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 forme 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.
The Nation
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