all by himself, deciding that a major power bloc should be involved this time around.
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However, the south-west caucus of the APC met for long hours last weekend and could not come to a definite decision, but narrowed down to Tinubu and Yemi Osibajo, a professor of law and former attorney general of Lagos, as well as Adams Oshiomhole, governor of Edo state which is in the south-south region.
Buhari is said to be “unenthusiastic” about Osibajo because his gamble with Tunde Bakare, also a pastor, did not work in 2011.
But the presidential candidate is also worried about the backlash of abandoning Tinubu, who is expected to deliver the south-west in the 2015 poll.
Amaechi, who had been the biggest financier of the Buhari bid, had been left in the lurch, but his maneouvers in Abuja on Monday night may change the course of events.
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Not only has it changed the direction of the discussion, other southern zones are now making a strong case for the VP slot.
The south-east, which had initially been written off as a no-go area for Buhari, is now asking to be considered, with former ANPP chairman, Ogbonnaya Onu, former Anambra governor, Chris Ngige, and governor of Imo state, Rochas Okorocha, being given a look-in.
The enlarged meeting has now pushed the decision back to Buhari to make by himself in what will potentially put the former head of state in a tight corner.
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35 comments
Fashola’s endearment to Nigeria people transcends religious and or ethnic consideration,he has greated electoral value than Amechie and others put together. Let APC leadership realice this for them to take appropriate. Decision.
If i have my way, i will have prefer Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola converting to a christian today so that he can have a shot at the veepee role. In the alternative, I will prefer Oshiomole any day. Amaechi does not have any electoral value as far as i am concern, perhaps he can proof us wrong in the Governorship election in Rivers State
I wish to appeal to the leadership of APC to put away personal interest by ensuring that they pick the right candidate for the Vice President position. If the party want to go all out for Muslim/Muslim ticket, they should please consider Fashola because his endearment to Nigerians transcends far above religious consideration.
On the other hand,Muslim/Christian ticket, the party should either consider Oshiomole or Oshibajo than considering Amechi. Amechi has shown desperation and over ambitious for the position; he may eventually be a big problem to Buhari government.
The leaders of APC should not allow this golden opportunity to elude the party now that people of Nigeria are yearning for change.
GOD BLESS NIGERIA..
am an ibo but i love apc so much cos i need change in this country.
but made the highest mistake by bringing out buhari(it is a misselection).they suppose to put rochas as consensus cand. and make buhari the vice by this victory is assured cos all ibos will vote for their brother cos they need ibo president for many decades now. then buhari will bring all the hauses due to his popuoarity in the north,then tinubu will bring all the west and amechi will then dig it with jonathan in south south, then with this strucure no amount of rigging will stop apc from winning.
but as it is now,no south east will vote for buhari as an hausa man.
putting aside selfish political ambition of the north(born to rule),they suppose to front no other person than rochas okorocha.
I think Adam oshiomole is d best candidate as far as all south west governors are Muslim…. amechi should. wait for fashola vice president…. lobatan.
Adams Oshiomole is a Muslim
Many don’t know that.His carmeleonic manifestation have hid that knowledge from the public. You don’t know which religion he belong to.
Am i the only one thinking… Why isnt Bukola Saraki being given a look-in. He’s eloquent, youthful, straight forward enough and very bold too.
VP Bukola Saraki is the only way a Buhari presidency can make any sense whatsoever to me.
Bukola Saraki is a Muslim from Kwara State and kwara is classified as a Nothern State. Buhari is a Muslim and also from a Nothern State.
Bukola Saraki is a northerner, don’t you know this?
If Tinubu can single handedly pick Fashola as governor against all odds, who remains d projector and immediate reference point for APC and why most Nigerians are in love with APC. We have NO DOUBT IN OUR MAINDs that TINUBU is more dan capable to produce a VP that will perform better dan Fashola from Southwest. In ur pamutation d choice of Amaechi or Oshiomole to make d South South have their sense of pride in APC and in return make APC a truly national party. I have these questions for u sir! Would given south south a sense of pride in APC translate to authomatic victory for d APC? Would an average south south voter trad is vote for a Vice President instead of a President? Would it have a negative effect on d votes of d south west zone? Would an average south west voter nt feel neglected? In d scheme of things today under GEJ administration No south westerner is found from Number 1 to 7 of his cabinent, and even on d ministorial appointment list No south westerner holds any KEY ministoral position. The only way south west would feel a sense of belonging in APC is d Vice Presidential ticket other wise….. My brothers politics is all about NUMBERs and a bird at hand is worth trillions in d forest. If i were u, i ‘ll nt try to trad d sure votes of south west people for an uncertain votes from d south south and south east.
