A Presidential aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and former senator from Kaduna State, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has revealed what he will do to President Muhammadu Buhari if he emerges the flag-bearer of the PDP. Baba-Ahmed said it would be so easy for him to defeat and send Buhari back to Daura, Katsina State if the PDP grants him the party’s sole ticket.
In a statement yesterday in reaction to Buhari’s declaration, Baba-Ahmed said, “I have never been afraid of incumbency. I am a Nigerian and I am contesting on the same Electoral Act and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, unless they are going to violate it, which we shall challenge. "Muhammadu Buhari is welcome to contest for the Presidency in 2019 and I think it is a healthy practice to have a gentleman of his age, his mould and people who have been in power for the past 50 years contest.
"But as for popularity, it is highly arguable. I think the support of many Nigerians has been taken for granted.“And I think the average Nigerian has now become more intelligent politically and more aware. That political awareness is what I think leaders who have been in power and think automatically that without people making recourse, they will just endorse them and support them.
"That is the awareness that they are taking for granted. What I have learnt in my few years in life is that never take people for granted.”According to him, Buhari who only defeated his closest rival, Goodluck Jonathan by 2.5 million votes in 2015, would not have a free ride in 2019. He added, “Absolutely, he will not have it easy. Do not forget that President Buhari had contested three elections and lost until a certain action by the PDP made many members to exit the party and go to the APC, and made him to win. APC is practically PDP.
"Even Buhari at his best, his very best, won by only 2.5 million. Now, he is in about his worst, with the economy on its knees, the insecurity, the herdsmen issue that he has not attended to, the educational system and millions of jobs lost, while the people’s awareness is on the increase.”
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