…ADVISES PDP AGAINST FIELDING OF SEPTUAGENARIANS AS PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
Ahead of the 2023 general elections, a pressure group within Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has warned against fielding a septuagenarian as the party’s candidate in the presidential election
The group, “Action 2023”, in a statement signed by its National Chairman, Dr. Rufus Omeire, admonished the party to rather beam it’s searchlight on aspirants in the 50 years age bracket who are many within the party.
The group’s statement came in the wake of views expressed by Segun Sowunmi, a former spokesman of Atiku Abubakar, PDP’S flag bearer in the 2019 presidential election. Sowunmi had in a letter to PDP governors, rejected the idea of fielding “a “kindergarten President and Commander in Chief” for the PDP.
Taking exceotion to Sowumi’s comnents, Omeire cited the examples of Sokoto State Governor, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and former Senate Presidents, Dr Bukola Saraki and Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, who headed the different arms of the Legislature at the Federal level as Chief Executives and who the buck stopped on their tables.
He noted that apart from Atiku who is 75 years old other touted presidential candidates for the party are mostly in their 50s.
“Is Sowunmi saying that only those in their 70s are preferred presidential candidates rather than the relatively younger ones he described as KINDERGARTEN candidates?!With respect to relevant experience for the top job, let us x-ray the candidates.
“Atiku Abubakar’s public sector experience consists of Deputy Director of Customs, a subordinate position. He never became Chief Executive of Customs and Excise Department. The buck never, for one day, stopped on his table in the Customs Service. “He became Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a highly exalted office, but he was never a chief Executive. He only carried out instructions of his boss, President Olusegun Obasanjo.
“He never had the experience of a Chief Executive. The buck never stopped at his table. The President could accept or reject his recommendations. He didn’t have relevant direct experience of the top job. So wherein lies the famed experience of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar? He clearly doesn’t have the requisite public sector experience. Does he have private sector experience? Atiku is not Dangote, Otedola or Jim Ovia or Tony Elumelu or Mike Adenuga,” Omeire stated.
Taking the argument further, Omeire said Atiku is not a known manufacturer of goods and services. He said the firmer presidential aspirant’s well known company is INTELS, which he set up with others; was hardly a recommendation for presidential office.
“One thing he has done very well is run a winning primaries Campaign in defunct political party ACN and PDP. Is this enough experience for President? Other candidates seem to have better public sector experience, some have solid private sector experience as Chief Executives. Tambuwal, Saraki and Anyim headed Houses of the Legislature at the Federal level as Chief Executives. “The buck stopped on their tables as Speaker and Presidents of the Senate”, Omeire said.
He noted that whilst on subject of kindergarten candidates experience on the job, Sowunmi ought akso to have talked about his Atiku’s attitude of abandoning ship midsea, the way he did to PDP after the 2019 Presidential election after the PDP invested its ticket and hopes in him.
“He even lost 4 of the 6 states in the North East, winning his home State of Adamawa with only 30,000 votes.
Taking a dig at the former Vice President, he lost four of the six states in the North East and barely managed to win his home State of Adamawa with only 30,000 votes.
“Tambuwal, Bala Mohammed, Wike and Saraki have relevant executive experience as governors. They have seen it all from the executive point of view. They take decisions at the executive level in their states and have direct and first – hand experience in formulation and execution of government policies. Ohuabunwa (Chief Sam Ohuabunwa) was Chief Executive of a publicly quoted company NEIMETH and helmsman of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria.
“Sowunmi should find other grounds to market Atiku, his boss, rather than flouting his old age and questionable relevant experience. He should further desist from this unnecessary insults on other aspirants who Alh. Atiku may have to support after the primaries”, Omeire said.