Though the issue had attracted so much controversy recently following
statements credited to Buhari, suggesting that he was not indisposed to
the possibility of picking a Muslim as his running mate.
“I have not absolutely closed my mind to picking a Christian or Muslim as running mate if I get the ticket. Because I firmly believe that Nigerians, having gone through what they have gone through, realise it is not a matter of religion, but a matter of Nigeria.
“And the main religions, Christianity and Islam, they know and they believe in the almighty God. The question of stealing and short-changing people in the name of religion should stop.
“This new phenomenon of religion is another blackmail political confusionists in Nigeria are bringing to the fore,” Buhari reportedly said.
According to Vanguard report, with the controversy that is likely to
trail an APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket, it is obvious that aside religion,
ethnicity would be the key in deciding who will be the running mate of
Buhari.
Prior to this consideration, names that had been touted as likely running mates of Buhari include: Lagos State Governor Babarunde Fashola (SAN), ex Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Senator Olurumibe Mamoro, Prof. Yemi Osibajo (a former commissioner in Lagos State), Senator Ajayi Borofice (currently representing Ondo North in the Senate) and Wale Edun, a former commissioner in Lagos State.
Also, before the APC presidential primaries held on Wednesday and
Thursday, it was rumoured that the immediate past governor of Ekiti
State, Kayode Fayemi, may be chosen.
Below are some APC chieftains that Gen. Buhari would likely choose his running mate from to challenge the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 presidential polls:
Fayemi
Fayemi, who lost the last governorship polls in Ekiti State to PDP’s Ayodele Fayose, is regarded as an urbane politician, whose popularity extends beyond the South-West geo-political zone.
According to the speculation, Fayemi’s religion and political experience are the factors behind the possibility of pairing him with Buhari.
His robust civil society background also adds to his resume.
Fayemi, who has a Doctorate degree in War Studies from the University of London, England, specializing in civil-military relations, is also known to have had a cordial relationship with Buhari when he governed Ekiti.
Before he ventured into full-time politics, he was the Director of
the Centre for Democracy & Development, a research and training
institution dedicated to the study and promotion of democratic
development, peace-building and human security in Africa.
Prior to his establishment of the centre, he worked as a lecturer, journalist, researcher and Strategy Development adviser in Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
He was Strategy Development Adviser at London’s City Challenge; research fellow at the African Research & Information Bureau in London, UK. He also played key roles in sending the military out of the Nigerian political firmament and was responsible for the founding and management of the opposition radios – Radio Freedom, Radio Democracy International & Radio Kudirat.
Amaechi
Amaechi’s name is not new in speculations and permutations in the presidential race, as he was generally alleged to have nursed the ambition of paring with Alhaji Sule Lamido on the platform of the PDP.
However, since his defection to the APC, the Rivers State Governor has been regarded as an ardent supporter of Buhari. For instance, the former Head of State had been a frequent guest at most functions organised by Amaechi.
Having emerged more of a democratic hero in the crisis that resulted to his defection, Amaechi went ahead to become one of the leading governors in the party, hence, his emergence as a likely running mate.
While it is the prerogative of the party to make a decision in that
respect, some believe that Buhari/Amaechi ticket remains the best for
the opposition party.
Mamora
As a two term senator, Mamora distinguished himself in the National Assembly.
So remarkable was his representation of Lagos East Senatorial District, that many were shocked about his inability to return to the Senate in this dispensation.
In fact, governors, senators, members of the House of Representatives, among other politicians, reportedly expressed shock over his withdrawal from the race in 2011.
Till date, the Ikorodu-born politician, who was a Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly is regarded as a widely admired politician.
Of note are his principles and deep knowledge of democratic norms, which he exhibited as the Senate Deputy Minority Leader.
Oshiomhole
Aside the fame Governor Adamas Oshiomhole earned as a result of long period of activism in the labour movement, the Edo State governor ranks among the few governors, who had helped deepen this democracy.
This is widely evident from his utterances and actions on issues of governance.
