BY SEGUN ADEBAYO – Not ready to leave anything to chance, Nigeria’s former Senate President, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, is focused on forging robust collaboration and stakeholders’ consensus aimed at pocketing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential ticket for the 2023 general elections.
Intensifying efforts at becoming the PDP flagbearer come 2023, Senator Anyim has reportedly taken his campaigns to some quarters that party insiders described as “those that matter” in the polity.
Expectedly, the list of those already consulted includes ex-Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, and Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as well as former military president and Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida, and General Abdulsalami Abubakar.
According to the insiders, among others also contacted are all former Presidents of the Nigeria Senate, former Minister of Defence, General Theophilus Danjuma, Chief Arthur Eze, and Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu who have thus far blessed and endorsed his presidential ambition.
It was also gathered that other stakeholders being engaged are those in the traditional institutions where Anyim has equally met some influential Northern Emirs like the Emir of Lafia, who also blessed and validated his aspiration.
The reports further said going by the ongoing consultations, the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) has received assuredness from different stakeholders who have urged him to stay focused on his “aspiration to clinch the presidential candidate of the PDP ”.
Competent sources hinted that noting with satisfaction that there are credible aspirants from the South-East interested in the presidential race, the former Presidents and some royal fathers consulted have expressed support for having the next PDP presidential candidate coming from the South, particularly the Southeast geopolitical zone.
This is as some Northern Civil Society groups, under the aegis of Arewa Concerned Civil Society Organisations of Nigeria (ACCSON), have thrown their weight behind Senator Anyim’s presidential project.
ACCSON spokesman, Abdulsalam Kazeem, said in a statement on Monday that the next President should come from the South-East, maintaining that Anyim remains the best candidate for the job of giving Nigeria a new lease of life. – With agency reports
