2019: Ex-Generals, governors, ministers regroup to kick Buhari out
Some
prominent leaders from the North have assembled to kick President Muhammad
Buhari out of office come 2019.
The plan,
according to elder statesman, Tanka Yakassai, is to produce a more credible and
acceptable presidential candidate from the region.
Some members
of the movement are mainly retired military chiefs, former governors,
ex-ministers, senators and other top public office holders.
Speaking
with the Sun about the movement and the plan to sack the current
administration, Yakasai dismissed the claim that the entire North are for
Buhari, saying, “I don’t know how you came to that conclusion, because other
aspirants are expressing their wish to contest, people are still aspiring.
“The
question of someone becoming a consensus candidate for a whole area of the
north does not make sense.
“In
addition, the rule of multi party democracy, there will never be a consensus
candidate anywhere in Nigeria or anywhere multi party is practiced. Otherwise
the merit of multi party democracy is defeated.
“And that
does not go with democracy if you come up with a consensus candidate. Consensus
candidate means killing competition. Competition is the livewire of democracy.
“Those who
are elected particularly at the presidential level owe their allegiance to the
people who got them into office and not the voters. We want to change that
narrative.
“We want the
election in the future to be based on programme and manifesto, we want the
election to be credible and through a verifiable process that would change the
life of the people for the better.
“To do that,
you have to come with your own programme and your own manifesto, not a
manifesto written by hired Professors or Doctors because of their command of
English that can impress people.
“Our focus
is election related matters. We want our votes to have values. After an
aspirant is selected, the person can now face us.
“We decided
to visit all our former Heads of state who are of northern extraction. We
wanted to visit first, former Head of state, General Gowon, unfortunately he
was not in the country and we wrote a letter to his office to tell him about
the emergence of the organization and he has not been back yet.
“As we were
waiting for him, we had to go to Minna to see former Heads of state, Babangida
and Abdulsalami. We found out that Abdulsalami traveled since January and would
not come back soon but Babangida said he was around, we decided not to kill
time but to go and speak to him.”
He assured
that the group will also be meeting Obasanjo soon.
“We will do
it. The programme is still on and you will hear from us. We decided to go to
whoever is available. It was by sheer interest that we found Babangida
available.
“Our plan
was to start with General Gowon but he was not available, even Abdulsalami that
we wanted to do with Babangida was not around,” he said.
According to
the Sun, some of the prominent retired Generals on this mission include Gen.
J.T Useni, Gen. John Temlong, Gen. India Garba, Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi, Gen. E.T
Nienge, Gen. Laurence Onoja, Gen. M.D Chong, Col. Habibu Shuaibu, Navy
Commodore Isaac M. Mankilik, Commodore D.T Hinga, Commodore Mainasara B. Kaoje
and Maj. Hassan Zara.
Former
governors also drafted for the assignment include Alhaji Attahiru Dalhatu
Bafarawa, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, Ibrahim Idris Wada, Barr. Ibrahim Shema, Malam
Ibrahim Shekarau, and Mr Boni Haruna. Ex-Ministers also involved include Dr.
Bello Mohammed Haliru, Amb. Bagudu Hirse, Alhaji Muktari Shagari, Dr. Mohammed
Shata, Sen. Bala Mohammed, Dr. Ibrahim Lame, and Engr. Mohammed Abba Gana.
Others are
Senator Ibrahim Nasiru Mantu, Senator Paul Wampana, Sen. JKN Waku, Rt. Hon.
Ghali Umar Na’abba, Alhaji Dauda Birma, Hon. Margret Ichen, Senator Simeon
Ajibola, Arch. Ibrahim Bunu, Hajiya Inna Ciroma, Hajia Zainab Maina, Princess
Rabi Ibrahim, Amb. Esther Audu, Sen. Joseph Akaagerger, Sen. Ndayako Dangana,
DIG Philemon Leha, Barr. Umaru Shentien, Dr. Luka Bahago, Mohammed Abdullahi
Keffi, , Alh. Nasir Zahradeen and Hajiya Mairo Habib.
Also
involved are Bishop Pinot Ogbaje, Alhaji Ikra Bilbis, Prof. Abubakar Suleiman,
Amb. Ladan Shuni, Engr. Buba Galadima, Alhaji Kashim Ibrahim Imam, Kabiru
Turaki, SAN, Naja’atu Mohammed, Hon. Murtala Shehu Yar’adua, Prof. Auwalu
Yadudu, Sen. Solomon Ewuga, Prof. Dakum Shown, Sen. Isa Yahaya Zarewa, Alh.
Kabir Tafida, Sen. Ibrahim Ida, Prof. Tahir Mamman, SAN, Alhaji Yakubu Bamali,
Hon. Emmanuel Jankanwa and Engr. Muhammed Baba Kachalla, among several others.
Comments