Former Vice-President Atiku
Abubakar was challenged yesterday to prove that he funded President Muhammadu
Buhari’s 2015 campaign.
Kaduna State Governor Nasir
El-Rufai threw the challenge and stated why the former vice president quit the
All Progressives Congress (APC) — there was no room for him to run for
president after governors endorsed Buhari for a second term.
El-Rufai spoke on a Voice
of America (VOA) Hausa Service Programme, “Democracy Today,” which was
monitored in Kaduna.
The former VP and former
Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who
has also plans to run for president, were also featured on the programme.
When asked about his
intention to run in 2019, Atiku simply said he had not made up his mind. “When
I decide, I will let the world know,” he said.
Lamido said PDP was happy
to have Atiku back, but his return would not threaten his ambition.
“We are happy that former
Vice-President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is back to PDP. PDP made him and that he
is back to the party is our joy. Not only him, in fact, we want others who left
the party like Senate President Bukola Saraki and former governors to come back
“If our interest is to see
the progress and development of Nigeria, then, we should also pray that
everyone who left should return home.”
El-Rufai said: “We in the
APC were aware from the outset that Atiku was going to leave the APC back to
the PDP in December and we thank God that he left in November.
“Atiku had seen that we in
the APC, especially the APC governors, had resolved to support President
Muhammadu Buhari to run again in 2019. That is why he left APC since he was
only looking for where to contest for president.
“Even in the 2015 APC
primary election, Atiku didn’t come second; he was floored by Kwankwaso. So,
even if President Buhari decides not to contest, Atiku knows that the APC
ticket is not sure for him. Majority of the APC governors have endorsed
President Buhari as our candidate for 2019.
“And God has continued to
improve the health condition of the President. Each time I see him, I thank God
and I still pray that God continues to give him sound health.
“So, by 2019, we are
waiting to see Atiku contest; we are waiting to contest against him and see
what happens. I cannot lose sleep because Atiku wants to contest because, by
God’s grace, this is the reign of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Agreed, in politics if you
lose even only one person, it should worry you, but the utterances of the
former Vice President that APC used his money who did he give the money to? For
me, I know those that supported us with their money and property that we used
during election, and I never heard the name of Atiku that he brought a dime. If
Atiku said he brought money, who did he give it to? Let him come and say it and
how much did he give and what was it used for?
“And, in fact, if Atiku
brought money, I ought to know, because I was part of the leadership of the party
and during campaign, along with former Governor Rotimi Amaechi. We were at the
centre of the presidential campaign. Therefore, we are supposed to know. So,
let him mention who he gave the money and how much?
“Asked about a large number
of APC members who are likely to follow Atiku to PDP, El-Rufai said: “Sure, we
know that, we cannot rule out the possibility of some greedy people following
him; those that are following material things. But, if people will consider how
we can work for the progress of our country, everybody knows that you cannot
compare Atiku with President Muhammadu Buhari,” El-Rufai said.
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