•Political leaders shop for president’s replacement

•President’s men begin consultations

•Ango Abdullahi, Balarabe, Junaid speak

The North has ruled out blanket support for President Muhammadu Buhari if he decides to seek for a second term in 2019. Already, top northern politicians and powerful political blocs have been shopping for Buhari’s replacement ahead of the next general elections, New Telegraph has learnt.

Speaking to our correspondent on phone at the weekend, spokesman for the Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF), Prof. Ango Abdullahi, pointed out that the forum only supported the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2015 election because it fielded General Muhammadu Buhari as its presidential candidate “who happens to be a northerner.”

Multiple sources confirmed to New Telegraph last night that different interest groups in the North have put machineries in place to get an appropriate candidate to replace Buhari in 2019.

It was further learnt that different groups from the North have sent emissaries to possible candidates, such as Atiku Abubakar, Ibrahim Dankwanbo (Gombe governor), Rabiu Kwankwaso, Sule Lamido, Ibrahim Shekarau, among others on the need to replace the president in the 2019 election.

It was gathered that among the grouse of many in the region is the mass hunger and poverty that has attended the Buhari presidency. A source with one of the presidential hopeful told New Telegraph last night that: “More than in 2015, we are receiving requests from different interest groups who are telling us that they want to work with us. I can tell you that most of the groups are from the North. Their complaints are the same – the economy.

They are telling us that there must be another change in 2019. The mood generally in the North is dampened. Buhari is not as popular as he was in 2015 now.”

An aide to another presidential hopeful simply said that the North has “donated Buhari to Nigerians who wanted change.” “In 2019, we are going to take him out of that seat for sure.

We are consulting now and trying to fix the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). If we get that right, then, we are ready to sack Buhari. At least, it is clear to Nigerians now that the man has failed. He is unelectable.”

But it was learnt that the president’s men are already plotting his reelection in 2019. Sources said Buhari’s nephew and confidant, Malam Mamman Daura; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal, and former SGF, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe as well as some state governors are the drivers of the president’s second term agenda. Buhari’s anchormen, including ministers, have been holding series of meetings on the president’s re-election.

“At appropriate time, we will dispel this noise of non-performance. The president has been faithful to his promises. Though we are in a challenging time,president has done well in governance,” one of the ministers told New Telegraph last night. Abdullahi, who ruled out a blind support for Buhari in case he runs for a second term, said that if other northerners indicate interest in the presidency, “we will put all the cards on the table and evaluate all the candidates and see what they have in store for the north.”

He, however, said that the north has so far been short changed by the present administration because the ministerial appointments that it got are not commensurate with the votes that APC received in the last election from the region.

The former Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, however, said that it is rather too early to say that the north is shopping for Buhari’s replacement, “but when the time comes, we will tell our people which way to go.”

The NEF spokesman said that the forum has not met Atiku Abubakar in order to seek for its support ahead of the 2019 presidential race, adding that he has heard that the former number two citizen is said to be eyeing the presidency.

“Like everybody else, I have heard of series of meetings going on, but I have not been told by any credible source.

As for meeting with any politician towards 2019, all I will say is that nobody has met us,” he said.Like Abdullahi, former governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, said that he heard that the north is shopping for Buhari’s replacement to field in 2019, describing the move “as a viable alternative if the north wants to retain power.”

According to him, the president is so incompetent and overwhelmed by the burden of office, “so there is no way he can succeed.” “However, the tragedy of the situation is that the north has no alternative to Buhari because money power is the deciding factor in politics and elections in this country. That is why the north can’t get the right person,” he argued.

The leader of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) dismissed Atiku as an alternative northern candidate because of his record of alleged corruption.

Musa also ruled out Governor Nasir el Rufai, arguing that he is not performing as governor of Kaduna State and so he is not qualified to be president.

“So, the north is in a kind of dilemma because, whereas Buhari has failed as president, it has no alternative to him in 2019 because of the dominance of money in politics and the fact that those who want to replace him are not credible,” he noted.

