Auwal Lawal Daura, son of a former Director General of the Department of State Security (DSS) Lawal Musa Daura, has refused to step down for Yusuf Buhari in the contest for the APC House of Reps ticket for Daura/Mai’Adua/Dandamu federal constituency.
Mr Daura said he won’t step down for the son of the late President Muhammadu Buhari despite the consensus arrangement because he’s a candidate of the masses.
He revealed this in an exclusive interview with 21st CENTURY CHRONICLE on Saturday.
Mr Buhari was earlier declared as the consensus APC candidate for the seat.
The APC in the state had decided to use consensus to select its flag bearers for the next general elections.
Mr Lawal Daura was appointed by President Buhari as DSS DG from 2015 and 2018, but was controversially sacked by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, after the invasion of the National Assembly complex by armed DSS operatives.
Mr Osinbajo was serving as acting president while Mr Buhari was recuperating at a London hospital at that time.
Mr Auwal Daura said he would not step down for Yusuf Buhari or anyone because the aspiration for the seat was being supported by the “masses.”
“Consensus should be a voluntary agreement that everyone agrees to before it becomes valid. So, as I told you earlier, we were called for the consensus meeting and only two of us aspirants attended. I didn’t withdraw during the meeting. I heard it (Yusuf’s emergence) like everyone else did (on social media).
“I didn’t withdraw for anyone because it was the masses that are supporting me to contest and I promised that I’ll not betray them for anything. So, I went ahead to purchase the forms to contest for the seat,” he said.
Mr Auwal, who holds the title of Wakilin Raya kasar Daura, said he has respect for Mr Yusuf and other aspirants but doesn’t believe the right process was followed before Yusuf was declared the consensus candidate.
Asked if his family has any issue with the late Buhari’s family especially with the sacking of his father, Auwal said he has nothing against the Buhari family, insisting that there’s mutual respect between the two families.
“It’s all social media talk, there is no conflict between our families. Our family has a good and historic relationship with that of Buhari. My contest has nothing to do with any family conflict. As I noted earlier, I’m contesting because the masses are behind me and I’ll continue to be with them. They are people who trust and support me, so I’m doing it for them,’ he said.
Mr Auwal Daura said he would not rule out any further meetings with Yusuf Buhari or other aspirants to discuss the ticket but his decision would rely on the outcome of the meeting. ‘Yes, if it will benefit my constituency, yes, I can sit and discuss if there is any request for discussion. If during the discussion it becomes obvious to me that the people of the constituency will benefit, why not. But as of now, I’ve my forms with me and I’m contesting.’
He also said he is committed to the APC though his father Lawal Daura aspires to get the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ticket to contest for Katsina governorship seat in 2027.
Mr Auwal Daura is a business man and founder of ALD Foundation that supports women, children and the less privileged.
