By Our Reporter
Regardless of how the ailing President Muhammadu Buhari recovers from his yet to be made known sickness that had taken him out of the country for two times this year, the north may not want to gamble with him to retain the presidency come 2019.
Buhari is currently undergoing medical follow up in London, having left on Sunday, May 7 and handed over to his deputy, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, to act in his stead.
But there is widespread insinuation that Buhari will take a shot again at the office of the President in 2019 if he recovers, particularly by some of his aides.
TheNiche has been told by some northern politicians that Buhari does not need anyone to tell him that his presidency would end as soon as he is healthy enough to complete his first term preceding the 2019 general election.
To drive home the point, some of the northern politicians are said to have started oiling their political machinery ahead of the 2019 election, their political party affiliation notwithstanding.
A two term former governor from the Northwest told TheNiche during the week that “the north is more worried now about Buhari completing his first term due to his failing health, and would not gamble with him after his first tenure, and that is the thinking of informed northern politicians and leaders.”
According to the ex-governor, the north were in full support of Buhari’s deputy, Osinbajo who is now Acting President, holding forte for the President so that the issue of whether the slot for the Presidency would remain with the north after Buhari’s first term would not arise in 2019.
Prodded on whether he would be in the race, the former governor said, “it could not be ruled out”, adding that “experience and age will make it possible for me to consider going into the race.”
On whether the northern oligarchy could stop Buhari from contesting again in 2019 if he thinks he has fully recovered, and if his political associates wish he contests, the politician said: “Do we need to tell you that we feel his poor health more than any other part of the country? For now, we are praying for him to recover fully, but we are not praying for him to be interested in the presidency again after now because of his health.”
Reminded that Buhari’s kitchen cabinet members have not given in on him over a reelection, he said: “Who are they? Wait till the time comes so that we know their political pedigree and strength in the north. They cannot love Buhari more than he thinks he loves himself.”
The race for the office of the President may have started in earnest with politicians holding clandestine strategy meetings that would favour both their party and their zone. Matters were even made worse with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) releasing the timetable for the 2019 contest