Known to be rich in political experience, governance and foreign
policy, he is reputed to command a lot of supporters across the country.
Little wonder, commentators described him as committed to national unity, a characteristic that manifested so much during his tenure as chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC.
It would be recalled that in September the PDP adopted GEJ as party’s sole candidate for the 2015 presidential elections. The unprecedented decision triggered hot discussions, with many opposing the move, which left no chance for other party members.
“I have not absolutely closed my mind to picking a Christian or Muslim as running mate if I get the ticket. Because I firmly believe that Nigerians, having gone through what they have gone through, realise it is not a matter of religion, but a matter of Nigeria.
“And the main religions, Christianity and Islam, they know and they believe in the almighty God. The question of stealing and short-changing people in the name of religion should stop.
“This new phenomenon of religion is another blackmail political confusionists in Nigeria are bringing to the fore,” Buhari reportedly said.
Buhari and some APC chieftains.
Prior to this consideration, names that had been touted as likely running mates of Buhari include: Lagos State Governor Babarunde Fashola (SAN), ex Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Senator Olurumibe Mamoro, Prof. Yemi Osibajo (a former commissioner in Lagos State), Senator Ajayi Borofice (currently representing Ondo North in the Senate) and Wale Edun, a former commissioner in Lagos State.
Below are some APC chieftains that Gen. Buhari would likely choose his running mate from to challenge the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 presidential polls:
Fayemi
Fayemi, who lost the last governorship polls in Ekiti State to PDP’s Ayodele Fayose, is regarded as an urbane politician, whose popularity extends beyond the South-West geo-political zone.
According to the speculation, Fayemi’s religion and political experience are the factors behind the possibility of pairing him with Buhari.
His robust civil society background also adds to his resume.
Fayemi, who has a Doctorate degree in War Studies from the University of London, England, specializing in civil-military relations, is also known to have had a cordial relationship with Buhari when he governed Ekiti.
Dr. Kayode Fayemi
Prior to his establishment of the centre, he worked as a lecturer, journalist, researcher and Strategy Development adviser in Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
He was Strategy Development Adviser at London’s City Challenge; research fellow at the African Research & Information Bureau in London, UK. He also played key roles in sending the military out of the Nigerian political firmament and was responsible for the founding and management of the opposition radios – Radio Freedom, Radio Democracy International & Radio Kudirat.
Amaechi
Amaechi’s name is not new in speculations and permutations in the presidential race, as he was generally alleged to have nursed the ambition of paring with Alhaji Sule Lamido on the platform of the PDP.
However, since his defection to the APC, the Rivers State Governor has been regarded as an ardent supporter of Buhari. For instance, the former Head of State had been a frequent guest at most functions organised by Amaechi.
Having emerged more of a democratic hero in the crisis that resulted to his defection, Amaechi went ahead to become one of the leading governors in the party, hence, his emergence as a likely running mate.
Rotimi Amaechi.
Mamora
As a two term senator, Mamora distinguished himself in the National Assembly.
So remarkable was his representation of Lagos East Senatorial District, that many were shocked about his inability to return to the Senate in this dispensation.
In fact, governors, senators, members of the House of Representatives, among other politicians, reportedly expressed shock over his withdrawal from the race in 2011.
Till date, the Ikorodu-born politician, who was a Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly is regarded as a widely admired politician.
Of note are his principles and deep knowledge of democratic norms, which he exhibited as the Senate Deputy Minority Leader.
Oshiomhole
Aside the fame Governor Adamas Oshiomhole earned as a result of long period of activism in the labour movement, the Edo State governor ranks among the few governors, who had helped deepen this democracy.
This is widely evident from his utterances and actions on issues of governance.
Adams Oshiomhole.
Little wonder, commentators described him as committed to national unity, a characteristic that manifested so much during his tenure as chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC.
It would be recalled that in September the PDP adopted GEJ as party’s sole candidate for the 2015 presidential elections. The unprecedented decision triggered hot discussions, with many opposing the move, which left no chance for other party members.
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