2015: Merger parties pick Buhari •Fresh tension as CPC crisis lingers
Written by Taiwo Adisa - Abuja Sunday, 05 May 2013 00:00

Emerging revelations from the camp of merging opposition political parties have revealed that the leaders of the parties have now resolved that former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, should be given the presidential ticket come 2015.

Sources close to some meetings held between 30 April and 1 May by top leaders of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) hinted that the leaders had resolved that Buhari remained the most sellable of the presidential hopefuls within the party.

Sources told Sunday Tribune that while the feud between Buhari and a former governor of Kano State, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, appeared a cog in the wheel of the opposition’s presidential challenge in 2015, the strongest aspirant in the midst of the opposition remained Buhari.

A source in one of the CPC meetings said that even the national leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Senator Bola Tinubu, had recognised that Buhari would give the opposition the popularity they desired.

The source further said that the leaders were thinking of looking inward because of the belief that importing any aspirant from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would indicate that the opposition was incapable of raising a candidate and that such a PDP import would automatically become the leader of the party as currently practised in the ruling party.

“While commenting on the choice of presidential candidate for the planned opposition mega party, ahead of 2015, many of the leaders concluded that Buhari remains the preferred choice, and that Senator Bola Tinubu himself had contended that it is only Buhari that can give the opposition political parties the popularity they so much desire,” the source said.

He, however, stated that one major problem against the Buhari candidature was the unresolved feud with Shekarau.

“I can assure you, however, that many of the leaders are concerned and the leaders of the three merging parties have agreed to meet before the planned national convention of the CPC and ANPP to resolve the feud between the two Northern leaders,” he said.

One other trouble raging in the fold of the merging parties, according to sources, is the unresolved feud within the ranks of the CPC.

“We are worried that the CPC crisis is unending as the party remains factionalised. While the ANPP has its own problems, the situation in the CPC is bad. Senator Rufai Hanga has refused to be reined in yet,” a source said.

According to another source, Senator Tinubu recently contacted the Hanga-led faction of the CPC, but the situation has remained stagnant.

“I can confirm to you that Senator Tinubu recently met Senator Hanga, but I cannot confirm we have found solution, even though Tinubu had met with Buhari afterwards,” the source said.

eGuerrilla: This is not a wise decision, in my opinion.
But I will hold off from making any further comments till there is confirmation from a different source, as I simply don't trust the tribune any longer.

Rhino.5dm:
What is progressive in choosing a 70 something years old man? The proponent of this merger party are indeed sick, bereft of any progressive tendencies if Buhari is their candidate. Even my dog knows that Buhari is an expired product, who cannot win election in Nigeria of today.

I can safely conclude that PDP and by extension Jonathan(sic) is going to remain in Aso Rock come 2015. indeed this is another political blunder and harakiri by the oppositions. So they'll print posters with Buhari for president in 2015? smh!

nameo:

GOOD. So are now coming to the realization of that FACT, kwa @Rhino. Some people truly learn slow, but they catch up eventually.

Good morning, Bros

Rhino.5dm:
What is progressive in choosing a 70 something years old man? The proponent of this merger party are indeed sick, bereft of any progressive tendencies if Buhari is their candidate. Even my dog knows that Buhari is an expired product, who cannot win election in Nigeria of today.

I can safely conclude that PDP and by extension Jonathan(sic) is going to remain in Aso Rock come 2015. indeed this is another political blunder and harakiri by the oppositions. So they'll print posters with Buhari for president in 2015? smh!

djon78: the main issue is that APC is a marriage of strange bedellows, infact there are many battles that will be fought, especially about who controls the party btw Asiwaju and the Northern wing represented by Buhari, infact this will be the main battle and my instinct tells me Asiwaju being a very smart politician will win the battle and maybe someone like fashola or oshiomole will emerge as presiden. With this scenario APC can win the presidency but if they put any aboki as flagbearer, they will not win because of what their bokoharam has done to this country.

eGuerrilla: This is not a wise decision, in my opinion.
But I will hold off from making any further comments till there is confirmation from a different source, as I simply don't trust the tribune any longer.