On Monday, a Memorandum of Understanding (Mou) was signed by 39 political parties for the sole aim of defeating the ruling All Progressives Congress APC in the 2019 general elections. This meeting gave birth to the Coalition of United Democratic Parties (CUPP).
All the parties that have formed an alliance for the sole aim of unseating President Muhammadu Buhari come 2019 had their presidential aspirants. However, PDP seems to be the party in charge of this coalition. Some parties have refused to join because they see it as desperate people trying to grab power for their selfish interests.
A former President, Chief Olusgegun Obasanjo, is one of the brains behind this coalition. Before the CUPP, the man from Ota formed the Coalition for Nigeria movement (CNM). He initially said it won’t join partisan politics. Months later, it decided to pitch its tent with the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Obasanjo’s influence cannot be underestimated. The Next Edition gathered that these parties are seeking to make Obasanjo the leader of the alliance due to his capacity as a former president. A former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar who is also interested in becoming president had a frosty relationship with his former boss, Chief Obasanjo.
Although efforts are being made by Atiku’s camp for Obasanjo to endorse him, it was gathered from a reliable source that the former president still prefers one of his boys, Lamido.
Lamido is a loyalist to Obasanjo. He was one of the G-7 governors who rebelled against the PDP ahead of the 2015 general elections. He did not join the APC because Chief Obasanjo asked him to seek the ticket of the PDP. His choice for vice president was current Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi.
As things are right now, Lamido seems to be one of the obstacles Atiku may have to contain with within the PDP/CUPP. While Atiku is thinking of ways to defeat Buhari, Lamido is perceived as the enemy within by members of the Turakin Adamawa’s camp because of his closeness to Obasanjo.
The former Jigawa state governor is an experienced politician. He joined politics over 20 years ago. Therefore underestimating him would be at Atiku’s peril.
Lamido entered politics as a member of the left-of-center People’s Redemption Party (PRP) in the Second Republic. He became National Secretary of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) during the Third Republic, where he received criticism for the manner in which he handled the June 12, 1993 presidential election believed to have been won by Moshood Abiola.
When General Sani Abacha announced his plan to return the country to democratic rule, Lamido was founding member of Social Progressive Party, and was National Secretary of the new party. He was imprisoned in June 1998 by Abacha for criticizing Abacha’s plan to perpetuate himself in office. After Abacha’s death in 1998, General Abdulsami Abubakar announced a revised transition strategy and new parties were formed to contest the 1999 elections. Lamido became a member of the PDP. He ran for Governor of Jigawa State in the 1999 elections, but narrowly lost to Ibrahim Saminu Turaki of the All People’s Party (APP). As a result of that defeat, he was appointed Foreign Minister in June 1999 by President Olusegun Obasanjo.
In December 2009, it was reported that Obasanjo had started to lobby for Lamido to be the PDP’s Vice Presidential candidate in the 2011 elections. Lamido ran successfully for re-election in April 2011 and won.
What makes Lamido a formidable candidate is his political experience and also the backing of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. It would be recalled that Obasanjo fell out with President Goodluck Jonathan thus, writing an 18-page letter to him, which contained damning statements.
Obasanjo stated how he regretted his decision to support Jonathan in the past. Not long after the letter to Jonathan, Obasanjo publicly declared his support for Lamido who was governor of Jigawa then.
He made the declaration on the May 12, 2014, during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Jigawa State Government to adopt a junior secondary school and a primary school in Kudai, Dutse.
According to Obasanjo, Lamido is capable of ruling the country due to his background in politics. He said, “Given his background, performance and credibility, he is competent. With his exposure, he can stand shoulder to shoulder with anybody.
“If it is the wish of the people, it is okay. He did not tell me he is wishing but being the wish of the people let’s wait and see. Based on his track record, would you say he is not competent?”
That was four years ago. Today, the former president still favours him. Obasanjo is not alone in his support for Sule Lamido. Some heavy weights are also behind him. According to a reliable source, Rotimi Amaechi, who has been quiet of recent may also be nursing the ambition of becoming Vice President.
It would be recalled that he was among the G-7 Governors who were unhappy with some of President Jonathan’s policies.
With the calibre of presidential aspirants and the plots and counter-plots, Nigerians can’t wait to see who emerges as candidate of the CUPP. As for Lamido, he is in it to win and should not be underestimated.
