By Emmanuel Mogbede
A chieftain of All Progressives Congress, APC has explained why Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP cannot inherit the about 12 million votes President Muhammadu Buhari got from the Northern part of the country in three out of the four times he has contested for Nigerian presidency.
Okechukwu, also the Director General of Voice of Nigeria, VON made the explanation in a chat with journalists on Thursday.
The VON DG said for one, Atiku lack the attributes of President Buhari and as such, cannot inherit the 12 million Buhari’s Vote-Bank in the North.
“One has the great respect for His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, Waziri of Adamawa; however he can’t harvest Buhari’s 12 million Vote-Bank located mostly in the north, for many reasons.
“One the North doesn’t trust him, he is not Mai-Gasikiya, Buhari’s hallmark.
“Historically, only the legendary Malam Aminu Kano of blessed memory who had Buhari’s political cult followership in the north,” he said.
Prodded further for other reasons why under our dominated ethno-religious politics, Atiku would not inherit Buhari’s Vote-Bank?
Okechukwu said that the northern electorate are one of the most sophisticated in Nigeria. Majority of them are not stomach infrastructure propelled, they can easily discern the truth from propaganda.
“ I don’t understand why people think northerners cannot vote for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Peter Obi? Don’t forget that they voted M.K.O Abiola in preference to Alhaji Bashir Tofar?” Okechukwu asked.
Okechukwu recalled that in addition to the sophistication of northern electorate to discern the truth from propaganda; is the unwavering commitment of APC Northern Governors Forum to rotation of power from north to south. They stood on the principle of rotation convention during APC presidential primary in June 2022.
“Imperative as well is the G-5 Wike Masquerade, the Integrity Group of PDP squared against Atiku, as Atiku and 5 Governors of the PDP did in 2014 for equity, fairness and justice under the banner of rotation convention. G-5 Wike is a big vote minus for Atiku.”
Okechukwu said that with the Electoral Act, 2022, which is Vote-Rigging-Vaccine in tandem with combination of these factors there is no way Atiku can harvest Buhari’s 12 million Vote-Bank.
(NAN)
