Contrary to popular opinions that Governor Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna state is interested in the 2023 presidency, evidences suggest that he may have decided to back the National leader of the All progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, for the position.
Tinubu, a well known political strategist, have been known to have sown his supporters at strategic places as preparations for the 2023 battle. He appears to have the National Assembly in his kitty, having been behind the emergence of the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, and Femi Gbajabiamila. Besides, he is said to have a lot of influence on the politically marginalized Vice President, Yomi Osinbajo.Despite this, there has been palpable fears that the North has decided on retaining power after the current President, Muhammadu Buhari.
It is believed that El Rufai is a front runner in the 2023 presidency.But there has been many oppoerds to his bid.
In a recent interview granted to the Vanguard Newspapers, El Rufai has been quoted as saying that he is fully insupport of the presidency going back to the South in 2023. He did not, however, indicate which part of the South it will go to.
“The general political consensus in Nigeria is that the Presidency should rotate between the North and the South” he said. “It is not written but everyone understands it. “In some of the parties, like the PDP, it is even written down in their constitution but it was breached in 2015. I think that every politician of honour should understand and abide by that consensus except there is an extenuating circumstance compelling it to be set aside. What could this be?
“President Yar’Adua died in office and it was compulsory for Jonathan to continue but when 2011 election came, there were many people who insisted that Jonathan should step aside for a northerner to complete the tenure of Yar’Adua but I opposed it because I didn’t think it was proper for an incumbent that got there not by his own design should be stopped from contesting when the constitution has not barred him from running.
“In the APC, we deliberately omitted rotational Presidency in our constitution and the emergence of a presidential candidate does not take into account zoning and that was why in 2015, Rochas Okorocha from the East contested, Sam Nda-Isaiah contested, Buhari, Kwankwaso and others contested.
“I can say that as distinct from the PDP, APC has no rotational Presidency but candidates are selected strictly on the basis of political merit and the general acceptability of the candidate.
“I want to say that those of us from Northern Nigeria honour agreements. We do not violate unwritten political agreements and I will be the last person to lead in violating that agreement. I may have a personal view but that should be the basis. I don’t care where you come from but I look for merit.
“But as a group, the Northern APC will have to sit down and endorse someone, most likely someone from the South, because after eight years of Buhari, I don’t think the Presidency should remain in the north unless there is some extenuating circumstances. But all things being equal, we will honour our agreement and we keep our words”.
Recently, there has been various consultations between Tinubu and some Northern elites, including El Rufai. After, there was a widely circulated photo shoot by the duo, giving the impression that the two are now on the same page. Ere now, El rufai has been a virulent attacker of Tinubu’s Presidential ambition.
As at now, Tinubu is the most visible contender under the banner of the All Progressives Congress, APC. Others from the South east are regarded by analysts as light weights, except for Orji Kalu, who has the Media and Financial Muscle to contest. Tinubu has the Western Media in his pocket, according to analysts.
Recently, it was reported that Orji Kalu was lamenting from Prison that it was Tinubu that is behind his ordeal because of 2023 presidency.
Other Southerners that may be considered are Rochas Okorocha from South east, Tunde Fashola from South west, And Kayode Fayemi, current governor of Ekiti state.
