Drop Your Presidential Bid, Atiku Group Tells Buhari

A political interest group, the Turaki Vanguard, has asked former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), to withdraw from the 2015 presidential race.

The group, made up of loyalists of  the former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, said in a statement on Thursday that Buhari, having contested three times and lost, cannot add anything new to  the fortunes of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in next year’s presidential election.

“We are making this call on the former head of state with all sense of responsibility having in mind that Buhari will neither enrich the race nor enhance the political fortunes of the opposition APC which Nigerians hope will salvage their country from the 15 years of death grip and mis-governance of the PDP,” the group said.

Both Buhari and Atiku are among the frontrunners seeking the APC’s ticket for the presidential election.

The group’s call came on the heels of a similar admonition by a popular Islamic cleric, Sheik Ahmed Gumi, who advised Buhari, against running for the president for the fourth time.

In a statement issued by its National President, Oladimeji Fabiyi, the Turaki Vanguard said: “We, the members of the Turaki Vanguard, a political pressure group operating independently of the Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation, having carefully monitored and observed recent pro-Buhari activities sponsored by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), hereby call on him to quit the presidential race.”

However, what came as a surprise is the group’s  allegation  that the ruling PDP, might have been pushing for the Buhari candidacy, because they are sure of defeating him and would be comfortable with his candidacy.

“In making this call, we are mindful of the need for all patriotic Nigerians to help prevent another political ridicule of a former Nigerian leader like Buhari, which would be unavoidable if he continues with his 2015 aspiration.

“We hope the elderly and revered General will heed our advice and those of other respectable Nigerians like Sheikh Ahmad Gumi,” it added.