By Gbenga Abulude (Politics and General desk)
As the permutations on the 2023 presidential race are gradually building up, legal practitioner and National Coordinator of Concerned Advocates for Good Governance, (CAGG), Mr Olusegun Bamgbose has claimed the All Progressives Congress (APC) and critical political figures from the Northern geo-political setting are unwilling to allow former Lagos state governor, and one of the national leaders of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to emerge as presidential candidate of the party.
Bamgbose in a statement, said former Vice President Atiku Abubakar who was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2019 election is being speculated as a contender to watch as he may likely strike a deal with allies of President Muhammadu Buhari and others within the ruling APC to edge out Tinubu from the 2023 presidential race.
The lawyer who himself is believed to have an eye on the presidency, going by his previous statements, said Atiku has not given up his ambition of becoming president, hence, his purported alliance and plans to stage a return to the APC. In recent times, there has been speculations that Atiku might return to the APC to pursue his presidential ambition. According to those speculating this permutation, the likelihood is not impossible since president Buhari won’t be contesting in 2023, the ” door appears open to all…”
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The Lawyer added that political stakeholders in the country are not taking anything for granted at the moment.
In his statement, Bamgbose added: “It’s very obvious that the power brokers from the North may not really trust Tinubu’s Presidency, not minding his support for Fulani oligarchy.
“The North is viewing Tinubu as someone who may eventually rebel against the North, once he gets to State House.
“The North always wants a candidate who will come out with his true colour, not necessarily one who is hiding his true character.
“Tinubu can’t be trusted with power, that’s the opinion of majority of Northerners Atiku Abubakar is on daily basis strategising on how to take over from Buhari come 2023.
“He has decided to spend any kind of money to achieve this aim. He spent heavily to install Buhari as President, and he believes his money should not go down the drain.
“As a political strategist, he has foreseen that APC will ultimately not hand over the Presidential ticket to Tinubu come 2023. Based on this, he is seriously scheming to find his way back to APC.
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“The only person that Atiku can’t influence with money is an Angel. Atiku will show his worth come 2021. He will be prepared to spend his last kobo to be the next President of Nigeria.
“He is likely going to strike a deal with Buhari and power brokers to take over from Buhari, thereby edging out Tinubu However one should tell Atiku that it’s God that will determine the next President of Nigeria, not man or prophet. Man proposes but God disposes.
“I’m in the race to spring surprises and eventually win. Atiku’s strategies will certainly fail him. He should forget about leading this country,” he said.
The race for the 2023 presidency is crowded with different political permutations as some key political gladiators from the Southern part of continue to push for the adoption of an acceptable zoning arrangement by political parties in the country and allow for a power shift to the south.
Following calls on political parties including the APC to zone their presidential tickets to the South, Tinubu has never hidden his desire to run for the presidency come 2023.
However, Tinubu, had in July said he was yet to decide on running in the 2023 presidential election, noting Nigerians would determine who becomes their leader when the time comes.
