As Tinubu said today and many have been speculating for months, Buhari intends to only serve a single term and then hand over to a young technocrat.
Mallam Nasir El Rufai, Kaduna State Governor who is one of Buhari's most trusted advisers is reportedly Buhari's preferred candidate, and even Tinubu seems to be leaning towards him especially after Tambuwal's betrayal during the Senate and HOR elections...Buhari has visited Kaduna at least six times since his swearing-in and trust s El Rufai explicitly ...El Rufai has also played host to Tinubu and Osinbajo twice supposedly for project commissioning but actually to build a base prior to 2019. SP Bukola Saraki also has his eye on the seat and has the backing of most of the ex governors and NASS members in the APC. His supposed ambition is the prime reason for the attempt to cut him down.
Buhari wants to play a Mandela, clean up government corruption and hand over to a technocrat.....
All said and done, he might change his mind and decide to run again
[b]The Battle for 2019 presidency may have kicked-off between the two major factions in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), led by the former Vice-President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the party’s national leader and former Lagos governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, National Weekender can reveal.

According to an inside source, who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity: “There has been a hint that, President Muhammadu Buhari, for undisclosed reasons, may not be contesting in the next elections and because both factions don’t want to be caught napping, preparations for 2019 has begun in earnest.



“In fact, I can categorically tell you that present crisis rocking the APC is attributable to this fact that both factions want to gain control over the entire party structure.”

National Weekender further scooped that, while Alhaji Atiku Abubakar wants to replace President Buhari, Asiwaju Tinubu is at the moment preparing the current Governor of Kaduna state, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai
http://www.newspunch.org/top-secret-el-rufai-2019-presidential-ambition-sparks-tinubu-atikus-dirty-fights/


The race for 2019 presidential election might begin sooner than anticipated as major actors are aligning their interests for the number one job ahead of the next general elections.

This is so if the rumours that have been making the rounds that President Muhammadu Buhari might not contest for two terms in office.

This has thrown open aspiration of big names within the fold of the All Progressives Congress to fill the void.

There might been some governors in his party who are nursing the ambition of succeeding him. Though, these governors have not openly made their interests known, strong indications have shown they may be discreetly conducting campaigns, melting loose wall with foes and strengthening existing relationship with friends and allies. Just the way President Buhari did in the build up to the 2015 general elections.

Naij.com brings you top five APC governors that might replace Buhari in 2019

1.  Aminu Tambuwal

The Usman Dan Fodio University trained lawyer who is the current governor of Sokoto state has not hidden his ambition to become the number one citizen of Nigeria.

He is a charismatic leader and rarely talk but allows his antecedent to speak for him. No sooner that he officially decamped to APC, his associates had to cough out N27million for the party presidential nomination form.

But, he could not continue his presidential ambition as elders from his state, Sokoto and other parts of the countries might have told him to exit from the race for Buhari and instead vie for the state governorship ticket.

The governor selling point for the 2019 presidential election would be his ability to maintain peace in the House during his tenure as Speaker of the House of Representatives. More so, his leadership style that many associates termed ‘inclusive’ could be another advantage for Tambuwal . He was able to carry on with his duties as Speaker even when many PDP members jumped ship to APC thus making the later to have a slight majority.

Another strong point of Tambuwal is his ‘dove’ disposition as a peacemaker, when the then minority leader, Femi Gbajabiamila and his colleagues wanted to upturn the PDP leadership from majority to minority, he calmed them down through his soothing words.  Tambuwal might be the man  to watch out for in 2019.


Aminu Tambuwal

2.  Nasir El-Rufai

The technocrat turned politician is not new to Nigeria’s political landscape. He came to the consciousness of Nigerians in his days as the minister of the federal capital territory, Abuja. He was different things to different people, to his close friends and associates, giant, a reference to his small size, some nicknamed him privatisation czar. This was due to his work as the director general of the Bureau of Public Enterprises in the administration of former president Olusegun Obasanjo.

The restoration of Abuja master plan that saw to the demolition of houses earned him the tag ”Mr Demolition”. He ha a tough battle with the senate prior to his confirmation as a minister, where he alleged that certain members of the upper chamber had approached him for ‘hand shake’ before he can be confirmed.

Aside these controversies that have trailed his person, El-Rufai has proved himself as a democrat.

He was with President Buhari during the days of struggle in the now defunct, Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). He is a close ally of Buhari. During the build up to the 2015 general election, it was learnt that the president practically forced him on Kaduna APC as there were other candidates in the party that could have clinched the ticket.

El-Rufai has proved his mettle as a governor. Few months into his administration, he has showed signs of performance and he may want to replicate same at the centre come 2019.


Nasir El Rufai

READ ALSO: Senator Godswill Akpabio: A New Opposition Leader?

3.  Aminu Masari

He is quiet politician but very effective. Masari is a very experienced in the intricacies of the Nigeria’s political firmament. He is President Buhari’s kinsman and the present governor of Katsina state. He is also a former speaker of the House of Representatives.

The governor was able to lead the house successfully without rancour between 2003 and 2007.  In the build up to the 2011 general elections, he ran unsuccessfully for his present position on the platform of the defunct CPC.