The opposition politician also ruled out the rabid support that Buhari received in the north in 2015, in case he decides to seek re-election in 2019. “Virtually every northern elite that supported him since 2003 when he first contested for the presidency, is not with him,” he said.

The former governor predicted that Buhari would lose the coming election if he decides to run for the presidency in 2019 because he is not just politically unreliable, but he will also be hampered by limited resources unless he is sponsored by foreign powers.

According to him, the level of poverty in the country and the prevailing awareness will limit the president’s access to the treasury in order to fund his campaign.

“Unless he decides to fund it with recovered looted funds, the amount which Nigerians do not know, there is nowhere he can get the kind of money to run for the presidency, after losing the goodwill that he enjoyed from the people,” Balarabe added.

Speaking in the same vein, a member of the House of Representatives in the Second Republic and a social critic, Dr. Jun-aid Mohammed, described Buhari as a monumental failure as president.

“Although I have not heard of plans to replace him and field another northerner in 2019, I will not be surprised if this happens,” he told our correspondent yesterday.

“President Buhari has been a monumental failure and the north shouldn’t support him in 2019 if it wants to retain power. Anti-corruption has always been the hallmark of northerners in government, but this government is the most corrupt in the history of Nigeria.

“All northern leaders, from Tarka to Aminu Kano and Sardauna, are not nepotistic, but the Buhari administration is the most nepotistic that has ever been since independence. “So, the north is justified culturally, politically and morally to replace Buhari in 2019 if it chooses to do so.

The north has been categorical when it wants power, it also didn’t hesitate when to let it go. And when it wanted it back, it said so categorically. Now, it must show clearly that it wants to retain power by replacing Buhari,” Mohammed said.

The Russian-trained medical doctor however said that “if Buhari decides to contest in 2019, he will be defeated, except if he rigs the election and there will be violence which may lead to the break-up of Nigeria.”

Speaking to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, a chieftain of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) dismissed what he described as “doomsday scenario of failed politicians who cannot speak for the north.”

According to him, President Buhari is still lionized by the masses of this country, especially in the north where he commands a cult-like followership.

“Buhari’s victory in 2015 was a result of the resolve of the masses to vote for change and to keep vigil over the votes cast until results were counted and declared.

“The victory was not as a result of any elite consensus or machinations. It was a revolution of the masses and the elite just had to key into it or else they will be swept aside by the wind of change.

“Buhari’s war against corruption, whereby billions of looted funds have been recovered and the adherence to the rule of law, including the degrading of Boko Haram capabilities in the North-East, have further endeared the people to him. If elections are held today, he will win fair and square,” he added.

New Telegraph gathered that although Buhari’s handlers are trying to make incursion into the South-East, many leaders in the zone are not convinced or persuaded by the Buhari presidency.

Thus, many believe that his running battles with splinter agitator groups in the zone and the lack of reasonable appointments for the zone under his watch are good reasons not to return him again.

“The man should not even think of a second term. He should just leave after this term,” said a leader in the zone.

https://newtelegraphonline.com/2019-presidency-north-rules-blanket-support-buhari/

Better for them, cos I can't wait to see the President Buhari out of Aso rock come 2019. Damn it!!!!!! The man is so clueless

The truth of the whole matter is that PMB support base is not with the northern elites, but rather it is with the critical common man in the the street of the north.

If left to the utterly corrupt northern elites,Buhari couldn't have smell the villa. The hypocritical support they gave him was for them to ride on his popularity to gain the people's support as 80% if not more of those in elected office rode to victory on Buhari's popularity/goodwill.

It is more convincing to say that the southern elites are critical to Buhari's acceptance and re-election than fantasizing in a non existent hype of the northern elites in Buhari's re-election.

THIS IS ANOTHER SPONSORED PANICKY THREAD.

WHO IS NORTH?

WHEN DID THEY HOLD REFERENDUM ON THIS?

AS FAR AS I KNOW, IT IS GOING TO BE

P M B. 1523

We cannot go back to history, We can only learn.



Short and simple, Buhari is a bad market.


Tested and confirmed!




The person ahead of me is still living in oblivion.

