Disgruntled youths from the All Progressives Congress’ North East Stakeholders Forum have spoken out against Tinubu Support Organisation’s open endorsement of Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai as the best candidate for the vice presidency.
According to the TSO, El-Rufai is the best candidate among those being considered as running mate to APC presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
Aminu Suleiman, Director-General of Tinubu Support Organisation, told reporters in Kaduna on Monday that the decision was reached after a consultative meeting with critical stakeholders of the party in the country’s North-West geopolitical zone.
Suleiman reiterated that, while the APC had many outstanding individuals among its ranks who could serve as Tinubu’s running mate, the North-West, as Nigeria’s single largest voting bloc, should be allowed to produce the next Vice President.
Haruna Sardauna, Chairman of the APC North-East Youth Stakeholders Forum, reacted to the development on Monday night, urging Nigerians to reject el-imposition Rufai’s on the country.
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Sardauna also urged the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd. ), the APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, and the party’s standard bearer not to shift the focus away from the North-East region in the name of justice and equity.
“Given the region’s contributions to the party in the 2015 and 2019 general elections, the North East should be given the slot.” On behalf of our region, the North-East APC Youth Stakeholders Forum has requested that the party and President Muhammadu Buhari unconditionally zone the VP slot to our region. President Muhammadu Buhari’s election as Nigeria’s president in 2015 and 2019 received more than 70% of the vote in both elections. In our opinion, it is past time for the North-East to be recognised not only for their role in deposing a sitting President, but also for supporting Buhari and the APC’s progressive principles.
“It’s not wrong to say this is our time, and it’s morally wrong to deny this opportunity to our region.” Choosing a vice president from another region would be political suicide given the region’s significant vote share, especially after Atiku emerged as the PDP’s flagbearer.
“We offer this recommendation based on the reality that a son of the region must serve as Vice President in order to secure our region’s bloc votes.”
“It is our hope that our dear President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Working Committee of our great party will take these concerns seriously and do what is necessary for the progress and success of our party and country,” he said.
