In an interview with John Ameh, One of the PDP defactors and APC Representative Dr Abdulmumin Jibrin speaks on the forthcoming primaries of the party and why Buhari should not contest.
What are the chances of the APC in 2015?
The APC has huge chances. The party was
initially weak but when the five PDP governors and, of course, the 37 House of Representatives members moved to the party in one fell swoop, it made the APC to be on shoulder-to-shoulder level with the PDP. And historically, when an opposition and the ruling parties go should-to-shoulder prior to an election, the opposition will clearly win the impending election. The APC has more support base; youths and elders are with the APC. Nigerians are not happy with the PDP; they want change, they don’t like the PDP. What people keep saying is that a few people have left the APC but the reality of the matter is that even though we keep encouraging the APC to close ranks and resolve every crisis there are more crises in the PDP. For your information, the peace-like situation you are seeing in the PDP is graveyard peace.
A former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar,
has just declared his intention to vie for
the presidency on the platform of the APC.
How do you rate his chances?
He is a member of the APC and has the right to contest. This will tell you that my concern about Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) is genuine. I am not talking about Atiku but Buhari. I would not have raised an eyebrow on Buhari’s ambition but for his promise in 2011. I am concerned about his image, his integrity. This issue is being discussed in many circles and in virtually every household across the country. Unfortunately, nobody has come out to say it in the public.
Buhari’s name is synonymous with integrity. But Buhari is generally seen as a better candidate to win the election for the APC.
I like Buhari and I respect him so much. If you go to Kano today, you will see all my billboards and posters with Buhari’s picture. We grew up from primary to secondary school knowing that Buhari is a symbol of integrity. Everyone knows that Buhari has some kind of messianic image. But, the truth of the matter is that we want this integrity of Buhari to be protected. In 2011, Gen. Buhari came out and announced to the country that he will not contest any future presidential election again. So, why is everybody keeping quiet? Nobody is raising this issue. It is shocking and disheartening for some us who are still young.
Some people are complaining behind the
scenes. Everybody is worried, disturbed because we wanted his image to be protected. If he had said in 2011 that he is not going to contest in any future presidential election, the issue of supporters of Buhari trying to bring him back to participate in the primaries should not arise.
Otherwise, you won’t be able to differentiate
between Buhari and President Goodluck Jonathan. When the five governors were leaving the PDP, one of their reasons was that Jonathan said he will not contest in 2015, but that he was changing from that now. Buhari said in 2011 that he will not contest again, but now some groups and individuals are promoting his candidacy and are trying to get him to get contest.
My message to our father, Gen. Buhari, whom we all love is that, everyday he wakes up in the morning, he should play that tape of 2011.
To be honest, he has a lot of younger brothers that he can equally support. We have Sam Nda-Isaiah, Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola; Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi; Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole; Speaker of House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal; and Kano
State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, as potential candidates. We have a lot of younger people he can support. They are competent Nigerians that can take up that responsibility.