BY DAMOLA EMMANUEL
For Nigeria’s incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari, the race for second tenancy in Aso Rock Presidential Villa began in earnest on Tuesday, as he formally accepted the presidential nomination and expression of interest forms of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
A group, Nigerian Consolidation Ambassadors Network, donated the N45 million stipulated price of the forms, and bought them on behalf of the President.
They said they did it to support the President’s second term ambition and possible re-election next year.
The youth organisation presented the forms at an event at the Presidential Villa, where Buhari lampooned those who defected from the APC to seek political redemption in the main opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, as well as some other minor parties.
Buhari described the defectors as “weak and selfish politicians”.
“I am honoured today to receive youths from all over the country contributing to buy the form for me,” an elated Buhari told his ‘sponsors’.
“The weakest whose sense of expectation do not align with our vision have exited our party,” and sequel to the exit of the defectors, the President enthused that: “We now have a party of strong and patriotic people who are ready to work for a strong Nigeria.”
Buhari hinted for the first time last April that he would seek second term, a declaration that generated diverse reactions from the country’s various political spectrums.
While some said he should do the ‘Mandela Option’ by standing down and facing his health issues, others believed that Buhari had done well enough in the last three-and-a-half years to have his tenure elongated.
One of the latter groups is the Nigeria Consolidation Ambassadors Network which walked the talk on September 5 by purchasing the forms at a staggering N45 million while the President was away on official assignment in China.
Representatives of the Nigeria Consolidation Ambassadors Network that attended the presentation were: the Chairman, Board of Trustees, Farouk Adamu Aliyu; the BoT Deputy Chairman, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba; the group’s National Coordinator, Sunusi Musa; the six zonal coordinators, as well as three special representatives.
The group was received by the President, at about noon, in company of some of his top aides like Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transportation and Director-General of the President’s campaign organisation; Abba Kyari, Chief of Staff; Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation; and the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.
Buhari was particularly delighted that he was done the honour by a group comprising of youths from different parts of the country.
