Former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is currently, according to sources, weighing the possibility of returning to his old party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ahead of the 2019 presidential election.
Elombah.com gathered that PDP members are urging him to return to the party but that he, however, is not doing that without certain preconditions.
One of the conditions, Elombah.com gathered, is that the party will assure him of an automatic ticket.
According to ThisDay, he is not leaving anything to chances and has asked for some guarantee before leaving the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Meanwhile, it was also divulged that he does not want to leave until the return of President Muhammadu Buhari, who has been away for over three months.
Atiku want to be sure of the real status of the president and if he will be strong enough for the next presidential election before deciding where to pitch his tent.
A PDP source reportedly disclosed:
“The secret discussions are ongoing with a wing of the leadership of the PDP and this has encouraged the former vice-president to start consultations with critical leaders in the northern and southern parts of the country.
“However, Atiku has informed the PDP leaders who have approached him to guarantee him the nomination of the party for the presidential election before he can leave the APC, as he does not want to be messed up for the third time.”
Chief among those yearning for Atiku’s return to PDP is the Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose who recently declared his presidential ambition for 2019.
More governors are also reportedly towing the line of Fayose and are willing to gamble with an Atiku presidency.
According to sources, Fayose willing to settle for vice president candidacy while Atiku take over the reins of power.
Atiku seems to have found favour in the eyes of both Northerners, where he originally belongs, and southerners with his Restructuring mantra.
One obstacle that seems to be standing on Atiku’s way, though, is his age as he recently celebrated his 71st birthday.
It could be recalled that some youth groups across the country has resolved that no one beyond the age of 55 will be allowed to mount the leadership of the nation anymore.
The matter, however, was considered settled with the following discourse:
“We had the late President Umaru Yar’Adua who was in his mid-fifties but he had health issues which led to his demise midway into his presidency.
“Also, President Muhammadu Buhari had health issues which we warned against during electioneering in 2015, but it was dismissed as hate speech.
“Then we have persons that are the same age or much older but are healthy and physically fit.
“So Nigerians should be more concerned about a person’s health than his age,” the source stated.
The source disclosed that Atiku is aware of the issue surrounding his age and health and is prepared to make his medical certificates for the last ten years public to allay all fears.
In the meantime, Atiku waits for President Buhari’s return to ascertain his plans for 2019.
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