Situating the Presidential Run

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s an exclusive exercise that is creating its own traffic and generating commensurate traction, the build-up to the presidential run is gradually scaling up, with intriguing side attractions. President Buahri managed to put closure to his certificate scandal as WAEC, last week, issued him an attestation and confirmation certificate. Although that did not go down well with the opposition, which had immediately described it as a political certificate, the slant of debate will definitely change, going forward.

The Dubai trip of Atiku also generated its own controversy as some of the president’s men, including Asiwaju Bola Tinubu tried to shade it. Tinubu particularly said even if the PDP candidate and his team had gone to the jungle to strategise, Buhari would still win. Oshiomhole too supported this view in the week when he reiterated Buhari would defeat Atiku.

Tinubu and Buhari also met in the week behind closed-doors over the presidential election, although details of the meeting were not made public. But speculations that Tinubu might be appointed chairman of the presidential campaign council is a news item that generated intense reaction in the week. Many people were concerned if the development would not further unsettle the party as Amaechi and Tinubu do not look like people who can work together.

For Atiku, reports that Igbo leaders in Bayelsa had elected to back his aspiration on the one hand and the news of the proposed 1.2 million solidarity match by women in Kogi on the other hand, might have boosted his rating lately.

But while the North recently claimed it was still undecided over who to support between Buhari and Atiku, even though the Arewa Consultative Youth Forum had thrown its weight behind Atiku, Buhari’s recent meeting with four South-south governors had left tongues wagging on what for.

The governors, Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom, Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State and Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State are all of the PDP.

So far, the state of things on the presidential front is still very fluid but with exasperating pace of events. It cannot get any less intriguing every day and this is the reason the presidential run is a development that must be followed closely.