Ahead of the 2015 elections, indications have emerged that Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd) of the Congress for Progressive Change may not emerge as the consensus candidate of the North, it was learnt on Friday.

In the past months, different northern groups have been holding meetings to strategise on the 2015 election and how to field a consensus candidate from the North to oppose President Goodluck Jonathan, should he contest for a second term.

However, in an interview with SUNDAY PUNCH, the Convener of the Concerned Northern Politicians, Academics, Professionals and Businessmen, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, said although Buhari was likely to emerge as flag bearer of the planned merger of the CPC, the Action Congress of Nigeria and some other parties, “his poor relationship with other stakeholders in northern politics would make it difficult for him to emerge a consensus candidate for the region.”

Mohammed said the planned merger of the parties, if it succeeded, would be a welcome development, but advised that Buhari should allow the leader of the ACN, Bola Tinubu to lead the negotiations.

“As a democrat, I believe that a strong opposition and a strong parliament are very important elements of a constitutional democracy. Our presidential system makes presidents too powerful and there is a tendency for incumbent presidents or governors to take matters into their hands and deal shabbily or unconstitutionally with their opponents.

He said, “I’m for the merger. But I would have thought that a broader ideological arrangement would have been better. I don’t know what the CPC ideology is; if it has any at all. The ACN occasionally makes statements about being progressive. But being progressive in politics is about pursuing a clear ideology. I haven’t seen that from the party of my very good friend Tinubu.

“I hope that both in the course of the merger discussions and the eventual merger, if it happens, Tinubu would be a positive influence on Buhari so that Buhari can be a true progressive. At the moment I have my doubts.

“I hope this time around, Buhari would be wiser and he would also leave the negotiations for Tinubu because Tinubu’s background gives him greater leverage when it comes to discussions of this nature.”

Mohammed added that Buhari had not been part of the discussions for a northern consensus candidate, and so may not be accepted by other northern leaders.

“The last time the North discussed the concept of a consensus candidate, Buhari refused to participate, regarding the idea as an internal PDP affair, which was wrong, counter-productive for him and completely apolitical.

“He cannot deliver the presidency without other parties and I don’t know how willing other parties would be to play ball with him, given his attitude towards other parties and other initiatives.”

Similarly, the President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Yerima Shettima, said although an average northerner may like Buhari, the elite of the region would not accept him as a consensus presidential candidate for the North.

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/1788-2015-elections-north-may-not-endorse-buhari

Not my problem

Who cares what the elites think of him?....what's their percentage in the general population?.....

Abeg make they Shut Tha Fvck UP!!!!

Buhari and Tinubu should be wise enough to crack down those blood thirsty power demons...shikenan!!!

when u say north, u mean the elite north abi?
as far as i can remember, there is no time the elite class ever endorsed buhari.
the common man 'talkawas' are the ones that have always endorsed him.
nothing new jare.

There will no election in the Boko Haram enclave in 2015, except you put your house in order.

D worst is dat pdp will set u guys up with a bomb n nulify results frm ur zone, cos u guys re bunch of idiots who can not address first thing first. D pdp just sit down n watch u guyz fool urselves. I prefer a badluck to fanatics who can tear dis mybelove country apart

how i wish dis baba was aboard dat ill-fated aircraft, jst joking oo, wetin dey worry una sef, u don old, u stil wan fite for post meant for the 1970s babies, abeg go siddon dey look

Not interested and never will.

Ok

Joey82: when u say north, u mean the elite north abi?
as far as i can remember, there is no time the elite class ever endorsed buhari.
the common man 'talkawas' are the ones that have always endorsed him.
nothing new jare.

+100

who cares about the stupid northern elite?

Na U̶̲̥̅̊ know stop nose pocking ...let them discuss whatever †ђξ outcome is ...its their business...more over U̶̲̥̅̊ sound like sumone scared of an alliance ...

the use one hand to kill christians and use the other hand to endorse buhari,i hope bokoharam and buhari are not working hand in hand oh.

ebamma: the use one hand to kill christians and use the other hand to endorse buhari,i hope bokoharam and buhari are not working hand in hand oh.

