EXCLUSIVE: Obasanjo, Sanusi Among Those Who Convinced Ezekwesili To Step Down

SaharaReporters understands that these talks, which began on Sunday and continued till Tuesday, received big inputs from Obasanjo, Sanusi and the international community, notably the European Union (EU). Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, was also credited with some faint involvement in the talks, but sources very close to him told SaharaReporters that this is very unlikely, as he prefers to stay out of the politics of electioneering.

Olusegun Obasanjo, former President and Sanusi Lamido, former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), are among high-ranking Nigerians who convinced Obiageli Ezewesili, candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), to with[b][/b][b][/b]draw from the 2019 presidential race.

Ezekwesili withdrew from the race on Thursday morning after “extensive discussions with Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora”, citing the need to “focus on helping to build a veritable coalition to ensure a viable alternative to the #APCPDP in the forthcoming elections”.

“It is my ardent belief that this broad coalition for a viable alternative has now become more than ever before, an urgent mission for and on behalf of Nigerian citizens,” she had said. “I have therefore chosen to lead the way in demonstrating the much needed patriotic sacrifice for our national revival and redirection.”

Talks for the emergence of a consensus candidate under the Presidential Aspirants Coming Together (PACT) initiative were on earlier in the campaign. While seven candidates —  notably Tope Fasua, presidential candidate of the Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP) and Omoyele Sowore, presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) — pulled out of it, 11 more — including Fela Durotoye, presidential candidate of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) and Kingsley Moghalu, candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), stayed till the end. Durotoye emerged the winner, but Moghalu refused to step down, after which Ezekwesili herself joined the race.

However, after monitoring the performance of candidates at Saturday’s presidential debate organised by the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) and the Nigeria Elections Debate Group (NEDG), some concerned Nigerians became convinced that two of those candidates — Ezekwesili and Moghalu — could defeat President Muhammadu Buhari, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Atiku Abubakar, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). They, therefore, began a series of “intense talks” towards presenting just one candidate. 

SaharaReporters understands that these talks, which began on Sunday and continued till Tuesday, received big inputs from Obasanjo, Sanusi and the international community, notably the European Union (EU). Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, was also credited with some faint involvement in the talks, but sources very close to him told SaharaReporters that this is very unlikely, as he prefers to stay out of the politics of electioneering.

“The international community was involved,” a diplomatic source deeply involved in the talks told SaharaReporters on Thursday evening. 

“They were here before the debate, and afterwards they held several meetings in Abuja. You also had a former President who pretends to be supporting Atiku. I will tell you for free that Obasanjo’s support of Atiku is not genuine. He wants a coalition but he agreed to support Atiku so that in the event that the coalition does not work, Atiku will be a better President than Buhari is for him.”

A second source with extensive knowledge of northern Nigeria politics also told SaharaReporters about the influence of Sanusi, the Emir of Kano, on Ezekwesili’s withdrawal.

“Sanusi has been involved, too. He is the chief sponsor of Moghalu. He is the one mobilising the northern elites for Moghalu,” he said. “That is where Moghalu has always got his confidence from. Sanusi believes in Ezekwesili too, but he and some others feel that Moghalu, being a man, will pull more weight.”

The source, though, ex

pressed doubts that Moghalu would step down for anyone should the new idea of a consensus candidate produce someone other than him.

“You know Moghalu will never step down for anybody,” he said. “Now, somebody has to sacrifice his/her ambition, and the woman wants to sacrifice hers so that in the coming days others will also sacrifice theirs.

“You’ve seen also that ACPN also will never support a coalition. Galadima never wanted a coalition; he has always said that in 2015 when he was the candidate of the party, the party came fourth in the presidential election. And now that the party has Oby as the flagbearer, they will definitely win the election.

Already, Galadima, the National Chairman of ACPN, has disowned Ezekwesili, claiming that she never wanted to be President in the first place but only wanted to use the position to negotiate for the position of Finance Minister. However, SaharaReporters understands that this is unlikely, as Ezekweisli, since leaving office as Minister of Education in April 2007, is privately known to have turned down ministerial offers from two presidents.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has also turned down her withdrawal, saying it came in two months after the deadline.

http://saharareporters.com/2019/01/24/exclusive-obasanjo-sanusi-among-those-who-convinced-ezekwesili-step-down

Her withdrawal translates to more support for Atiku that's if she's wise cos it getting clear and convincing Atiku will win Buhari next Month.

