…as rumour thickens of Saraki’s 2019 presidential bid
In continuation of its nationwide consultations with a view to up its game ahead of coming elections, newly revived Social Democratic Party has begun talks with political bigwigs, both in the ruling All Progressives Congress and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.
Investigations by The Point revealed at the weekend, that the party had initiated talks with PDP’s leading presidential hopeful, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and a former Governor of Ekiti State, who is the National Deputy Chairman of the APC, Mr. Segun Oni.
Although these political bigwigs have denied having such interactions with the SDP, an impeccable source close to the party told our correspondent that “they are all coming soon.”
The source, who preferred anonymity, said, “They (Atiku, Saraki and Oni) have had talks with us in Abuja and I can remember that one of them sought to confirm if we had received the blessing of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, so he could dissolve his Coalition for Nigeria Movement into the SDP.
They (Atiku, Saraki and Oni) have had talks with us in Abuja and I can remember that one of them sought to confirm if we had received the blessing of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, so he could dissolve his Coalition for Nigeria Movement into the SDP. We gave them graphic detail of how far we had gone and how prominent politicians in both the APC and the PDP had chosen to take us as a mega party
“We gave them graphic detail of how far we had gone and how prominent politicians in both the APC and the PDP had chosen to take us as a mega party, while for the CNM, they prefer to call us ‘The Third Force’.”
Only recently too, the National Chairman of the SDP, Chief Olu Falae, confirmed to The Point that apart from Professors Tunde Adeniran and Gerry Gana from the PDP that had declared for the SDP, the party had had useful talks with the OBJ-led CNM.
Besides, it was learnt that the SDP is currently racing against time in its bid to field viable governorship candidates in Ekiti and Osun governorship polls, coming up later this year.
In addition, the party is reportedly targeting next month, by which time its targeted political bigwigs would have fully arrived, to sieve for at least three presidential gladiators.
Already, the Independent National Electoral Commission has set a time-table for its electoral activities, and according to it, the presidential candidate of each party must emerge on or before August 2018.
With this development, more works lie ahead for the party, which is believed to be working on a tangible structure to dislodge both the APC and PDP in the country.
Though a temporary national working committee of the party had been inaugurated, a top source in the party told our correspondent that “proper Convention is slated for April.”
With this, an agenda has been set that more bigwigs from the two major political parties in the country should join the party, to create shockwaves.
Among the biggest defections which Nigerians are expected to see include those of Atiku, Saraki and Oni, it was gathered.
“Nigerians will be shocked any moment from now, with the caliber of people that will pull out of APC and PDP to join us. I have a confirmation from our leaders that talks are going on with Atiku, Saraki, Oni, Saraki and others. They are all tired of PDP and APC respectively. And they are ready to move with us,” the source said.
ATIKU ABUBAKAR
With his recent defection from the APC back to PDP, it was widely speculated that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar would emerge as the PDP presidential candidate ahead of the 2019 election. But with forces that seem mightier than him, who have hijacked the party, the political stalwart is said to have been looking elsewhere in a bid to actualise his political ambition.
Atiku, it was learnt, is not particularly happy that the governors have hijacked the leadership of the party. Political analysts have said the factors that will be responsible for Atiku’s proposed movement to SDP may be the seeming domination of the PDP by Rivers and Ekiti state governors, Nyesom Wike and Ayo Fayose, respectively. It was also gathered that the chances of the former VP were getting slimmer in PDP because of the candidacy of Sule Lamido and the planned return of Rabiu Kwankwaso, who is already embattled in the APC.
It was also gathered from an SDP source that Atiku might soon join the party and bring along with him, the immediate past governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, who he intends to field as presidential running mate.
But in a swift reaction to the festering rumour of his defection to the SDP, Atiku has denied knowledge of any such move. He said the rumour was unfounded as there was no basis for him to leave the PDP.
BUKOLA SARAKI
All eyes will also be on Senate President Bukola Saraki to emerge as presidential candidate of the SDP if speculations about his defection to the party becomes a reality.
Already, sources said talks were going on to woo the Kwara political heavyweight to SDP, but no success has yet been achieved.
“As I speak with you, we are all in darkness over what the future holds but one thing that is sure is that, wherever he (Saraki) goes, we are all going because he is our political leader,” Aruna Saheed, Saraki’s supporter from Ilorin, Kwara State, said.
Meanwhile, pundits insisted that the chances of Saraki remaining in APC were very slim, considering “his feud with the Presidency and other leaders of the party.”
Saraki is already known to be an odd ally in the APC as currently constituted, considering his controversial alignment with opposition PDP to sway votes in his favour to become the Senate President. At the landmark manipulation, Saraki helped PDP’s Ike Ekweremadu to also emerge as Deputy Senate President, in what analysts described as a worthwhile trade by barter.
OLUSEGUN ONI
Another political bigwig, who has been rumoured to be planning his defection to SDP is the Ekiti State former governor, Olusegun Oni.
Oni, currently the deputy national chairman of the ruling APC, has declared his ambition to become governor of Ekiti State again. He was sacked in 2010 by the Appeal Court, which declared that it was Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and not him, that won the state’s governorship election.
A source close to the APC chieftain told our correspondent anonymously that “he has been contacted by leaders behind SDP but he is yet to give his response on it. And if he agrees to their terms, he may become our governorship candidate in the July 22 Ekiti governorship election.”
SDP STILL BIDDING ITS TIME – SPOKESMAN
The spokesperson of the SDP, Alfa Mohammed, when contacted over the development, said it would be too early for the party to start thinking in the line of naming its prospective governorship and presidential candidates but that defectors were welcome.
He said, “We have not got to that level; but there are people who are already going around signifying interest, but we have not reached that level now. When the party is stabilised, everybody is allowed to aspire but the delegates will decide.
“We will offer a level-playing field to everyone, but I can assure you that by the end of the day, we shall be guided by the imperative of credibility and competence in the choice of the leaders that will lead Nigeria from 2019. That is very important and I can assure that, that is what will happen.”
Speaking in the same vein, a member of the SDP, Mr. Lateef Olaniyan, said, “As soon as you have become a member of the SDP, you are qualified to contest at any capacity. If Atiku comes in today, he is fit to contest, and you can predict who the odd will favour.”
The National Vice President of the SDP, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, also said, regarding the coming of Atiku, Oni and Saraki, “I have yet to confirm that, but if they are here tomorrow, they are welcome.
