From ISMAIL OMIPIDAN, Kaduna
Saturday April 21, 2012
Ahead of the 2015 presidential election, there are indications that the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), would settled for the former Federal Capital Territory, Minister, Mallam Nasir EL-Rufai, as its presidential candidate in the next general elections. This is coming at a time when CPC presidential candidate in the 2011 polls and former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), has ruled himself out of the 2015 presidential contest.
Although, El-Rufai is yet to publicly declare interest in the 2015 elections, Saturday Sun gathered that he has, in recent times, been saddled with the responsibility of “repackaging and refocusing” the CPC, ahead of the 2015 polls.
According to a reliable source within the party, Buhari’s latest stance on the 2015 presidential contest is seen as a further boost to El-Rufai’s aspiration, adding: “I agree with you, it is too early to start discussing 2015, but it is not too early to position oneself.
“As you observed, before 2011, Buhari had said he was not going to run again. But eventually, he came out again to run. However, this time, I think the General means well for the younger Turks in the North. If you recall, before his (Buhari) comment last Thursday, that we should start shopping for a presidential candidate, I had told you he was not running and that he was keen on supporting El-Rufai, but you apparently did not believe me. I am glad, you have heard it from the horse’s mouth yourself.”
Meanwhile, Buhari recently, in Kaduna, charged supporters of the party to begin a search for his replacement ahead of 2015 presidential polls. Speaking while receiving party leaders from one of the councils in the state, who had paid him a solidarity visit, Buhari was quoted to have said: “I will remain in politics, even though I may not contest the 2015 presidential election.
“But whatever it is, I will remain politically active for the struggle of bettering the lives of Nigerians. You should also look for my replacement.
“Unless the electorate insist on claiming their mandate, like the people of Igabi (in Kaduna State) are doing, their votes will never count and I am commending you for standing up to defend your votes within the confines of the law.”