Fear Grips Presidency over Buhari’s Big Declaration in Abuja

Fear of Muhammadu Buhari is in the air! There is disquiet in the Presidency and the PDP over the crowd-pulling declaration rally of the leading presidential aspirant of the APC, General Buhari. The massive rally has forced the Presidency and its strategists to return to the drawing board against the fast growing influence of Buhari in the political landscape. It was gathered that strategists in the Presidency and the PDP met on Wednesday and Thursday to analyse the rally, especially the massive turn-out of Nigerians at the Eagle Square and how some key APC leaders queued up behind General Buhari. It was gathered that the presence of notable and influential political leaders from the North-West, North-East, North-Central and South-West forced the Presidency and PDP leaders into a series of meetings. In one of the sessions in Abuja, it was learnt that some parts of the Gen. Buhari’s speech upset the Presidency... According to The Nation, although some strategists attempted to underrate the rally, the Presidency and the PDP thought otherwise. A source who spoke in confidence said: “Contrary to the permutations of some forces in the Presidency and PDP, the huge crowd at the declaration indicated that Buhari is still enjoying large following. “The wrong assumptions in the ruling party were that Buhari’s influence had waned since 2011 election and the emergence of other presidential aspirants in APC might reduce his chances. “Some APC leaders and governors at the rally also lent credence to the readiness of the opposition to support Buhari for the party’s ticket.” A member of the NWC of the PDP said: “We are not underrating the implications of Buhari’s declaration rally. We have woken up to the reality that we must gird our loins. With Buhari, the battle has started. Our leaders are already doing some rethinking because we know what Buhari’s candidacy portends for our party. A source in the PDP Governors Forum said: “I cannot deceive you, we met on Wednesday night on some issues and Gen. Buhari’s declaration rally took the central stage because he seems to be in control of the North-East and North-West. “And if you look at the North-Central, APC is certainly stronger in Niger, Kwara, Benue and Nasarawa. To us, the forthcoming poll might not be an easy ride as being projected by some strategists in the Presidency.” In fact, there is in fighting in the PDP now. There were indications that PDP governors have resolved to either be allowed to anoint their successors or leave the party to its fate in next year’s poll.