The Deputy National Chairman (North) of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Lawali Shuaibu, has said that leaders of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in the North will support the presidential candidate of the APC, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) in the 2015 presidential election.
Shuaibu said this in an interview in with reporters in Abuja on Monday.
He explained that Buhari’s choice as the APC candidate had gone a long way to unite the northerners, notwithstanding the rhetoric by some politicians.
He noted that statements made by some members of the Arewa Consultative Forum and other socio-cultural organisations like the Ohaneze Ndigbo, could not be taken as representing the political views of the majority of the people.
Shuaibu said, “The north is solid as far as the choice of Buhari is. Let me tell you, the leaders of the PDP from the north are resolved for Buhari come February 14, 2015.
“Go and write it down and say I told you this, forget the rhetoric, forget what they are telling you, forget what they are telling Nigerians, of course, man must eat. When it comes to that day, you will see what is going to happen.
“The issue of incumbency, I just cited an instance where opposition took over power in several countries in Africa, Nigeria is not different.
“I told you from the beginning, when the wind of change comes, it’s not about money, it’s not about power but it is about the will and the wish of the people; once they are resolved, they go the whole hog to realise their resolution.”
He also dispelled fears that the security challenge being faced by states controlled by the APC would affect the party’s chances in the forthcoming elections.
According to him, the people in the worst affected areas are eager to use their votes to state exactly how they feel about the President Goodluck Jonathan-led PDP administration.
Shuiabu said, “Elections were held in Afghanistan, elections were held in Egypt, elections were actually also held in Syria, elections were also held in Iraq, so what are you talking about?
“Insurgency is not an impediment, the people in the North-East where the insurgency is more are too eager to use their votes and express their opinion with regards to the incumbent government, I assure you this. They feel highly disenchanted and they are going to show it.”
