2019: North splits into 3 groups over Buhari

The Northern political establishment appears divided over a possible second term ambition of President Muhammadu Buhari, sources in the North have told the Sunday Tribune.

Information at the disposal of our correspondent indicates that key political figures in the North are, however, united on the need to allow the region continue in office for another four years after 2019, with or without Buhari.

It was gathered in Abuja that at least three major camps have emerged in the argument over 2019 among the Northern political establishment.

One of the camps, according to sources, is of the view that Buhari may not be able to continue beyond 2019, due largely to ill health, while the other is of the view that the President cannot be fielded as a result of perceived lack of performance in office.

The third group is said to be of the view that the North could still benefit from Buhari’s goodwill in 2019 by asking him to anoint a candidate who will largely be supported by what was called the Buhari crowd. Sources said the dilemma is, however, being extended beyond the debate on Buhari as it was also gathered that the two camps that appeared to have written off the President in 2019 cannot agree on who should be backed by the North for the next Presidential election.

While the President has been recuperating from his illness in recent weeks, it was gathered that the Northern political establishment has flagged off largely among his Northern folks, on the way forward for 2019.

It was also gathered that the consensus among most of Buhari’s folks is that he would be too old to continue in office beyond 2019, especially given his current state of health.

An inside source told Sunday Tribune that recent meeting of minds among some key forces in the North in Kano and Kaduna seems to have concluded on a post Buhari Nigeria from 2019.

The source added, however, that the camps are unable to agree on a common candidate the North should back for election as President.

“I can tell you that the North appears to have largely agreed that the President may be unable to continue beyond 2019 and flowing from that his close allies are of the view that he would nominate an anointed successor.

“The other two views in the North are quite opposed to that. One of the camps believes that he has not performed up to expectation and should not be supported while the other hinged its opposition on his state of health,” a source said.

It was, however, learnt that a dramatic turnaround in the health status of the President could change all the views and possibly turn many to his side.

“Nothing is cast in stone, the thinking can still turn in favour of the President, but right now a lot of opinion leaders are thinking beyond him,” a source said.