In far away Cote d’Ivoire, President Muhammadu Buhari hinted at running for a second term in office, in an interactive session with Nigerians living in that country. In this report, IBRAHEEM MUSA, BODE OLAGBOKE and ELEOJO IDACHABA, look at the build up to the ‘declaration’.
In politics, the more things change, the more they remain the same and this is not peculiar to Nigeria. Actors, platforms and manifestoes may change but essentially, politicians are birds of the same feather when seeking for power.
In this regard, President Muhammadu Buhari, the harbinger of change, is in the same boat with the unscrupulous breed of power brokers. In particular, recent events point clearly to a second term and the president, in far away Cote d’Ivoire, dropped hint that he will re-contest in 2019 as widely speculated. However, the speculations were not idle guesswork but a deduction from a series of events in the last one or two odd months.
Softening the ground
First, governors and senior government officials, under the aegis of Buhari Support Group(BSG), opened a campaign office at Utako district of Abuja. Simultaneously, National Committee of the Buhari Support Group(NCBSG), led by Senator Abu Ibrahim, went to the presidential villa and met with Buhari behind closed doors. Thereafter, calls for Buhari to re-contest in 2019, across geo-political lines, reached a crescendo.
Afterwards, Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi state, a Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) top hat , came calling to Aso Rock on November 9. The governor, behind closed doors, met with the president and thereafter, he joined the Buhari-for-second-term chorus, to the amazement of his party and Igbo kinsmen. Afterwards, the president made an official visit to the South east, after several botched attempts.
In 2015, Buhari polled the least scores in that geopolitical zone and the official visits, according to analysts, was a way of reaching out to Igboland.
Next week, the president will pay a two day visit to Kano state, ending complaints that he had never visited the state that gave him the highest votes, the last 30 moths in office.
Last Monday, President Buhari inaugurated a tripartite committee, to review the national minimum wage. The committee, comprising 30 members, had representatives from Labour, the government and Organised Private Sector. The next day, he jetted out to Abidjan, the Ivorian capital, with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom state and Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, the Bauchi state governor in tow, for the 5th European Union-African Union Summit.
Afterwards, the president addressed the Nigerian community in Cote d’Ivoire, where he dropped hint that he will seek re-election. Significantly, the president is in a campaign mode and the open declaration will just be a matter of time.
Govs’ endorsement
Before then, governors have been falling all over themselves, endorsing Buhari for a second term bid. On September 16, the APC Stakeholders in Kaduna state met and endorsed Governor Nasir El Rufai and President Buhari for a second term.
The endorsement, according to them, was done ‘’without prejudice to the right of other party members to seek these offices.’’ Similarly, Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina, the president’s home state, said APC fully supports all of Buhari’s policies and programmes and they have endorsed him for a second term. In addition, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state threw his weight behind the president, describing him as “the most popular, respected and most incorrigible presidential material’’.
Also, Chief Samuel Ortom, the Benue state governor, gave thumbs up for the president’s re-election, as according to him, ‘’there is no credible candidate as far as I know that has the capacity to take Nigeria out of where we are today.’’ Governor Umahi, a PDP ranking member, had thrown caution to the wind and endorsed Buhari for a second term.
According to him, ‘’any first term governor would want to go for a second term. And if what you wish yourself, you should be honest enough to wish another person the same. Since Mr President is doing his first term and I am doing my first term, it’s my wish to re-contest and I will as well wish the president the same to re-contest.”
Support groups follow suit
On October 27, Senator Ibrahim led the National Committee of NCBSG to Aso Rock and met with the president behind closed doors . In a PowerPoint presentation, NCBSG told the President that they have a massive, diverse and grassroots base, which would strive to mobilise young Nigerians to become drivers of the administration’s programmes and achievements.
Speaking to State House correspondents after the meeting, Senator Ibrahim said the president is left with no choice but to contest the 2019 presidential election.
According to him, the issue of 2019 did not come up at their meeting but the group believes in Buhari’s ability, especially to guarantee the progress, stability and prosperity of the nation. Senator Ibrahim said the group was not pressuring Buhari to re-contest per se, but it ‘’ only discussed the programmes of the organization and problems of the group.’’ Personally, the senator said that he believes in Buhari’s ‘’philosophy and l believe he can solve the problems of this nation. He can ensure the progress, stability and prosperity of this nation.”
Simultaneously, BSO commissioned its office at Abuja, with governors, ministers and top government officials in attendance. Specifically, edifice is at POW Majemi Crescent, Utako district of Abuja and the Buharists, as they call themselves, were led by retired Col Hameed Ali, the Comptroller General of Customs.
Similarly, Governor Abubakar of Bauchi state, Alhaji Yahaya, the governor of Kogi state and Plateau State governor, Mr Simon Lalong were at the occasion. In addition, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, his Federal Capital Territory(FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, Defence Minister Mansur Mohammed Dan Ali and Minister of Niger Delta, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani, including the Minister of State for Health, Osagie Ehanire, also attended the occasion and Sen Olorunnibe Mamorah chaired it.