So everybody believed that? lets wait till then and see. But buhari isn't our problem but we are problem of ourselfs. Many things are made in nigeria but we exploit ourself by selling them in high cost to gain multiple profit.

Before nko...who will support an already failed mission?

kunle86:
So everybody believed that? lets wait till then and see. But buhari isn't our problem but we are problem of ourselfs. Many things are made in nigeria but we exploit ourself by selling them in high cost to gain multiple profit.

But the Aba made are cheap nah
Even ur afon brothers calls it fake and calls Innoson a moving coffin and prefer to patronize Italians even when they cant afford it..Hate/envy/triabalism is Nig. problm...get it?

"Truth is Plain*

The man jst lack basic economic sense and refused to borrow one.

Shameless unscrupulous elders

They are already talking bout 2019,where they will impose another aged deadbrain on us as our leader,what is more pathetic is that our youths who are supposed to move againts this unfortunate incident that will befall us are already pitching their tents in favour of some of these old men.


I weep for the future of nigeria


buhari,kwankwaso,atiku,balarabe,non of them is a bettr candidate

see the north condemning their own son, just like the SW,

what is bad is bad, this is when development can really be seen. but when we support our leaders blindly, our case na OYO

Nigerians are just useless. .. Once something doesn't favour them or their don't see chances to encourage their egunje na wahala be that

All I see in the op is the northern hegemony at play. All they're after is what a replacement can do for the North; despite all the appointments they hold, they still feel shortchanged by ministerial appointments. There's no story of the 'one Nigeria' madness/propaganda, it's just about the North and retaining power.

I wonder if the South can wake up to this reality and stop being one Nigeria practitioners, we've got to learn to put our regions and tribes first without any apologies because that is what the North will always do; all they care for is power to maintain access to the easy wealth from the South whilst keeping theirs for themselves.

This is one of the areas where I blame GEJ because he didn't concentrate on his home and his Southern neighbours rather he kept on the the thankless practical implementation of one Nigeria and at the end he was adjudged unfit for a 2nd term simply because power was to be 'returned' to the north at all costs. He's been vilified and insulted and unfortunately, there's really nothing unusual or extraordinary he executed down South despite the huge support he had just because he chose to first be 'Nigerian' before being an Ijaw from Southern Nigeria.

It's high time politicians in the South learnt to put a Southern agenda forward first and foremost and stop allowing themselves to be blackmailed by the same Northerners who do worse. If we've got to learn nepotism and tribalism then we better do cos no be only Northerners sabi do civil service work or get appointment and thankfully, we're always more than qualified.

Let the truth be told; from the reading of the op, one Nigeria is only a blackmail attempt to keep the South in perpetual servitude and that must stop!

Buhari is the worst President in Africa

ATIKU2019

I think a classic mistake would be for Buhari and his cronies to think they are getting block votes come 2019 off the back of some phantom anti corruption mantra.

Someone talked about the masses being his major support base. That's true, but one must understand that things change so fast.

And while there are those who still see nothing wrong in anything the president does, some people up north are beginning to think that it was a mistake electing him.

Their disappointment lies in him not doing enough to rid the nation of corruption especially in areas he could have have influenced, somehow.

A TRUE Muslim is an upright one. The case of CBN, FIRS and other government agencies conducting backdoor recruitment exercises right under his nose has left a bad taste in the mouths of the rank and file. That's something they cannot excuse. Because at the time of electing him, they thought they were choosing the right candidate to clean up the entire mess. They are no less disappointed in him for his inability to clean up the system almost two years down the line than they were for GEJ's entrenchment of such practices.

Truth is, nothing has really changed. They just got worse. The president is arming the opposition with enough firearm to send him to as far back home as Fouta Djallon.

The success, or failure thereof, of his reelection bid very much depends on his performance leading up to 2019. Nothing is automatic. And provided opposition parties present credible enough candidates, he's going back home, it's not a question of could.

I'm not gloating about anything, nor am I despairing. I just hope that he gets it right before it gets too late for him to.

Khd95:
Shameless unscrupulous elders

They are already talking bout 2019,where they will impose another aged deadbrain on us as our leader,what is more pathetic is that our youths who are supposed to move againts this unfortunate incident that will befall us are already pitching their tents in favour of some of these old men.


