Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar has officially distanced himself from an arrangement by the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), to pick a consensus candidate of northern extraction as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s standard bearer in the next election.
The Forum’s Convener, Professor Ango Abdulahi announced that former Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed had emerged as consensus candidates of the party at the end of the exercise.
Although the Forum claimed that Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, Saraki and Bala submitted themselves to the process, Tambuwal had disowned the outcome.
Also in a statement on Saturday, the former vice president through the technical committee for the actualisation of his presidential ambition, said as an avowed nationalist, he cannot submit himself to such a process.
The statement which was signed by Raymond Dokpesi, on behalf of the technical committee, reads, “It must be stated categorically and equivocally that Waziri Atiku Abubakar MA, GCON Vice President Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999-2007 was NEVER a part of this purported consensus arrangement, neither did he at any time nor in any place, subject himself to any purported consensus process,” Dokpesi said.
“Therefore, Waziri Atiku Abubakar is NOT BOUND by any of the recommendations and conclusions of the purported report.
“As an avowed nationalist, Waziri Atiku Abubakar strongly believes that Nigeria has never been as divided as it is today. He strongly believes that any ‘consensus’ arrangement premised on any regional, zonal, ethno-religious, and/or sectional gang-up will further deepen and widen this divide, and worsen the wounds that urgently need to be healed.
“Consequently, Vice-President Atiku Abubakar is anxious to implement plans, policies and programmes that will rescue and rebuild Nigeria. This is his unwavering and resolute pledge and commitment.”
