2023: Kwankwaso, other opposition presidential candidates lobby Tinubu for appointments
…As Ganduje again tongue-lashes Kwankwaso
Joel Oladele, Abuja
A group of presidential candidates of some opposition political parties in the 2023 general elections has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to include them in the running of his administration.
The candidates under the aegis of the Forum of Concerned Presidential Candidates (FCPC) made the request on Thursday during a visit to the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Adamu in his office on Thursday.
They stated that their patriotism, need for peace and development of the country informed their decision not to challenge the victory of President Tinubu at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT).
They, therefore, urged Ganduje to persuade President Bola Tinubu on their behalf.
The spokespersons of the forum and Presidential candidate of the National Rescue Movements (NRM), Ambassador Felix Johnson Osakwe, assured the President and the party that they are for them.
“I feel Mr. Chairman you will be the right person to lead us to meet with Mr. President. So that we can air our own views in his presence and also to let him know that it is not all the presidential candidates that were against him. We chose not to go to court because this is Nigeria.
“We are here to thank you and God. The former presidential candidates are willing to offer our services to this country,” Osakwe noted.
Speaking further, the forum also demanded that the party should include them in the campaign council of the forthcoming governorship elections coming up in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi States.
“We have a demand and it is for the party; that a slot in the campaign council for the Governorship elections should be made available to us
“Those of us that have piloted this, we held a meeting. And we are asked to demand from you a presence in the campaign Council. We believe that our job is much more wanted now as we prepare to go into the polls in the three states in November.
“I am to submit the two names to the chairman. And we believe by your power and by the special grace of God, it shall be done by your power. We will do our best to make sure that three States that we are going into polls for succeed. And with what we have been doing, we are going to mobilise our parties in those States for your party,” they promised.
Responding, the APC Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje said he will deliver their message to the President for consideration.
He said, “Thank you for this visit. I will convey your views and requests. And I will ensure that you see Mr President eye to eye. I thank you for being faithful to your respective parties.”
Also, while trolling one of the 2023 opposition presidential candidates believed to be his rival from Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Ganduje accused him of becoming a presidential candidate by accident.
“What I am seeing is one political aspirant who became a presidential candidate by accident. Who became a presidential candidate by hijacking another party because he was partyless.”
