Kwankwaso Will Declare His Presidential Ambition On Oct. 23

Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso will publicly declare his presidential ambition on October 23 in Abuja. According to party sources, Kwankwaso wants the former head of state to endorse him because he has age on his side and due to his closeness to him. However, those who are loyal to Buhari are asking him to respect the age and the experience of the general and withdraw from the race. 

A chieftain of APC, Chief Olisaemeka Akamukali who is Kwankwaso’sstrong supporter says thatthe governor will be unveiling his presidential campaign by next Thursday, according to the plan made by his campaign co-ordinators nationwide. Akamukali says that Kwankwaso has been engaging in nationwide consultations with party leaders and political stakeholders regarding the 2015 presidential election and the outcome is favourable.

Besides, Akamukali faulted claims that the governor may have slowed down his campaign due to pressures to yield ground to Buhari, saying rather, it is the former head of state that should make way for a younger and more vibrant candidate in line with the need for generational shift.

“In as much as we agree that Buhari is a man of integrity, you will also agree with me that age is not on his side. He is 73 going to 74 years and ex-vice president Atiku Abubakar is about 70 years old. But Kwankwaso will be 58 by October 21.”

It is also known that on Wednesday the former presidential candidate of the de­funct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) General Muhammadu Buhari will  formally declare his interest in the presidential ticket of the main opposition party in the country, All Progressives Congress (APC). The event will hold at the Eagle Square in Abuja.

Atiku Abubakar has declared his intention to run in next year’s Presidential election too.

He said: “This is not about me, it is about our young people. It is about Nigerians. It is their future, not the past. It is about reforming government, securing the people and reconciling the nation”.

Speaking on the chances of Kwankwaso against the much more established older politicians in the race, Akamukali said it is not true that the governor is a dark horse in the contest.  He added that Governor Kwankwaso has had long years of experience in politics beginning in 1991 when he emerged the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).