2019: How Buhari, Saraki’s deal unsettles Tinubu, Atiku

The new political romance between President Muhammadu Buhari and the Senate President, Bukola Saraki is causing discomfort in the camp of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and former Lagos state governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Nigerian NewsDirect has learnt.

The duo of Atiku and Tinubu are spear-heading a mega political party which is intended to confront the incumbent All Progressives Congress (APC) of President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 presidential election.

Saraki, who was once a persona-non-grata in Aso rock villa after defying the party’s leadership order on the Senate presidency election was being touted by Tinubu/Atiku group to lead the group in North-Central where he wields tremendous political power.  Saraki, is now a frequent caller in Aso Rock and also joins the president every Friday for Jumat service in the Aso villa mosque.

Last week, a loyalist of Saraki and former Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi was elected APC publicity secretary, a position formerly occupied by the incumbent Minister of Information, and a well known Tinubu’s core loyalist, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

Saraki, once raised the alarm that a powerful cabal had taken over the presidency, the cabal allegedly led by the President’s cousin, Mamman Daura, might have drawn Saraki closer to the presidency in order to assemble a formidable team to battle any political arsenal that Tinubu and his group may set against the President as presidency sources insist that “Tinubu has made up his mind not to work for Buhari in 2019”

“Saraki is very influential in North central, since 1999 till date, the same political party has been governing both Kwara and Kogi State and this can be traced to political power of the Sarakis”

“In 1999, APP ruled the two states. From 2003 till 2011 general election, PDP ruled the two states but things changed when Saraki defected to APC. The two states are now under the control of APC, so it means wherever Saraki goes, the two states follow”

However, sources close to Tinubu claimed that while the Jagaban of Borgu has not renounced his membership of APC, he felt betrayed by Buhari and humiliated by his actions especially by preferring to work with people he single-handedly raise their political career.

He asked:”Why did Buhari not go to his latter day friends prior to 2015 election when he was searching for merger to actualize his presidential ambition?”

In the meantime, the group has reached out to the embattled senator representing Kaduna Central senatorial zone, Sheu Sani to join the group. Sani was recently suspended indefinitely from APC and he has pointed finger at  Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir- El-Rufai for being the architect of his suspension. Last weekend, the family house of the Senator was attacked by some hoodlums while his office was attacked the next day.

There had been no love lost between Sani and one of the close confidants of the president, El-Rufai since the former declared his intention to run for the governorship of the north-western state. Despite his indefinite suspension from APC, Sani still insists he will contest for the governorship of the state without mentioning the platform to actualize his dream.

In the meantime, a group of the Southwest Progressive Youth Movement (SWPYM) claimed it had mobilized over three million youths from the Southwest fpr Asiwaju Tinubu.

This it said was to commend his priceless efforts for southwest states and Nigeria as a whole.

In a statement made available to Nigerian NewsDirect, the National Coordinator, Comrade Taiwo Ajayi on Sunday, said the solidarity road work would cut across all the southwest states including Kwara state.

He said, “We are organizing three special programmes of three days for Tinubu. The first day will be a special prayer for him across all the southwest states. The second day will be a road work solidarity which will attract over three million of southwest youths who are voluntarily ready for the roadwork including Kwara state while the third day will be a special award for Tinubu for his contributions in southwest and across the Nation.”

Speaking further, he said, “Tinubu is beyond a southwest leader and he is the Vice Chancellor of University of Politics in Nigeria. His efforts in the 2015 election are uncountable and unforgettable in Nigeria. Those who are antagonising   him recently passed through his electoral college and learnt politics from him.

“Tinubu remains our leader and a pilot who can drive us to the better and victory abode. We want to give an impression to the entire Nigerians that his contribution in southwest is priceless. Any attempt to rubbish that man is an attempt to rubbish the entire Yoruba Nation”.

“We want to prove the opposition wrong that southwest will forever support Tinubu and all APC Ambassadors from the southwest”, he added.

The spokesman of Atiku organization, Mazi Paul Ibe insisted that Atiku remained a loyal member of APC and said mischief makers are the ones peddling the story that Atiku wants to leave APC.