The tussle within the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] for the 2015 presidential ticket against the general presidential elections may have begun between political titans in Northern Nigeria. Information available to 247ureports.com through sources close to the activities of the Jigawa State governor, Malam Sule Lamido indicates that the governor may have begun the finishes touches in ensuring the vice president of the federal republic of Nigeria, Arc. Namadi Sambo is checkmated before the horse-trading for the PDP primary elections throws into full gear.
According to information made available, the Jigawa State governor, whom has been speculated to have the support of the former president of Nigeria, General Olusegun Obasanjo for the possible candidate to contest in the 2015 presidential race in 2015 under the PDP banner – is said to be uneasy with the vice president – as a potential opponent. Gen. Obasanjo had been reported to support the candidacy of Lamido/Amaechi for the 2015 race – although other reports indicate that the former president had denied it.
Vice President Namadi Sambo, on his part, has yet to make public his desire to vie for the presidential ticket but close associates of the vice president indicate that he has expressed interest in the ticket privately. The associate pointed to the increased political engagements attended by the vice president as indicative of his presidential aspirations – particularly his recent highly publicized attendance of General Ibrahim Babangida’s birthday bash.
In this respect, the Jigawa State governor, working through the Jigawa Student Association [JSA], hatched a move aimed at dousing Namadi Sambo’s grassroot base in Kaduna. Through the National President of the JSA, Comrade Ado Shehu, the governor mobilized the association into mass mobilization of students across the northern Nigeria – beginning with Kaduna State. The first meeting was held in Kaduna the home state of Namadi Sambo on Tuesday September 4, 2012. The meeting was held at an unknown venue.
As gathered, the meeting conveners presented the governor’s case. They expressed that the governor of Jigawa State has proved within the last six months through his commendable efforts in Jigawa – to be worthy to contest for the seat of presidency. The President of JSA resolved to support a Lamido/Amaechi presidential ticket – to filled venue comprising of students drawn from tertiary institutions across Kaduna State.
Other groups in Kaduna have been mobilized by what appears a veiled presidential campaign. Some of the groups, as 247ureports.com learnt, consist of members of the congress for progressive change [CPC] based in Zaria – who are already auguring for advert placement in the various northern based news dailies – to urge the governor of Jigawa State to join the race.
Governor Sule Lamido’s highest level of western education was at Barewa College, Zaria – a secondary school. He is not university trained.
