There are indications that the high number of young Presidential aspirants on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP is a matter President Muhammadu Buhari is watching closely.
In a related matter, a crack team of All Progressives Congress is also monitoring the possibility of the emergence of a far younger PDP candidate that may dwarf President Buhari’s agility and eloquence.
Some insiders who claim knowledge of the workings of the Presidency said there is the fear that President Buhari may likely step down from the race if Dr. Datti Baba-Ahmed, one of the presidential aspirants on the platform of the PDP, emerges as the flag bearer of the opposition PDP. The crux of the matter is that Buhari sees Datti Ahmed as his son, an insider said.
Those aware of the goings-on alleged that Buhari’s camp has therefore moved into the PDP using proxies to avert the possible emergence of Baba-Ahmed, who President Buhari calls his son as he may not be willing to contest elections against Datti if he wins the PDP presidential ticket.
Sources further claimed that Buhari also seems not comfortable with the possible emergence of the President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki and Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal who are considered younger people.
Speaking specifically about the Datti challenge, a politician in Buhari’s team said: “The emergence of Datti Baba-Ahmed will really cause an upset as the President might not be willing to run against someone he considers as his son. The others can be managed but that of Datti has to be handled with the seriousness it deserves and the earlier, the better.
“Amongst the presidential aspirants on the platform of the PDP, Datti Baba-Ahmed is the youngest of all and he is seen as a “son” by President Buhari.
In the same vein, other leaders like former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida and General Abdulsalam Abubakar also refer to Datti as their son.
Therefore, a game plan is being perfected by those aware of this development to have PDP concede its presidential ticket to Datti with a view to forcing President Buhari to reconsider his plan to run for a second term in office.
Whether APC henchmen, who essentially rely on Buhari’s charisma to win another election, will allow the president to step down remains to be seen
