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2019: Tinubu downplays Okorocha, other govs’ endorsement of Buhari, says their ‘opinion does not really matter’

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Tinubu loses out in APC power play as NEC extends Oyegun’s tenure

The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, Wednesday downplayed the endorsement of President Muhammadu Buhari for second term by some governors of the APC, including Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha’s, claiming that overall, Buhari had been endorsed by 34 governors in the country across party lines.

Tinubu insisted that party would follow its duly stipulated internal constitutional process in picking its flagbearer, noting that Buhari was a sworn believer in the democratic process.

He said, “No governors can appropriate the power of endorsement to themselves”, adding, “an individual or group’s opinion does not really matter at this stage”.

Read also: 2019: ‘God has chosen’ Buhari to be president and 34 governors support his reelection- Okorocha

Rochas had made his comments Tuesday while addressing leaders of the Democratic Youths Congress for Buhari 2019, stating that, “I am a believer of Buhari and I made it clear years ago that if President Buhari is running for president, I will not run.

“Now God has chosen him to be the president of Nigeria and some of us are witnesses that Buhari was and is still the best for Nigeria at this material time.

“Supporting Buhari for a second tenure will bring about the new Nigeria we are talking about. This will put Nigeria first and the unity we are looking for will be guaranteed under this administration”.

Also on Tuesday, some prominent political leaders from the North-Central region of the country had called on Buhari to seek re-election during the 2019 general elections in the country.

The group expressed their support for Buhari’s second term to during the North Central meeting of the National Committee of Buhari Support Groups in Abuja.

Notable members of the group include: Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, Governor Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State, and Senator George Akume.

A motion seeking endorsement of Buhari for second term was moved by Senator Akume and was was seconded by Governor Lalong of Plateau state.

The motion was thereafter unanimously adopted by the audience comprising APC stalwarts from the zone.

Following the decision, Governor Ortom declared that, “For 2019, there is no credible presidential candidate for the APC other than Buhari.”

But Tinubu, following a meeting with the leaders of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, at the residence of the leader of the organisation, Pa. Reuben Fasoranti, in Akure, the Ondo State capital, disagreed with such endorsements.

Tinubu was at the meeting with the Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, his deputy, Agboola Ajayi and the Acting Chairman of the APC in the state, Ade Ademehin.

Speaking with journalists after the meeting, he said, “No governors can appropriate the power of endorsement to themselves. Buhari is a believer in the process. The Buhari, I know, believes in the rule of law. We wanted him even before the last convention and primary of the party and Akeredolu is here standing with me, he was not the governor then. He was one of the leading delegates that voted properly and Buhari was a clear winner.

He added, “We followed all the constitutional provision and an individual or group’s opinion does not really matter at this stage, Buhari will want a normal process. Buhari that, I know, who says he will lose at any convention? But if the national body, the NEC (National Executive Committee) and all of us as members endorsed him as our single candidate, we will not be violating INEC regulations, we will not be violating our party constitution.

“What you are hearing is just a campaign by other people who might like to do so. Buhari has not excluded anybody, and he has not infringed on anybody’s ambition if there is. We cannot be sycophantic about it.”

 

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0 Comments

  1. yanju omotodun

    November 23, 2017 at 2:36 am

    Tinubu is a controversial man, you can’t know his mind

  2. Balarabe musa

    November 23, 2017 at 3:14 am

    You are right tinubu, baba buhari believes in due process

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