I weep for the future of nigeria


buhari,kwankwaso,atiku,balarabe,non of them is a bettr candidate

Speaking of the youths you mean Afonja youths.... The garage touts, land grabbers, those lazy youths that refuse to work hard on their own. That receive mama thank you after each meal at home.

kunle86:
So everybody believed that? lets wait till then and see. But buhari isn't our problem but we are problem of ourselfs. Many things are made in nigeria but we exploit ourself by selling them in high cost to gain multiple profit.

Three things increased the prices of goods:
1 Inflation
2 Naira free falls
3 import policy
Stop blaming the masses. One of the major reasons I campaigned for Buhari which I regret so much is to come and use his executive power to control prices of goods.

duduade:
Nigerians are just useless. .. Once something doesn't favour them or their don't see chances to encourage their egunje na wahala be that

Did you think before typing the above? Nigerians are just useless? That is including you? You must not comment on every post.

We Nigerians don't actually know what we want. Let them share money today and my people will vote for them overwhelmenly. Later we will still complain of incompetence.

Such a greedy set of people.

It's only d damed zombies that will support mumudu bubuhari a very callous old clueless man

And do these dunderheads think shopping for another nothern dullaard will make the country move foward?

The chicken has come home to roost, their eyes don dey clear like the break of dawn. Unfortunately resident zombies here are slow to understanding the times.

Even the northerners now feel scammed & tired of their own "change"? So no more "Sai Buhari,Sai Chanji"? .Karma abeg where you dey? Meanwhile 4 years have not elapse yet o. . Born-to-rule right? Una never see anything yet.Bunch of fucktards.Hope Madridguy & Sarrki are still standing with this catastrophie of a president?

ONLY a fOOLLISH person and ENEMY of PROGRESS will say Buhari should go for a second term, after impoverishing the country and mismanaging the country economy the way he way he has in just two years. If he is allowed to go for second-term, hunger and poverty will finish Nigerians. Even his own pipo have rejected him, yet Afonjan people are still following him like slaves.

APC strategy is to multiply poverty in the country so that by the time of election the impoverished populace will have no other choice than to sell their votes for pittance. God will punish APC and their supporters for spreading poverty and even thinking of ruling this country beyond 2019.

ALMUSTAQIM:
THIS IS ANOTHER SPONSORED PANICKY THREAD.

WHO IS NORTH.

WHEN DID HOLD REFERENDUM ON THIS.

AS FAR AS I KNOW, IT IS GOING TO BE

P M B. 1523

Are you sure you're in Nigeria & understands the reality on ground You better jolt yourself back to reality.Buhari is not an indispensable god.

duduade:
Nigerians are just useless. .. Once something doesn't favour them or their don't see chances to encourage their egunje na wahala be that

Oga you miss road

IykeChukz:
We cannot go back to history, We can only learn.
Short and simple, Buhari is a bad market.
Tested and confirmed!
The person ahead of me is still living in oblivion.

Speaking to our correspondent on phone at the
weekend, spokesman for the Northern Elders’
Forum (NEF), Prof. Ango Abdullahi, pointed out
that the forum only supported the All
Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2015 election
because it fielded General Muhammadu Buhari as
its presidential candidate “who happens to be a
northerner.”

This is the only thing that interest me. Because I was telling people in Lagos that this change they were shouting about. Change in the north meant a northern president QED.

That was why GEJ was being bullied with boko haram and the media and the reason people were killed in 2011.

Northern elders shopping for bubu's replacement. lol. better try jiji.com

Stop deceiving yourself my brother. None of the can withstand Sai Baba forget it. Sai Baba or no election

Paperwhite:
Even the northerners now feel scammed & tired of their own "change"? So no more "Sai Buhari,Sai Chanji"? .Karma abeg where you dey? Meanwhile 4 years have not elapse yet o. . Born-to-rule right? Una never see anything yet.Bunch of fucktards.Hope Madridguy & Sarrki are still standing with this catastrophie of a president?