APC leaders meet over Buhari’s running mate; Amaechi, Osibajo are the top favourites
Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are currently meeting in Victoria Island, Lagos, to decide on a running mater for Muhammadu Buhari, who was coasting home to victory in the party’s presidential primary, TheCable understands.
The meeting, which was put together by Bola Tinubu, APC national leader, has all the major party chieftains in attendance, including Buhari himself.
Rotimi Amaechi, governor of Rivers state, is highly favoured to pick the slot but Yemi Osibajo, a professor of law and former attorney-general of Lagos state under Tinubu, is also being considered.
Kayode Fayemi, former governor of Ekiti state, is also thought to be in the running, but he is said to have lost the trust of Tinubu after a series of incidents this year, leading to his failure to get re-elected as governor.
Fayemi was also reported to have antagonised Tinubu during the party’s convention in June, and the former governor of Lagos state is said to have developed cold feet at his possible candidature.
Tinubu is not particularly disposed to Amaechi because of his temperament, but Buhari had promised him the VP slot before he fully threw his financial weight behind the retired general, TheCable learnt.
Babatunde Fashola, governor of Lagos state, was highly favoured to be running mate but the issue of Muslim-Muslim ticket effectively threw him out of the equation.
Other south-west APC governors are all Muslims, making it politically complicated to pick any of them.
Here is a line-up of the TOP contenders.
CHIBUIKE AMAECHI
Age: 49
State: Rivers
Education: BA English studies and literature (University of Port Harcourt)
Political experience: Speaker, Rivers house of assembly (1999-2007); governor, Rivers (2007 till date)
The case for: Could be spoiler to Jonathan in Rivers, which has four million votes and has traditionally been an electoral pot of gold for PDP; Has invested heavily in Buhari’s campaign and is on good terms with the APC presidential candidate; Loved in many parts of the north for his open opposition to Jonathan; Has a good record of achievements in Rivers.
The case against: Not likely to woo south-south and south-east where Jonathan is expected to hold sway as “home favourite”; South-west voters may not be too enthusiastic at the polls with no Yoruba on the ticket; Considered to be too combustible to be a loyal and calm deputy to a strong-willed person like Buhari.
TheCable odds: 9/10 to be picked as running mate
YEMI OSIBAJO
Age: 55
State: Lagos
Education: Bachelor of law (University of Lagos); master’s degree (London School of Economics)
Political experience: Lagos attorney-general and commissioner for justice (1999-2007)
For: Intellectual, professor of law and senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN); highly respected as man of integrity; pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God and could assuage “fundamentalist” suspicion of Buhari; a legal brain behind the Tinubu government in 1999-2007.
Against: Lack of electoral experience; name recognition highly constrained; Naming a pastor not an automatic guarantee of Christian votes.
TheCable odds: 6/10 to be picked as running mate
KAYODE FAYEMI
Age: 49
State: Ekiti
Education: Degrees in history, politics and international relations from the Universities of Lagos and Ife in Nigeria; PhD in war studies (King’s College, University of London).
Political experience: Ekiti governor (2010-2014)
For: Former governor who has national name-recognition; a Christian from the south-west to counter fundamentalism feelings about Buhari; good performer as governor; intellectual; calm and mature politician.
Against: Having lost Ekiti election, electoral value in question; not in the good books of Tinubu, who calls the shots in the south-west.
TheCable odds: 5/10 to be picked as running mate
Honourable mention
Olawale Edun, 49, former Lagos commissioner for finance (1999-2004), B.Sc (Economics), University of London; M.Sc (Economics), University of Sussex.
I dare to choose Prof. Osibajo
Frankly speaking, APC leaders should reserve a deserving portfolio for the Yorubas who beared the brunt of dearth of benefits os democracy even rom Obasanjo era to date as ponishment for our loyalty to the Jagaban. If for any reason, we cannot be Vice President now.
APC Running Mate should be a Strong and Formidable Candidate that can woo a balance to our General.
