By Olusegun Olanrewaju (Lagos), David Lawani, and Nathaniel Zacchaeus
The race for the nation’s topmost job, the presidency, has become crowded.

At the last count, over 40 aspirants are jostling to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in office.

Those who had earlier indicated their desire to succeed Buhari next year include Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, an ex-president and Atiku Abubakar respectively, 10 serving governors, seven ministers, three ex-senate presidents, one senator, 10 ex-govs, and many others in the two main political parties, All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Yesterday, the ranks further swelled in the APC with the entrance of more top profile contenders, including Senate President Ahmad Lawan, ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, and Minister of Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva.

The last-minute rush for nomination and expression of interest in the race has been attributed to the fact that the deadline for the sale of forms is today.

Nonetheless, there is a widespread belief in political and other circles that the race is becoming jam-packed with aspirants of potent credentials.

As the ruling party, the APC leads with the list of contenders 25 contenders, and the PDP has 15.

In other parties, a woman, Dorothy Nuhu-Aken’ova, an international consultant, is contesting on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP); a former Kano State governor and one-time Minister of Defence, Rabiu Kwankwanso, is contesting on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), while under the banner of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), the son of the late Chief MKO Abiola, Kola, has also declared his intention to run for the presidency.

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•In PDP, Wike, Atiku, Saraki, Obi, others traverse Nigeria

The PDP parades big names like United States-based medical doctor, Nwachukwu Anakwenze, former Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose; businessman, Cosmos Ndukwe, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen (ex-banker), a top pharmacist, Samuel Ohuabunwa and Akwa Ibom State governor, Udom Emmanuel.

Also in the race are Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike; former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi; journalist and newspaper publisher, Dele Momodu; Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal; ex-Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim; Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed; former Kwara State governor and ex-senate president, Bukola Saraki; and a relatively unknown candidate, the only female contestant, Oliver Tareila Diana.

*Jonathan joins Osinbajo, Lawan, Tinubu in race as ministers, govs, senators, ex-govs, and many others scramble for APC ticket

The APC paraded heavyweights in former Lagos State governor and the National Leader of the party, Bola Tinubu; and Ebonyi State governor, David Umahi.

Former Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, is in the race, as well as Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello.

Others on the list are Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; radical cleric, Tunde Bakare; Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige; Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade; Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, and another former Senate President, Ken Nnamani.

Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, also paid N100m to run for the presidency; as well as former National Chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole.

Governor Godswill Akpabio will be contesting, as well as ex-Ogun State governor and two-time senator, Ibikunle Amosun.

There’s a US-based Nigerian pastor, Dr Nicholas Felix; Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu; another female aspirant, Uju Ohanenye; former Zamfara State governor, Ahmed Yerima; ex-Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, and Jigawa State Governor, Badaru Abubakar.

Meanwhile, a group under the auspices of Nomadic Pastoralists and the Almajiri Communities, led by Ibrahim Abdullahi, purchased the expression of interest and nomination forms for former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest as President of Nigeria on the platform of the APC.

The body, in an interview with journalists in Abuja yesterday, said it purchased the form for the former president due to the love they have for him.

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They said they want Jonathan to come back to continue with the good work he had started, adding that under him, Almajiris were integrated into the mainstream educational programme in the country.

Abdullahi said, “I represent two of the most vulnerable communities in our country, the Nomadic Pastoralists and the Almajiri Communities who have decided to purchase this form for our former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, to come back and rule this country and continue with the good work he left behind.

“During Goodluck Jonathan’s era, he is the first President since the independence of Nigeria, who has found it expedient, and magnanimous enough to remember some of them were in vulnerable communities in this country, the Almajiri community.

“He brought a comprehensive policy of reformation and integration of Almajiri into the mainstream educational system in Nigeria. It was the dream and the vision of (ex) President Goodluck Jonathan that if that programme was continued it would one day, produce from the Almajiri system of education, doctors, and engineers, unlike what obtains today.

“Unfortunately, that programme was kept aside as soon as he left. The other part of the vulnerable community that Goodluck Jonathan wanted to, you know, give a sense of belonging was the Fulani community and nomadic pastoralists.”

“Recall that he set aside N60bn in the coffers of the Central Bank of Nigeria, which was to be used to develop livestock in Nigeria. I believe that if this government had continued with that programme, today, we would have been like Denmark, Sweden, and the whole of Africa could have been what Denmark sees in Europe, in terms of livestock production, in terms of milk, in terms of beef, and so on.

