By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
As Nigerians continue to wait for the presidential candidates of the 18 registered political parties in Nigeria to name their running mates as required by law, Imo state Governor Hope Uzodinma has said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) flagbearer, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu will pick his own running mate.
He also ruled out the South East geopolitical zone from produce the vice presidential candidate of the ruling party, arguing that South East is not meant for running mate as what they wanted as a zone was to be the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Uzodinma who spoke to State House Correspondents on Tuesday after a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at Presidential Villa, Abuja, said he was convinced that it was proper for the South Easterners to ask for the Presidency.
According to him, Tinubu is favourably disposed to choose anyone who will help him win the 2023 General Elections just as he dismissed the agitations against the APC of planning a Muslim- Muslim ticket in the upcoming Presidential Election.
Said he: “the second question which is about running mate, South East is not meant for running mate. What we wanted as zone was to be the president of Nigeria and I was convinced that it was proper for us to ask for it”.
” But in this business is partisan democracy, the minority will have their view but the majority will have their way”.
“In the wisdom of the delegates that elected presidential candidate. A candidate has emerged, our party APC will come together, work for our candidate and produce the next president. Simple”.
On what he would say about the insinuations that the APC is planning to feature a Muslim Muslim ticket, he argued that there is nothing bad about it.
“There is no where in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria where religion is a factor or characteristics as to who becomes the President or who becomes the running mate.
” But we are looking for United Nigeria, where governance will be the issue, where a president would be ajudged by his capacity to deliver Democratic dividends, develop Nigeria to look like other parts of the Western world where democracy is working.
” I don’t want us to reduce governance in Nigeria to certain things that will encourage divisiveness, rather, we should be a united Nigeria, be our brother’s keepers, have a president of Nigeria that will be a president representing, every tribe, every religion, every denomination.
“And when we get there, we will cross the bridge. the decision also to choose a running mate does not reside with any of us the governors. It is the presidential candidate that will look at the local characteristics and every factors, political and apolitical that will make him win his election and take the decision. So it’s not a decision that we will sit here and take for the candidate”.
“And when we get there, we will cross the bridge. the decision also to choose a running mate does not reside with any of us the governors. It is the presidential candidate that will look at the local characteristics and every factors, political and apolitical that will make him win his election and take the decision. So it’s not a decision that we will sit here and take for the candidate”‘
Asked if he will want to see a governor as a running mate to Bola Ahamed Tinubu, he said the decision is entirely that of Tinubu to pick his running mate.
Said he: “Why not? Ahmed Tinubu, have you forgotten he was a governor for eight years? If he chooses a governor so be it, we will support. Now we are no longer talking about who becomes running mate and come to who is not running mate. I have told you whose decision it is.
“The next thing as party leaders now and opinion leaders, is for us to rise up mobilize the quality and get members of our party commit into a successful election by 2023. So that our president that is leaving will also be handing over to our own president of APC, that is our preoccupation now how to win the election”.
He however admonished Nigerians not to trivialize the issue as big as the choice of the vice presidential candidate.
Said he: “And there are certain things as a nation, we should not bring to the public discuss, those things that are capable creating divisiveness against national unity should not be encouraged. It does not mean that I will not remember that I come from a place but I must also be cautious and careful how to use where I come from in taking national decisions.
“Today, so we’ll look at the guidelines. We’ll look at the rules. Our country is a rule driven country. And the grand norm is the constitution of the country. So we’re working with it. All we’re saying is that for equity, for fairness for justice, that there’s certain sentiments to be considered when we’re taking national decisions but we don’t think that is enough to disorganize our country. We must move forward”.
