2019 presidency: I am not aware of plans to replace President Buhari ―Lame

IT has been declared that the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) has not in any way muted any plans to replace President Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential aspirations in the 2019 general elections as against the rumours making rounds in some platforms insinuating a purported move to replace him by the party.

A chieftain of the party in Bauchi State who was a former Minister of Police Affairs during the Olusegun Obasanjo led PDP administration, Dr Yakubu Lame while fielding questions from newsmen declared that he was not aware of any meeting where the issue of replacing President Muhammadu Buhari as the APC candidate was ever on the agenda of a meeting he attended.

Yakubu Lame explained that the clarification became necessary in order to counter a report in one of the national dailies titled, “Ex-Generals, Governors, Ministers move to replace Buhari in 2019 was to save democracy” adding, ”I am surprised that this is what has been reported”.

He added that “I know the group exists, and I attended their first meeting but in that meeting, the issue of replacing the current President was never on the agenda. It was never brought up as an agenda and since that meeting, I have never attended any of their meetings.”

He further said “I, therefore, want to disassociate myself from that agenda. I am not part of that agenda”.

Yakubu Lame who the Chairman, Board of the Nigeria Airspace Management Authority (NAMA) said that he believes in the leadership of his party, APC stressing that he will also work within the framework of the party to make sure a credible presidential candidate was produced when the time comes.

The one-time gubernatorial aspirant of the APC in Bauchi state during the 2015 party promises stated that “One aspirant has already indicated his intention for the 2019 presidency and that is President Muhammadu Buhari. And I believe many more may indicate their interests, so as far as I am concerned I am with the programme of my party”.

According to him, he will respect the decision of the party in order for it to retain power and win more states come 2019 general elections.