APC is sure to loose this presidential election if the front a muslim/muslim ticket. Neither do I see Tinubu conceding the slot to a non SW region. APC and Buhari are in a serious delimma
let amechi or baba oshio be since we cannot use brf because of the muslim-muslim palavar
Well, my own advice to APC is that this is the best opportunity to win the presidential election and care must be taken not to waste it. Ordinarily I could have love Buhari/Fash ticket but muslim/muslim will not work in our present situation. In that case, I will not mind Buhari and Bros Rotimi
I have said what I have to say repeatedly. Politics is not a do or die affair.
APC should consider the views of outsiders that have always predicted election outcome. Tinubu is a leader that is above VP slot and as a king maker should therefore focus on other party positions.
If APC must win this election, Muslim Muslim ticket must be discouraged and an aggressive serving Governor from almost the same state as the incumbent President must be given the VP slot. If you gamble with it, that will be the end of golden opportunity due to personal and selfish interest.
APC SHINE YOUR EYES!
For me I will say the set of people I saw In APC are not personalities that can drive this country fforward they are all desperate men, just mark my word if this men in APC takes over power in this country Sudan will be batter then Nigeria
Buhari will only win with a South-East VP!!!!!
People undermine the Igbo man forgetting that they are everywhere in this country.
Where are they? I thought they are together with the shoeless one
I have said what I have to say repeatedly. Politics is not a do or die affair.
APC should consider the views of outsiders that have always predicted election outcome. Tinubu is a well respected leader that is above VP slot and as a king maker should therefore focus on other party issues.
If APC must win this election, Muslim Muslim ticket must be discouraged and an aggressive serving Governor from almost the same state as that of President must be given the VP slot. If you gamble with it, that will be the end of golden opportunity due to personal and selfish interest.
APC SHINE YOUR EYES!
This is getting too tardy. Once you decide to run for office you must anticipate next steps quickly. GMB is making a very slow job of this and the longer it takes the potentially rancorous it would be. The last thing Nigeria needs is a weak or weakened opposition.
Considering all the constraints and options, Adam Oshiomole is the best candidate. Buhari/Oshiomole ticket is a guaranteed win.
If APC gives a Muslim/Muslim ticket, I am telling you buhari that is the greatest mistake you will make. APC should just remove sentiment and take Amechi as running mate. APC should mark my word.
Amaechi is the BEST candidate for the VP slot…
This is a tough decision to make. It is so because it will determine the percentage of votes Buhari gets from the south. For me, a Fashola VP will comand over 80% of the votes in the SW, but what can he comand from the SE where-apart from being a muslim, the deported souls will make serious fuzz…; Amaechi is good but I would not pick an overambitious fellow as a vice; Though Oshibajo is a topranking RCCG pastor, this can only be an advantage if the church will “visible” put her wieght behind him, if not he will end up like another Fola Adeola; though TInubu is the reason why the party is this strong in the west, there is a lot of bad blood for him even in the region; if i were in Buhari’s shoes I would consider someone like the charismatic and hardworking Rochas. The guy has performed well in Imo, all the Ibo guys I have discussed him with feel he is a great guy. Srictly my thoughts.
I think what Nigerians really want is change of power and comfort of the comoner, end to corruption leaders and peace roundabout the country so if that is what Nigerians are asking for; What we need is competent President not V P
Who so ever pick from APC to be the V P those not matter once the President is capable of acting
Forget about muslim+muslim U can’t win
Let’s no be sentimental. Let’s leave religious,ethnicity and tribalism out of this matter. Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN,Governor of Lagos is the best candidate because of his political credentials. Rotimi Amaechi is equally good politically. If APC as a party is serious about bringing change coming 2015,they should consider one the above named persons.
