Top business and political icons in the North are currently divided on which of the two candidates President Mohammadu Buhari of All Progressives Congress, (APC) or Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) Presidential candidate, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku should be fully supported.
Divergent considerations of what best represents the most strategic interest of the North is said to inform the motive behind the two camps.
“There is a growing thinking in the North that Buhari should be allowed to complete his term. But this trend is being countered by another group who think Buhari should be ousted in the next elections”, a member of the Arewa Consultative Forum, (ACF) who does not wish to be named told Newdawn. He said for the past few days, the Northern leaders have been having series of meetings which have failed to produce a common position.
The two camps have been reaching out to other parts of the country to woe potential allies. Many Nigerians were shocked at the turn of events last week when former President Olusegun Obasanjo who had vowed never to support Atiku on grounds of neck-breaking links with corruption suddenly made a detour saying he preferred Atiku to Buhari. Obasanjo’s position was widely believed to have been influenced by pressure from his military contemporaries from the North.
Sources told Newdawn on Monday that the political caucus behind Buhari are led by the Kaduna State Governor, Mallam El Rufai, his Kano State counterpart, Alhaji Ganduje while Atiku has the backing of top retired military echelons led by the former military dictator, Gen. Ibrahim Babandiga, former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar and former Defence Minister, Mohammed Gusau.
Reliable sources told Newdawn that prominent leaders from the core-North are currently divided into two camps. But there are third and probably forth camps. One is the masses of the North, many of who are behind Buhari and also some Northern minority groups, propelled by the hate killings who think any candidate will be supported except Buhari. In the last group are former Defense Minister, Lt Gen TheophilusDanjuma and a retinue of Christian leaders.
But Abuka Onalo, President of the United Middle Belt Indigenous Peoples, (UMBIP) told our correspondent that the opposition to Buhari must be founded on the assurances that Atiku will not come up with policies that are worse than that of Buhari. He said some of those behind Atiku are not known to have risen in defense of the Middle Belt at the most important era of their needs. He said the concept of “Northern interests” does not necessarily mean the interests of ethnic minorities in the North.
On Monday, former Kaduna State Governor, Alhaji Balarabe Musa said Atiku was a bad alternative for Nigerians. He said Nigerians would be fuelling the reemergence of fascism if he wins the 2019 poll.
Balarabe said “Nigerians risk having a fascist government under Atiku because of his open alignment with former heads of state and retired generals, who have some questions to answer.”
He said further “that is why I am highly disappointed at the illusion by some Nigerians that Atiku is better than Buhari. There is absolutely no comparison between Buhari and Atiku.”
Investigations by our correspondent revealed that the Babangida group is worried by three main issues: the growing instances of killings in the middle belt which have polarized a once united region. This constitutes a source of worry more because of its implication for Northern unity than the affection for victims of violence; the fight against corruption which seems to trouble Northern elite who are beneficiaries of the rot; the thinking that Atiku’s Presidency will offer the potential of fresh eight years for the North to be in power and lastly, the morbid fear that if Buhari’s health relapses after the 2019 election and if he wins, the likely beneficiary would be the South West which would mean a change of baton from the North.
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Those supporting Buhari, our source hinted, believe the second term of Buhari provides fresh opportunity for him to start the corruption fight on a clean slate having been constrained by various factors in his first term including the fact that the alliance that brought him to power included various interests among which were the unavoidable support he received from extremely corrupt individuals some of who have now returned into the PDP.
Some observers think the prowess and influence of the Babangida group lay in their access to almost inexhaustible funds and the network built over the years within the security circle. But this will have to contend with the Buhari’s power of incumbency, control of state machinery and the charm grip which the Northern masses which,in spite of the economic downturn, is yet to wane.
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