Buhari turns a new leaf
After the solidarity visit and endorsements, the president has noticeably become more politically savvy. On October 27, he had invited the leadership of the National Assembly to a dinner but the event was botched over security mix up at the villa gate. At the proposed dinner, he wanted to lobby the law makers ahead of the presentation of the 2018 budget proposals.
The dinner, according to reports, was scheduled to hold at 8:30 pm inside the new Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and other top presidency officials in attendance .
In anger, the lawmakers turned back, according to reports, at the Pilot Gate of the Presidential Villa because security men had insisted on subjecting them to individual screening. Later, Senate President Bukola Saraki and House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara met with Buhari at his official residence.
Subsequently, the president apologized to them over the incident at the gate. Significantly, both the planned dinner and apology are a marked departure of Buhari of old, whose penchant for being cold towards the legislature is common knowledge, according to analysts.
Courting the party
Similarly, President Buhari had always given his party a wide berth since assuming office. Specifically, APC has been alienated from the government as its inputs are never sought in making appointments.
In addition, APC national secretariat is burdened with unpaid workers’ salaries, utility bills and running expenses. NEC meetings have been irregular and the last it was held was in March.
Ideally, NEC meetings should hold three time in a year but it has become an annual affair. In the same vein, APC has not held its mid term national convention, in the last two years, in violation of its constitution.
According to Article 25(A)9(i) of its constitution, the national convention shall be held once in two years at a date, venue and time to be recommended by the National Working Committee and approved by NEC, subject to the issuance of the statutory notice to the Independent Electoral Commission(INEC). At least, a 14-day notice should be given to eligible members to attend. As yet, APC has no Board of Trustees chairman and both Tinubu and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former vice president, are allegedly jockeying for the seat.
Generally, a section of the party hierarchy, according to reports, is not comfortable with the John Oyegun-led NWC and sometime ago, the aggrieved had written to the president, calling for urgent intervention to prevent ‘’avoidable and unnecessary intra-party cracks.’’ The group, led by Hon Omolayo Akintola, said that they written to the national chairman, tabling their grievances to no avail. To this end, the APC non NWC (NEC) members’ Forum, as the so called renegades call themselves, decided to write Buhari as a last resort. So, from grumbling within and outside NEC, a showdown seemed inevitable at the Tuesday meeting.
However, in a deft political move, President Buhari met with party caucus on Monday to defuse the tension, ahead of the NEC meeting. In particular, the caucus meeting comprised Senate president Saraki, House Speaker Dogara and other top leaders.
Afterwards, Tinubu met the president separately and thereafter, he was ambushed by State House correspondents. Point bank, he denied any rift with Buhari but he parried the question over the president’s second term.
Expanding the Federal Executive Council
Significantly, at the last NEC meeting, President Buhari announced plans to expand the Federal Executive Council, an indication more ministers are to be appointed into the cabinet. In effect, this will accommodate wider interests and eliminate disaffection within APC.
According to him, ‘’the compressed Federal Executive Council will be expanded to bring in more supporters at Federal Level, with fresh ideas to be injected into the government.’’ In addition, the president also thanked the governors of the party and the leadership of the National Assembly, especially for their contribution to governance. The president, an inside source said, ‘’is ready to walk his talk. One thing about Buhari is that he doesn’t make frivolous promises.’’
Significantly, there will be a major cabinet reshuffle and new ministries will be created and largely, the party and state governors will make nominations, according to the source. Already, some of the nominees have undergone screening, he told Blueprint Weekend.
In 2015, Buhari almost single-handedly formed his cabinet with little or no input from the party and state governors. Naturally, this solo effort drew flak from party faithful and from the outset, this caused a lot of bad blood.
Similarly, the choice of ambassadorial nominees was done in the same manner but state governors protested and the list was cancelled. The president, this time around, wants to avoid past mistakes but analysts see it in different light.
Last Friday, a Kaduna-based public affairs commentator, Malam Mohammed Isa, told Blueprint Weekend our correspondent that ‘’ the president’s change of heart is all part of the politics of 2019.’’
Courting Tinubu
Almost from the beginning, stories started flying around that all was not well between Asiwaju Tinubu, the party leader and President Buhari.
First, the disaffection centred around the emergence of the National Assembly leadership, where Senator Bukola Saraki and Honorable Yakubu Dogara emerged Senate president and House Speaker respectively.
The duo, in a keen contest, defeated Tinubu’s candidates to the chagrin of the strong man of South west politics. In particular, Tinubu had supported Senator Ahmad Lawan from Yobe state to head the 8th Senate but Saraki, in defiance to party position, reached out to the opposition PDP senators and struck a deal. In the end, he defeated Senator Lawan. Similarly, Dogara reached out to Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambawal, the Sokoto state governor and immediate past Speaker, to defeat Femi Gbajabiamilla, Asiwaju’s candidate. Significantly, the president was also angry with Saraki and Dogara, according to reports, but somehow Tinubu blamed him for his candidates defeat.