^^Correction,

PDP kills christians on the one hand aπϑ endorse On the other

Joey82: when u say north, u mean the elite north abi?
as far as i can remember, there is no time the elite class ever endorsed buhari.
the common man 'talkawas' are the ones that have always endorsed him.
nothing new jare.

End of story

Will north ever produce president again? Did they ve candidate? Did u kno buhari manifestos? Maybe we can consider middlebeltan for president instead of abokis but buhari is out of fashion. Buhari rule in 1983 then i was one year old but today i will be 30 yrs old by 2nd july n he still want to be president. Haba u misplace ur quaran in aso rock? Send someone to get it for u buhari.

not my pro. all i want is for PDP to get the hell out of corridor of power

We dont care.......

4me I only bilivd in God if He gives u no 1 wil dia wit it, dat z all.

Endorsed or not, it's unlikely Buhari will ever rule Nigeria again.

If tinubu feilds Buhari he should kiss SE/SS/ middlebelt and half oof SW vote goodbye. If he knows wht is gud he had beta field FasholA or any other progressive. Sai Buhari's silence on Boko haram is deafening

Sun2july: Will north ever produce president again? Did they ve candidate? Did u kno buhari manifestos? Maybe we can consider middlebeltan for president instead of abokis but buhari is out of fashion. Buhari rule in 1983 then i was one year old but today i will be 30 yrs old by 2nd july n he still want to be president. Haba u misplace ur quaran in aso rock? Send someone to get it for u buhari.

he didnt enter Aso rock!!!

musty1987: not my pro. all i want is for PDP to get the hell out of corridor of power

yeye people, so you think Nigeria will survive beyond 2015? You ain't see nothing yet. When boko haram nad their collaborators in govt unleasshed terror,then your eyes will be opened.With all these lootings people are really fed up.

wandeay: how i wish dis baba was aboard dat ill-fated aircraft, jst joking oo, wetin dey worry una sef, u don old, u stil wan fite for post meant for the 1970s babies, abeg go siddon dey look

I hope your papa , your mama and all members of your family are in the next air crash . Ediot!

the north want the president seat to rule them papa

Sun2july: Will north ever produce president again? Did they ve candidate? Did u kno buhari manifestos? Maybe we can consider middlebeltan for president instead of abokis but buhari is out of fashion. Buhari rule in 1983 then i was one year old but today i will be 30 yrs old by 2nd july n he still want to be president. Haba u misplace ur quaran in aso rock? Send someone to get it for u buhari.

Can the south rule Nigeria at all , let alone ruling it justly? They are unable to prove this , despite the decades of boasting about their high level of education and " civilization" . Nigeria is turning into Somalia and the all knowing southern government is helpless and blaming everybody except themselves. Fresh air indeed!

Who cares what the northern elites want but i know wit d way things are going both buhari and jonathan cant win in a free nd fair election

nagoma:

Can the south rule Nigeria at all , let alone ruling it justly? They are unable to prove this , despite the decades of boasting about their high level of education and " civilization" . Nigeria is turning into Somalia and the all knowing southern government is helpless and blaming everybody except themselves. Fresh air indeed!

NO NORTHERN nigeria is turninginto somalia because northerners want it that way , dont lump all of us together.

mekaboy: BUHARI OR ANY NORTHERN LEADER WILL BE PRESIDENT OF JIHAD REPUBLIC NOT NIGERIA, WITH THE AMOUNT OF PAIN THE NORTH IS CAUSING NIGERIA, I CANT IMAGINE ANYONE OUTSIDE THE NORTHERN PART OF NIGERIAN VOTING A NORTHERN PRESIDENT.

I KNOW PRESIDENCY SHOULD BE BASED ON INDIVIDUAL QUALIFICATION NOT ETHNIC, BUT SINCE THE NORTH HAS BEGAN TO SOW THE SEED OF DISCRIMINATION, THAT IS WHAT THEY WILL REAP.

I WILL ADVICE THE NORTH TO KISS NIGERIAN PRESIDENCY GOOD BYE .

shekaina

htajz: NO NORTHERN nigeria is turninginto somalia because northerners want it that way , dont lump all of us together.

Is there a president in Nigeria ?is there a government?