OBJ have entered the picture and the political dynamics/barometer simply changed as well.Meanwhile the final subtle networking to send pack-ing the disaster Nigeria have today have began.Under-rate OBJ to your own peril.

AccessME:
Her withdrawal translates to more support for Atiku that's if she's wise cos it getting clear and convincing Atiku will win Buhari next Month.

of course, he will win in Biafra land and on Nairaland and Twitter and will be swear in on Instagram.

yeye!

Racoon:
OBJ have entered the picture and the political dynamics/barometer simply changed as well.Meanwhile the final subtle networking to send pack-ing the disaster Nigeria have today have began.Under-rate OBJ to your own peril.

u know, is surprising, how u guys now love Obasanjo, he is no longer Afonja? he is now longer double face? Am sure u prefer licking his yansh now than that of ur dilector in Israel.


U all will receive sense in February, no lenfeledum no erection.

[s]

Dididrumz:
EXCLUSIVE: Obasanjo, Sanusi Among Those Who Convinced Ezekwesili To Step Down

SaharaReporters understands that these talks, which began on Sunday and continued till Tuesday, received big inputs from Obasanjo, Sanusi and the international community, notably the European Union (EU). Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, was also credited with some faint involvement in the talks, but sources very close to him told SaharaReporters that this is very unlikely, as he prefers to stay out of the politics of electioneering.

Olusegun Obasanjo, former President and Sanusi Lamido, former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), are among high-ranking Nigerians who convinced Obiageli Ezewesili, candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), to with[b][/b][b][/b]draw from the 2019 presidential race.

Ezekwesili withdrew from the race on Thursday morning after “extensive discussions with Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora”, citing the need to “focus on helping to build a veritable coalition to ensure a viable alternative to the #APCPDP in the forthcoming elections”.

“It is my ardent belief that this broad coalition for a viable alternative has now become more than ever before, an urgent mission for and on behalf of Nigerian citizens,” she had said. “I have therefore chosen to lead the way in demonstrating the much needed patriotic sacrifice for our national revival and redirection.”

Talks for the emergence of a consensus candidate under the Presidential Aspirants Coming Together (PACT) initiative were on earlier in the campaign. While seven candidates —  notably Tope Fasua, presidential candidate of the Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP) and Omoyele Sowore, presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) — pulled out of it, 11 more — including Fela Durotoye, presidential candidate of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) and Kingsley Moghalu, candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), stayed till the end. Durotoye emerged the winner, but Moghalu refused to step down, after which Ezekwesili herself joined the race.

However, after monitoring the performance of candidates at Saturday’s presidential debate organised by the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) and the Nigeria Elections Debate Group (NEDG), some concerned Nigerians became convinced that two of those candidates — Ezekwesili and Moghalu — could defeat President Muhammadu Buhari, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Atiku Abubakar, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). They, therefore, began a series of “intense talks” towards presenting just one candidate. 

SaharaReporters understands that these talks, which began on Sunday and continued till Tuesday, received big inputs from Obasanjo, Sanusi and the international community, notably the European Union (EU). Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, was also credited with some faint involvement in the talks, but sources very close to him told SaharaReporters that this is very unlikely, as he prefers to stay out of the politics of electioneering.

“The international community was involved,” a diplomatic source deeply involved in the talks told SaharaReporters on Thursday evening. 

“They were here before the debate, and afterwards they held several meetings in Abuja. You also had a former President who pretends to be supporting Atiku. I will tell you for free that Obasanjo’s support of Atiku is not genuine. He wants a coalition but he agreed to support Atiku so that in the event that the coalition does not work, Atiku will be a better President than Buhari is for him.”

A second source with extensive knowledge of northern Nigeria politics also told SaharaReporters about the influence of Sanusi, the Emir of Kano, on Ezekwesili’s withdrawal.

“Sanusi has been involved, too. He is the chief sponsor of Moghalu. He is the one mobilising the northern elites for Moghalu,” he said. “That is where Moghalu has always got his confidence from. Sanusi believes in Ezekwesili too, but he and some others feel that Moghalu, being a man, will pull more weight.”

The source, though, ex

pressed doubts that Moghalu would step down for anyone should the new idea of a consensus candidate produce someone other than him.

“You know Moghalu will never step down for anybody,” he said. “Now, somebody has to sacrifice his/her ambition, and the woman wants to sacrifice hers so that in the coming days others will also sacrifice theirs.

“You’ve seen also that ACPN also will never support a coalition. Galadima never wanted a coalition; he has always said that in 2015 when he was the candidate of the party, the party came fourth in the presidential election. And now that the party has Oby as the flagbearer, they will definitely win the election.

