The City Reporters
Who will spearhead APC’s attack? Buhari or Atiku
Facts emerging from the camp the All Progressives Congress (APC) suggests the tense jostle for the party’s presidential mandate may yet culminate in the capitulation of Nigeria’s biggest opposition merger.
As at Sunday, caucauses loyal to former military Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari were locked in a hot disagreement with those loyal to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over the conduct of the party’s presidential primaries.
Buhari, reports say, have been pressuring the party to either adopt him as its sole candidate or conduct a presidential primary that would involve the mandatory participation of a staggering 18 million card-carrying members of the party.
Atiku, who is said to have opposed the idea of adopting a consensus candidate, is canvassing for a collegiate “Modified Direct Primary” that would involve a 20,000-strong delegation to pick the party’s flag bearer for the 2015 presidential election.
Whereas the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has adopted President Goodluck Jonathan as its sole candidate, the APC now has the challenge of solving not only the Buhari-Atiku deadlock but also addressing the yet-to-be-expressed presidential ambition of famous Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole.
Besides that, the party must also deal with the ambition of Kano State Governor.
Although many have hailed the PDP for towing the part of “common sense” in adopting incumbent Jonathan who already has a head start in the presidential race, they say the seemingly tense tussle for APC’s mandate augurs well for the image of the opposition which has been accused of being too arbitrary.
In my opinion I feel the modified direct primaries is best for the party now because of the fund that will be zapped in the direct primaries where all the over 18 millions registered party members will take part. About are democrat but for the sake of fund and time the modified best suit the party now bearing in mind that the party does not have the kind of fund the ruling party does but what we are totally against is the consensus method which is totally undemocratic.
Atiku is a democrat and will support any democratic method the party adopts, But in my opinion Atiku remains the party’s best bet to dislodge the PDP and President Jonathan in the next general election.
Atiku is my choice and will always be, Because I see him as the CHANGE and HOPE of the common man.