Abubakar, who spoke with journalists in Akure, the Ondo State capital after he met with delegates from Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states, said the party’s January 13 presidential primaries would clearly show the aspirant endorsed by the delegates.
He said he was not moved by Sunday’s endorsement of Jonathan by South-West delegates in Ibadan.
He said, “If you go through the papers, all of them are saying that I’m leading the opinion poll. The people that they claim have endorsed the man are all with me today; they were with me yesterday in Lagos, so where is the endorsement? They are just road shows.
“I have a number of things, I have experience, I have vision, I have the capacity. In leadership, these are very very key areas where I think I have comparative advantage over my opponent.”
The former vice-president expressed confidence that Jonathan would not win the presidential primaries, noting that he was confident of picking the party’s ticket based on his interactions with PDP delegates across the country.
He said, “ Nigeria is at a point in history when somebody with vision and experience should be allowed to rule the country and provide quality leadership that will lead to the development of the nation.”
In separate interviews with journalists after a closed-door meeting with the former vice-president, the delegates said the Ibadan endorsement was not binding on them. They noted that the Ibadan meeting was meant for them to interact with the President and not to endorse his bid.
The PDP Woman leader in Ekiti State, Mrs. Modupe Ogundipe, admitted that some leaders of the party spoke on behalf of the delegates in Ibadan, pledging their support for the candidature of the President. She, however, said other members were not allowed to express their views after the meeting.
She said, “All the delegates are adults. Some leaders spoke on our behalf but they did not find out our own opinion. We will determine that at the convention.”
Ogundipe described Abubakar as the most experienced politician seeking the party’s presidential ticket.
The leader of the delegates from Osun State, who is also state vice-chairman of the party, Mr. Alidu Tiamiyu, said, “Endorsement is a thing of the mind, not that of mouth. We are matured people in the South-West who can think deeply. Our minds will decide when the time comes.”
Another delegate from Ondo State, who is also the party’s chairman in Ondo West, Mr. Adeseke Adewale, said they reserved the right to back the aspirant of their choice.
He said, “Sadly enough, our leaders did not give us an opportunity to speak at the meeting.”
The leader of the PDP delegates from Oyo State, Mr. Kunle Kudaisi, said adopting a candidate for the party did not stop other candidates from aspiring.
Source:Punch
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