POLITICS
Saraki not north’s consensus candidate _ Tambuwal
Governor of Sokoto State Aminu Tambuwal has opposed both Senator Bukola Saraki and Governor Bala Mohammed’s selection as consensus candidates for the north.
“Tambuwal, in a statement, said the consensus candidacy initiative the three of them pursued did not work. He said, based on that, they agreed that a statement should be issued informing Nigerians about it.
“The team further agreed that Sen. Saraki should come up with a draft statement on how to communicate this decision to the Nigerian public.
“This was the last time that members of the team sat and mutually agreed on anything.
“The proposed meeting to review and vet the statement scheduled for 10 pm of the same day was aborted unilaterally by Sen. Saraki via a WhatsApp message”, Tambuwal stated.
The statement further read: “However, on Thursday, 21st, 2022, same Sen Saraki circulated yet another WhatsApp message suggesting that members of the team should head to Minna for a meeting on Friday, Gov. Tambuwal reached other members of the team and informed them that he stands by the decision of the team that the initiative is not working.
“This is the reason Gov. Tambuwal was absent at today’s (Friday) meeting in Minna. As a result therefore, the outcome of the Minna meeting has no consequence or any implication on the aspiration of Gov. Tambuwal, who had earlier on informed his colleagues of maintaining their agreed position that the initiative has collapsed.
“Members of the public should be reminded that what was canvassed for was a consensus candidate and not consensus candidates.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Gov Tambuwal has submitted his Presidential nomination forms and now that the quest for a consensus candidate out of the four has clearly collapsed, will go ahead and face screening and indeed contest the PDP presidential primaries.
“This is in consonance with his acclaimed outlook as a pan-Nigerian candidate, with pedigree of national service as the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, life member of the Body of Benchers and now in his second and final term as Governor of Sokoto state.”
