There is an undercurrent currently playing out among some political gladiators in the North ahead of 2019. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will pick its presidential candidate from the North. The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), may do likewise too. It is however not clear whether or not President Muhammadu Buhari will opt for a second term. But people are already scheming or are perceived to be scheming ahead of the 2019 presidential election and this is mostly prevalent in the North.
A few weeks back, a former Kano State governor and senator representing the Central district, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso visited Lagos. His mission was reportedly to help some Northern victims of the recent Mile 12 clash.
He facilitated the release of some of them from police custody and provided them with financial supports to return to different parts of the North where they came from. But the high point of the visit was when he visited the Sarkin Hausa Agege. He later met the Hausa community at Capitol Hotel, Capitol Road, Agege, Lagos, where he preached to his people to maintain peace with their host communities. His ecstatic crowd of supporters came out en mass and described him as very fit to be president in 2019.
But weeks later, Kwankwaso was asked to desist from playing the gambit of 2019 by portraying himself as a people’s man by the National President of Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYC), Alhaji Yerima Shettima, who said “Kwankwaso should stop playing the fake superman.”
Shettima said the lawmaker was in Lagos during his recent visit to Hausa victims of the Mile 12 clash, on popularisation visit ahead of 2019 rather than genuine concern for the people, noting that: “Let Kwankwaso know that he cannot use Lagos as the launch pad of his 2019 political designs and blind ambition that is clearly unrealistic.”
While no one can say for sure if there won’t be pressure on the incumbent to seek a second term, it becomes important to note that the battle for 2019 is going to start early, especially in view of the prevailing disenchantment in the land. Thus, Aso Rock may not be vacant as at today, certain forces are billed to compel its vacancy by next election as there would more of such activities in the lead up to the election.