Being President Buhari kinsman might be an advantage for him if he decides to launch his presidential ambition. He may through his calm disposition win the heart of Nigerians in the  run up to 2019 general election.
https://www.naij.com/526584-meet-5-apc-governors-might-replace-buhari-2019.html[/b]

That is if APC survives becos with the rate they are displaying their inability to rule, I doubt if they will

The trial of Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki at the CCT over a 13-count charge bordering on alleged corruption and false declaration of assets‎ is not unconnected to high-wired political scheming towards 2019 presidential election, a source close to the Presidency confirmed.

Incumbent President Muhammadu Bu‎hari has agreed with key leaders of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) that he will only spend a term in office, according to a Chieftain of the defunct CPC. Sources confirmed that prior to the merger between the new Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) – a breakaway faction of the PDP and the All Progressives Congress (APC), the APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande and the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-rufai met in Kaduna to broker a deal on 2015 and 2019 presidential elections.

‎The reported deal on 2019 presidential election means that Governor El-rufai will be supported to complete the second term of President Buhari while former Governor Tinubu will nominate the Vice-President. This was allegedly designed to set the stage for Tinubu Presidency by 2023.

The sharing formula for presiding officers and principal officers was also shared between the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).  Sources confirmed that the deal was not disclosed to a faction of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) led by Governor Rochas Okorocha and leaders of the nPDP, including Senate President Bukola Saraki. President Muhammadu Buhari is said to be “fully aware” of the deal between former Governor Tinubu and Governor El-rufai.

Initially, ‎President Buhari was said to have rejected the deal and threatened to opt out of the merger arrangement but he was persuaded to “play along” by Governor El-rufai who the deal favours to succeed President Buhari by 2019. According to an informed source, a former National Secretary of CPC, Alhaji Buba Galadima, Sule Hanma and other key loyalists of President Buhari stoutly kicked against the 2019 presidential deal.

The face-off later led to their withdrawal from the Buhari inner caucus. ‎However, the emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki as Senate President against the wish of the All Progressives Congress (AP9) under controversial circum‎stances is said to pose a “serious” threat to the 2019 presidential deal between Asiwaju Tinubu and Governor El-rufai.

According to an informed source, if the CCT failed to convict the Senate President, there are other plots to unleash the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Senator Saraki until his reputation is “substantially damaged”.

A New York-based online news platform, Sahara Reporters was said to have been recruited to put the Senate President on “media trial”. The managers of the online website allegedly signed a contract worth of $500,000 with agents of former Governor Tinubu and Governor El-rufai to put the Senate President on “media trial”.

The source said, “SR is working on contract basis and they are working hard to justify $500,000. Their aim is to destroy the Senate President”.

The view that the trial of the Senate President is politically-motivated is further confirmed by the senator representing Kaduna Central, Comrade Shehu Sani, who declared that Senate President Bukola Saraki poses a threat to certain interests in 2019, hence his trial at the court.

Senator Sani said, “there are puppeteers who felt that pinning him down to a case of corruption will discredit him (Saraki), will keep him busy and make him unsellable for the future”, declaring that, “it is just a matter of time the identity of those who are interested in Saraki’s case will become open”.
http://www.kwara247.com/bukolasarakis-trial-asiwajutinubu-elrufai-deal-for-2019-exposed/

LIAR.

...Rufai may not be a bad president, but there would be an unavoidable and impossible to ignore public outcry over one hausa-fulani handing over to another hausa-fulani president. And t :Dhat is when Nigeria will eventually split

These people have started complaining but know ye That even though we supported buhari, we are not going to support HELL RUFAI. HELL RUFAI, BUKOLA SARAKI AND ATIKU ARE NOT GOOD CANDIDATES

obailala:
...Rufai may not be a bad president, but there would be an unavoidable and impossible to ignore public outcry over one hausa-fulani handing over to another hausa-fulani president. And t :Dhat is when Nigeria will eventually split

El Rufai has probably been Nigeria's most competent public servant along with Fashola since democratic rule began...two southerners Obasanjo and GEJ have already served the most since 1999 so the outcry might be less. I like El Rufai although he has his flaws but he is very competent.

El'Rufai lacks the temperament for such high public trust.

obailala:
...Rufai may not be a bad president, but there would be an unavoidable and impossible to ignore public outcry over one hausa-fulani handing over to another hausa-fulani president. And t :Dhat is when Nigeria will eventually split

The only way the northerners would happily vote any southerner is if Buhari spent 8 year in office, otherwise, it's going to be another Hausa spending another 4-8 years.

naijaboy756:
That is if APC survives becos with the rate they are displaying their inability to rule, I doubt if they will

bother yourself more about PDP surviving, Very soon Abia will be APGA. SE APGA 2 states, PDP 2 states, APC 1. Bother about that in your so called stronghold. Most of your senators will face an uphill task returning as no more federal might and APGA complacency in Anambra because of Gej. For those of us behind Rochas in Imo we shall surely sustain that APC wins the Gov in 2019.

Power belongs to d people.let them continue to try but it wil only come to pass if it's approved by God almighty.Abubakar Audu's case should b a strong lesson to all desperate politicians.

.

El Rufai has done well.

- pruning down size of cabinet
- TSA implementation in his state
- cutting down to size of Shiite movement
- probe of past government
- restoration of master plan of the state
- mall development in Kaduna

All under 7months