Already, Galadima, the National Chairman of ACPN, has disowned Ezekwesili, claiming that she never wanted to be President in the first place but only wanted to use the position to negotiate for the position of Finance Minister. However, SaharaReporters understands that this is unlikely, as Ezekweisli, since leaving office as Minister of Education in April 2007, is privately known to have turned down ministerial offers from two presidents.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has also turned down her withdrawal, saying it came in two months after the deadline.

http://saharareporters.com/2019/01/24/exclusive-obasanjo-sanusi-among-those-who-convinced-ezekwesili-step-down

[/s] Beer parlour story from Soworeporters.

the guy above me stole the word from my mouth ,all this beer parlour tales , sahara reporters are always telling us ....whether u like it or not buhari aka ( Mr lifeless) would be going to join his brothers ( I mean the herdsmen ) in duara next month !!!

Of the present presidential candidates, only Atiku stands a realistic chance of defeating PMB.

The Tradamoni aka vote buying funds is what has really boosted pmb's chances. Ironically, it validates pmb's assertion that Nigerians are lazy & like free things (yes, the Tradamoni is relatively free & if a true trader believes 10k can turn his/her life around given this dire economic situation, then that person was never a good trader to start with)...

ivandragon:
Of the present presidential candidates, only Atiku stands a realistic chance of defeating PMB.

The Tradamoni aka vote buying funds is what has really boosted pmb's chances. Ironically, it validates pmb's assertion that Nigerians are lazy & like free things (yes, the Tradamoni is relatively free & if a true trader believes 10k can turn his/her life around given this dire economic situation, then that person was never a good trader to start with)...

N10k, in the 1st instance, will help any PETTY TRADER.

Some of you are either ignorant or mischievous liars.

fyneguy:


N10k, in the 1st instance, will help any PETTY TRADER.

Some of you are either ignorant or mischievous liars.

And a lot of you are unrealistic, unreasonably daft & prefer to reason out of context.

Why would the VP even be going around in the name of launching the vote buying scheme?

Why not let SMEDAN or another govt agency handle the matter so that it has a far better socioeconomic integrated structure & policy backing?


Anyway, like PMB said, lazy louts everywhere, especially brainless ones...

February, 2019.

May the BEST man, who will serve the people well, win!

Is the Emir Atikulated?

it would have been better if she continued as the only woman in the race

cc lzaa sarrki

Whatever that will kick Buhari out is OK by me.

Buhari has finished Nigeria

Anything to send him packing is welcomed .

[quote author=engrfcuksmtin post=75086164][s][/s] Beer parlour story from Soworeporters.[/ooquote] SEE PAIN!

Humn drastic move....

Sounds from distance!

Voices from the market!

#WeStayFocused #WeStandwithUnrecycledLeaders

We are not desperate to get it now, we get it soonest!

ivandragon:



And a lot of you are unrealistic, unreasonably daft & prefer to reason out of context.

Why would the VP even be going around in the name of launching the vote buying scheme?

Why not let SMEDAN or another govt agency handle the matter so that it has a far better socioeconomic integrated structure & policy backing?


Anyway, like PMB said, lazy louts everywhere, especially brainless ones...

The tradermoni scheme is an FG initiative and the VP has a right to be directly involved if he so chooses. I know its strange to your kind when you see a VP directly reaching and interacting with the people unlike the PDP years when the VP was just a redundant position under PDP.

That order has changed now.

He is the best VP ever

This maybe time up for OBJ...
OBJ cannot deliver his local government to any party
Where is Iyabo obj..she was roundly defeated in Ogun central while OBJ was going about campaigning for PDP

There is the bad, the better,and the best before us there is no excuse, if we refuse to go for the best choice we might only regret that we had the best choice but we only failed to make it.

So Obasanjo convinced her to step down and build a coalition against his PDP? Continue...
Anyway, if Obj was truly involved, then a compensation package must be involved..
What could that be

I fear that man

I just got fed up with this rubbish

ivandragon:



And a lot of you are unrealistic, unreasonably daft & prefer to reason out of context.

Why would the VP even be going around in the name of launching the vote buying scheme?

Why not let SMEDAN or another govt agency handle the matter so that it has a far better socioeconomic integrated structure & policy backing?


Anyway, like PMB said, lazy louts everywhere, especially brainless ones...

Now you have deviated from the fact that the money is too small to why is the VP in charge of disbursement.

Choose a struggle and stop being silly. You're obviously the oaf here.