There are indications that Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and former Ekiti Governor, Ayo Fayose may work against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) if Bola Tinubu emerges the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to sources, Wike and Fayose strong relationship with Tinubu may see them support the former Lagos governor.
The source who spoke to Vanguard revealed why President Muhammadu Buhari refused to announce his successor when he met with APC governors.
He also dismissed insinuations that Buhari was looking to the North to pick his successor.
The source said: “It is true that President Buhari has a candidate but persons working around him who believe strongly that a Tinubu presidency will be too strong for them to handle, are the ones moving around to see how to edge out Tinubu.
“The Tuesday meeting was originally planned by Buhari to tell the governors to endorse his candidate. Invariably, Buhari did not have the guts to drop the name of the person. It was a meeting where they were to really brainstorm and possibly look at all the aspirants on their merit and then, take a decision. Instead, the president brought out a speech and started reading.
“That tells you that Buhari is not convinced about the person they are pushing to him. As an individual, I know Buhari has his reservations about Tinubu but he has tremendous respect for Baba Bisi Akande and even if he wants to deal with Tinubu, he (Buhari) cannot because of Baba Akande.
“As recent as two weeks ago, some prominent Nigerians, including those from the South-West had a one-on-one with Buhari and he told them that he had no problem with Tinubu. There are some persons around the president who are not comfortable with Tinubu but if they go ahead with the primary, Tinubu will carry the day and that is why members of the cabal are trying to see if they can micro-manage the situation and ensure they don’t go into an election.
“If APC makes the mistake of abandoning Tinubu, Atiku will win the 2023 election hands down. It is only a Tinubu candidate that Ayo Fayose, a Wike, will work for and some other prominent persons in the PDP.”
On if the President was looking in the direction of the North to pick his successor, the source said: “That is not true. Who is the prominent Northerner in the race? Is it Ahmad Lawan? Ahmad Lawan cannot win Yobe State and they know that.
“If you are a cabinet member and the form has not closed and you meet Buhari today that you want to run, he will wish you good luck. That is what all of them are carrying about to say that Buhari is supporting them.
Tinubu’s aspiration has been on for three years ago and this is to tell you when the project started. It is not something that started today; it was not an afterthought.
“That is why when some Buhari people got to know that Tanko Al-Makura, who was aspiring to be APC National Chairman, was close to Tinubu, they quickly moved against him. Abdullahi Adamu was not a serious contender for the APC chairmanship and unfortunately for them too, Adamu cannot carry out the things they asked him to do because before the NWC was put together, El-Rufai was not with Tinubu.
“As it is now, el-Rufai’s people in the NWC are giving Abdullahi Adamu tough times.
The Deputy National Chairman (North) was produced by Kashim Shettima, we have the National Secretary. The Deputy National Chairman (South), though from the Buhari camp, has some allegiance with Tinubu. So, Abdullahi Adamu cannot push any anti-Tinubu case. That is the challenge they are facing.”