Similarly, the Kogi state gubernatorial race had pitched Tinubu against Buhari. Before results were announced, the APC governorship candidate Prince Abubakar Audu had died, rendering the election inconclusive. Consequently, a political and legal riddle ensued as opinions were divided on whether the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC), should announce Mr James Faleke, Prince Audu’s running mate and Tinubu’s protégée, the winner of the gubernatorial poll. In the end, APC sent Alhaji Yahaya Bello’s name to INEC as Audu’s replacement and Tinubu felt slighted.
In Ondo state, a similar script played out when Tinubu supported Mr Olusegun Abraham who was defeated at the September 2016 primaries. In the end, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu emerged victorious but Asiwaju alleged thatb the delegates’ list was tinkered with. In fact, APC raised a panel to investigate his claim and it recommend a repeat poll. However, the recommendation was observed in the breach as Akeredolu’s name was submitted to INEC. As a result, Tinubu allegedly threw his weight behind Chief Olusola Oke, the Alliance for Democracy (AD) candidate.
Subsequently, he boycotted the rally on November 19, which was attended by the president and other party chieftains. In addition, Tinubu’s allies like Governors Rauf Aregbesola of Osun and Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, the Lagoos state governor, were conspicuously absent at the rally which held at Democracy Park, Akure.
However, in spite of these differences, the duo of Buhari and Tinubu managed to keep a calm façade, insisting that all was well. But beneath the surface, the president’s aides were doing everything, according to a source, ‘’to cut Tinubu to size.’’
Last Tuesday, the president ended all speculations when he included Tinubu, along with Governor Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom and Alhaji Mohammed, his Bauchi state counterpart. Specifically, pictures of the entourage, all smile in the presidential jet, were generally splashed in the media.
The Abidjan declaration
In far-away Abidjan, Buhari had hinted that he may seek re-election in 2019 last Tuesday, where he participated in the 5th European Union-African Union Summit.
Addressing Nigerians in Cote D’Ivoire, the president said if the Nigerian community there informs other Nigerians that some state governors accompanied him to the meeting, that would earn him more votes in the future.
First, Buhari apologized for keeping coming late to the meeting but gave reasons. According to the president, he had insisted that Governors Emmanuel and Abubakar should attend the interaction with them. ‘’This is why I came along with them, so that when we’re going to meet you, when you’re going to meet the rest of Nigerians, if you tell them that their governors were in the accompany of the president, I think that will be another vote for me in the future. I’m very pleased that they were able to turn up,’’ Buhari had said. Significantly, this oblique reference to 2019, has been widely interpreted to mean the president will seek a second term in office.
In addition, Buhari went out of his way to praise Tinubu for providing an information that he was not aware of, which he described as “very beautiful.” However, he didn’t disclose the beautiful information. Similarly, he also referred to Tinubu as “our leader,” thanked the former Lagos state governor for his hard work and promised to discuss the information with him.
Nigerians react
Expectedly, Buhari’s hint at contesting has elicited a welter of reactions across the country. Dr Junaid Mohammed, a second Republic House of Representatives member, faulted the manner with which the president made his ‘’declaration’’.
According to him, ‘’when leaders make this kind of statements, they should do it at home not in foreign countries. In any case, I expected to hear the narrative of what he has done in the last two years that should warrant him a second term.’’
Similarly, Engeer Muazu Magaji, former Senior Special Assailant to Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano state, Engeer Mu’azu Magaji said “I’m waiting for the President to declare in Nigeria that he will be recontesting. The die-hard Kwankwaso supporter said that he expects a level playing field in the primaries, when his principal will contest with the president.
Engr Magaji also said that Buhari ‘’is not the type who tamper with electoral processes and I remember he even mentioned it that irrespective of outcome he will accept the outcome in the last primary. ‘’ According to him, the fact that some governors have already endorsed the president will not affect the process, because “some of them too will also have to battle for their survival. ”
However, elder statesman Hon Sidi H Ali, a second republic federal legislator from Kano state, Buhari ‘s decision to stand as a candidate in the 2019 presidential election is a welcome development. ‘’ According to him, the president needs to consolidate on his achievements because some Nigerians are already getting disappointed with the little setbacks of his style of governance. “As elders, we have no doubt in the president. We have tested his ability and integrity and insha Allah, the setback resulting from his sickness are already behind us. Nigerians will know that there is a leader in him. We support him”, he said. Surprisingly, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, the national leader of Peoples Redemption Party(PRP) declined comments.
With Buhari hint to contest in 2019, the political space will be charged in the coming months and governance will suffer as politicking heightens.
