Borno State Governor, Prof Babagana Zulum, says only President Muhammadu Buhari can determine who the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress will be in the 2023 general elections.
Zulum said regardless of the competence of the APC presidential aspirants and the strength of their manifestos, only the one anointed by Buhari will fly the party’s flag in next year’s poll.
The Borno governor disclosed this on Sunday in Maiduguri when he received Rotimi Ameachi’s campaign team led by its Director General, Senator Ali Ndume, during a meeting with delegates and members of the APC in Borno.
He stated that delegates from his state had no preferred aspirant, adding that who they cast their votes for will be determined by whoever President Buhari anoints amongst the presidential aspirants.
Zulum said, “Borno State delegates will vote based on their conscience. But again, our leader, General Muhammadu Buhari, is very important in this political equation. We are still waiting for him to tell us what to do and we will follow. His advice is very important so we have to wait for his advice.
“Nigerians should pray for a good candidate to emerge irrespective of tribe, region or ethnic background but a candidate that will ensure the APC forms the central government come 2023.”
Ameachi in his speech, assured residents of the state that if Borno delegates vote for him, he’ll end insurgency and insecurity in the country.
He boasted that he midwifed the peace, safety, security and stability currently being enjoyed today in Rivers State during his tenure as governor, pledging to replicate this if given the mandate as APC candidate in next year’s election.
Amaechi said, “When I was governor of Rivers State, Buratai was a brigade commander while Abba Suleiman was the police commissioner. We ensured we engaged the teeming and idle youths by giving them jobs that kept them from the street. By so doing we forestalled peace to the creeks in the state.
“I urge you, Borno State delegates, to vote by your conscience, to vote for me based on the belief that I will guarantee safety of lives and property in Borno, the North-East and the nation.”