“Now looking at this, you know, situation, and of course, the problems Nigeria today is facing. We believe that only a leader with that kind of, you know that kind of patriotism, a leader with that kind of fairness, a leader who is ready to give every Nigerian sense of belonging can be able to rule this country. And that leader is Goodluck Jonathan, we are ready.

“We are ready not only to purchase these forms for President Goodluck Jonathan, but I want to assure you that our communities, the nomadic pastoralists have the voting power of about nine million votes plus the advisory who also can produce about five million, about 14 million, all we are asking other Nigerians is to give us at least two million and we are home and right,” he stated.

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On whether former President Goodluck Jonathan has agreed to run, the group noted, “As you may have heard a lot of you know interest groups have been coming out to urge him to come and contest but we felt that because of the deadline that was given whether he agrees or not, we need to purchase this from. Good luck, Jonathan is not for good luck, Jonathan. Goodluck Jonathan is for all Nigerians.”

•Last-minute positions
Lawan announced his ambition to contest the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the APC yesterday.

This came moments after Sylva and Ayade obtained their N100m nomination and expression of interest forms in Abuja.

Lawan made the declaration after he was formally presented with the forms purchased for him by a group of Nigerians led by the Chairman of the National Stability Project, Sam Nkire.

Nkire told the Senate President that he was seen as a stabilising personality needed to be the next President of Nigeria.

He said, “This is a representation of Nigerians led by me, Chief Sam Nkire. We have politicians here, we have businessmen here, we have a representation of traditional rulers, professionals who have watched Nigeria and they think we need a stabiliser, a stabilising personality and they looked around and said you must be the one.

“That is why the rich ones among us contributed more than the poor ones. But the widows’ mite of the poor ones is also here. So, we have decided to purchase the form.

“We didn’t want to come first. We made sure we got the form for you to heed the calls of Nigerians who have seen your service to the motherland, who have seen how you have piloted the affairs, and they know the economic situation we have in terms of security, that you are one of the best that Nigeria has.

“Please we are here to hand over the nomination forms for the position of president of Nigeria on the platform of APC.”

Lawan, in his acceptance speech, said that he had consulted widely and promised to play the game by the rules.

He said, “Today is a special day and this moment is very memorable and historic. Over the last seven years, we have been participants in the administration of our country at the national level.

“The APC led administration, our president, President Muhammadu Buhari will be completing his tenure on the 29th of May, 2023. I want to pay special tribute to what Mr President and the APC administration have done so far for developing our country.

“I have listened to various calls from all parts of our dear country, our dear nation Nigeria, for me to show interest in running for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

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“I took my time to pray to almighty God to guide me. I took my time to consult very widely, consult Nigerians from all parts of the country to ensure that I get the understanding of the citizens of this country on whose behalf we will, by the Grace of God, win the election and run the administration.”

•Kalu withdraws from race
The Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Uzor Kalu, has formally withdrawn from the race to succeed President Buhari in Aso Rock next year.

Kalu, in a statement personally signed by him and made available to our correspondent in Abuja, however, declared his support for the candidature of the Senate President for the top job.

He said, “I congratulate my friend, former roommate, and boss, Senator Ahmad Lawan as he chooses to run for President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under our great party (APC).

“I am most glad because he is from the North-East, the only zone alongside the South-East that is yet to produce the President of Nigeria.

“I have always maintained an unambiguous stand that for justice, equity, and fairness in our country, the next president of Nigeria after President Muhammadu Buhari should come from the South-East or the North-East.

“I have also told Nigerians that I would only run for president if the two major political parties (APC and PDP) zone their tickets to the South-East.

“That is why I was disappointed with our southern brothers who are talking about fairness and equity but have zero tolerance for the same fairness and equity in the South.

“In the absence of a South Easterner being president of Nigeria in 2023, I have my full support for a North-East. This is because it would be the closest to the equity, fairness, and Justice everyone is talking about. It further means that justice is on its way to the South East.
“I thank those who said they have picked the presidential form for me because they meant well for Nigerians.

“However, since there is no zoning and the contest is open to all Nigerians, I officially withdraw from the presidential contest in 2023. I have also picked a ticket to run for the Abia North Senatorial zone and to complete the good work I started in Abia North.

“I urge all my friends, allies, and supporters in the APC to toe the line of justice by supporting Senator Ahmad Lawan, a northeasterner for the presidential ticket of the APC.”