Philanthropist
Internationally Educated
Mother and Woman: 35%
Chartered Accountant
Humanitarian
Freedom Advocate
Public Servant
God Fearing
For me no other that Dr. Oby Ezekwesili
Deff, you are on point.
OBY EZEKWESILI is the woman
Forget the Muslim/Muslim issue, Fashola is still the best option considering the south west appeal. GEJ will still clear the South East and South South with Ameachi as running mate or not.
let love one ….vote right
#GMB4Change
The two best choices remains,Okorocha or Oby Ezekwesili
Great. My choice. Hope APC can listen to the people before making a final choice
It is said that he who d cap fit should wear it…D cap fit Amaechi let him wear it, becos d man Amaechi is a courageous and reliable leader.
FAYEMI or AMEACH is gud 4 v.p slot
l preferred Pro. Yemi Osibajo to be running mate for Buhari
Whoever he chooses, all to the slaughter.
Rotimi Amaechi is a candidate that will forever be liked and loved in Nigeria, especially in the North.
let us think Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu is the right and excellent choice APC had better be wise or they will again regret it, Period.
If he chooses Amaechi and the unexpected happens……it goes back to the South-South you see! And then what…. “Power must return to the North? …Just wondering
GMB &AMECHI pLS.
PLEASE GOVERNOR AMAECHI DESERVES THE VP SLOT OF APC. HE HAS MADE SO MUCH SACRIFICE FOR THE PARTY INCLUDING FALLING OUT WITH HIS KINSMAN GEJ AND ENSURING THAT GEJ IS LESS POPULAR IN THE SOUTH SOUTH. CRA IS THE MAN FOR THE JOB.
Dr Oby should not be selected as this will only discredit the bring back our girls campaign. Neither should Rotimi cos South east and South South votes are for GEJ. Candidate should be from the south west Fashola must likely but I fear for the Muslim Muslim candidature and how the electorates would react to this.
I,Olohunoyowa prefer Busari and amaechi to be running mate because of geo political zone. Let the vp goes to south -East in order not to cheat them please u leaders of apc do not disappoint Nigeria people. May Allah be with u. I am praying for apc both night and day, I am not a politician but I love Buhari because he is trustworthy among others thanks.
I prefer Rotimi Amechi because, He is a responsible and Dedicated man who has faced challenges and controversy in his region only because of his ambition to tackle GEJ. his mandate as Vice president will reduce the tension and bring more votes from south south
I will prefer Rotimi Amechi. Bcos of his popularity and political experience. He can also tackle any problem by himself
I am not a politician,but I need change in our contry,I will not want APC to make a wrong choice of Running mate.I believe it will be perfect for Buhari to pick either Rotimi Ameachi or Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State,because both Gorvernors are popular.
If Buhari likes let him choose all the candidates above as his vice, he will never rule Nigeria again…..not when he keeps talking of baboons and dogs soaking in blood and not when he has not apologized for the massive loss of the lives of Youth Corpers in 2011, following his reckless , incendiary comments after losing a free and fair (see the EU report) election. No fundamentalist bigot will rule Nigeria again !!!
I fost congrat APC membas for chosin GMB as our presidnt ; now we tokin about u we D VP 4 GMB in 2015; Adam Edo state Gov shud step out becus National chaman is 4rm Edo; Den Fasola U foget u are a muslim? Go and wok 4 dis paty anoda position awaiting u; Ameachi u are D best in Apc u Desav VP but u are 4rm Ibo so wok for Apc and ask 4 anoda post dont kil Yoruba lik D way Pdp do 4 us Tinubu is left 4u Yoruba is our espetin VP in 2015 Also Tinubu is enof for Lagosins So i prefa Fayemi or Senator AJAYI BOROFFICE is D fost African Man 2 shut Satalite unda OBJ regime he was the Asiwaju of Akoko Land and Incubent Senator of ondo north in 2012 L P hav Deputy gov ;Deputy spika; ambasado and 2comsiona in d same LG Boroffice difited dem in defunt Acn for Akeredolu
the VP slot should go 4 ameachi, reason is bcoz he is a man of vision and has fault 4 the party immensely, so he should b given the running mate