Muslim+Muslim ticket will not work so APC should short-list the VP candidates to Amaechi, Oshomole and Rochas. They should be screened by the party leadership for the best or they settle for a consensus candidate.
I plead with all stakeholders in APC not to allow the choice of a VP cause rancour and disaffection among them so much that they will start working against the goal of the party in 2015 elections. There will always be enough position to go round if victory is achieved in 2015 at the presidential level. If not for the low level of our political development and tolerance, a Buhari/Fashola ticket would be a widely accepted option. But Fashola and any of the contenders who may not be chosen can still play major roles in Buhari’s government which we hope will put smiles back on the faces of the Nigerian masses. I beg Buhari,Tinubu, Amaechi, Atiku, Fashola, Oshiomole, Fayemi, Kwakwanso, Rochas and all the stakeholders to exhibit enough tolerance so as not to play into the hands of PDP again. Nigerians are looking up to you to deliver us from the hands of a decietful and retrogressive government. Please don’t shatter our hopes. Thank you. May God save Nigeria and Nigerians.
God bless you @ Larry. I’ll keep saying it all over again. GMB needs a Yoruba man as his deputy (Osibanjo or Fayemi), when victory comes 2015 which I strongly believe it will come to pass, Amaechi should be rewarded with Minister of Petroleum for his hardworking and dedication, FASHOLA can be Attorney general of the federation and like that, position will rotate based on hard-work and achievements by each individual who contributed to the victory. Please stakeholders, choose wisely. We desperately want CHANGE…
Pls if we all don’t want GEJ after all he has done for the future that buhari destroyed wen he took out shagari in a military coup, am sure if he let democracy flow, by now we should have found our messiah who would have giving us electric fast train ND electricity in my generation, am lucky I was born during general olusegun obasanjos rule as a military ruler ND saw all others till GEJ, ND for the record buhari happened to b one of the leaders I saw growing up, I promise u I didn’t c an electric speed train project or constant electricity bcos it was in their regime that everyone used to use lantern also known as(atupa) ND we had loads of death from cooking gas explosion in homes due to lightening ur lantern in d early ours of the morning so can c ND someone forgot to turn of d gas properly or leaking, but now cos we r building d nation without lanterns ND cooking gas deaths, u want to take me back to d past, an over 80 year old man telling me about technology, yes Obama hasn’t been fantastic in his government, but pls I would choose an Obama to a mugabe, so I am asking someone to convince me y I must vote buhari to GEJ? In 5 minutes or my vote is for GEJ sealed. If apc r coming to change as promised, then buhari should never b their presidential candidate ND by now they shouldn’t b talking about Muslim Muslim or Muslim Christian vote or its now a religious tussle, if it is? Then I think Nigeria is an Islamic country where by the 2 largest parties in d country where formed by the Muslim leaders, ND if u check it Nigeria has more Muslim governors ND Muslim Oba’s in lagos. So please wots this talk about Muslim Muslim ticket? Pls 5 minutes anyone
Amaechi for VP, Fashola for SGF or Attorney General of the Federation
Buari/ Oshibajo is a good combination but wvhat role will APC give to Amechi. I am in a dilemma. Amechi is v competent as a vp. But the party has decided. Period.
Anyway, I know it is an obdurate time for the APC in deciding who the VP should be. They should choose wisely for the sake of winning the election. If Tinubu is a patriotic leader I don’t think this would make him back-off, but am sorry, if he is not APC may even loose in Lagos State. I have my reasons which I do not want to disclose. Truly, muslim/muslim ticket is a very bad option for APC. They should try to convince Nigerians that Buhari is not trying to islamise Nigeria by choosing the right VP which in my very own opinion should be a christain. Though Oshiomole has a good political background (not too bad), I see Rotimi has more potential of delivering the South-South and no matter how stubborn he may be, he would not be able to toy with GMB. To this end, I would pick Amaechi if and only if Tinubu will not back-off. Thank you.
If the APC is serious of convincing Christians that the party is not an islamic one they should choose a credible christian and Technocrat as the VP. Pastor (Prof) Yemi Osinbajo have these qualities