There are indications that former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar is set to make good his intention to seek the presidential ticket of his new party, All Progressives Congress (APC), ahead of the 2015 elections.
Atiku’s plan to declare for the presidency is coming on the heels of moves by the leadership of the APC to commence consultations on the guidelines for the presidential primaries and preparatory to the party’s national convention scheduled for December.
The party, THISDAY gathered, might have slated its presidential primary election for November, ahead of the December national convention where the party’s flag-bearer is expected to emerge.
The National Publicity Secretary of APC, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, while explaining APC’s plan of action at the weekend said that the party’s leadership would soon meet to approve the guidelines for the party’s presidential primaries.
THISDAY also learnt from reliable sources that baring any last minute hitches, the former vice-president is set to declare his intention to contest for the presidency in 2015.
Atiku has never hidden his desire to rule Nigeria and contested for the number one job on the platform of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in 2007. He however lost to the late President Umaru Yar’Adua.
He also sought the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2011, after his return to the party, but again lost to President Goodluck Jonathan.
If Atiku makes good his promise and declares for presidency for the third time, he will be squaring up against another formidable contender, former military Head of State, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari who has already started setting up his structures for the presidential campaign.
An informed source who spoke to a group of reporters at the weekend on Atiku’s presidential ambition, confirmed that the frontline APC chieftain had embarked on extensive consultations with stakeholders at home and abroad.
THISDAY also learnt that Atiku, apart from relying on his extensive contacts, has developed an all-encompassing road map designed to tackle most of the sore challenges staring the country in the face, ranging from security, unity and equity to socio-economic development.
The former vice-president is said to be planning to embark on what has been tagged the “Atiku Peace Tour” that will take his delegation to key places and people nationwide.
“The former vice-president and his newly formed team shall be interfacing with diverse religious and professional bodies locally and in the international arena,” the source disclosed.
His mission, according to the source, would be to gauge the pulse of the people on the many troubles bedevilling the country with the aim of finding genuine and lasting solutions to them.
Atiku, who is believed to be a strong advocate of interfaith dialogue as a way of reducing tension in the land, may actually begin his campaign by taking messages of peaceful co-existence, true nationalism and an end to religious fanaticism and extremism that have led to violence.
The source further indicated that what the Turaki of Adamawa intends to achieve this time around, is the need to foster a harmonious working relationship between Christians, Muslims and traditional believers in order to have all hands on deck to rebuild Nigeria.
Another close aide of the former vice-president said his boss would be seeking to exploit his detribalised stance and unlimited networking contacts within and outside the country during the meet-the-people tour to rekindle their patriotic zeal, duty to country and responsibility to society.
“To make good his promise, Atiku was also said to have built a solid intellectual and people-based capacity and competence reservoir to be unveiled in the coming weeks,” the source said.
Atiku had promised recently that he would unfold his next political plan soon after the conclusion of the Muslim Ramadan fast. Thisday
