Buhari names running mate Wednesday, Jonathan greets ex-military leader at 72

BARRING last minutes changes, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Maj-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) will personally announce the name of his running mate Wednesday.
 Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has congratulated Buhari on the occasion of his 72nd birthday today (Wednesday).
  In a congratulatory letter addressed to APC candidate in next year’s presidential election, President Jonathan prayed that God Almighty should grant him many more years of good health and personal fulfillment.
  “As you mark your 72nd birthday anniversary, I write, on behalf of my family, the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to extend warm felicitations to you.
“I join your family, friends, and well-wishers to thank God for your life and to pray that He continues to guide, guard and prosper you even as He blesses you with many more years of abounding health and personal fulfillment,” He wished General Buhari a very happy birthday.
  APC’s National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, made the planned announcement of Buhari’s running mate known yesterday to reporters at about 7.30 pm after a closed door meeting by members of the National Working Committee (NWC) at the party secretariat in Abuja which dragged into the night.
Faulting the notion that the announcement of Buhari’s running mate has suffered unnecessary delay, he said the matter has been resolved after due consultation with Buhari.
  He noted: “It is not delayed, the candidate will speak to you people (Press). I have a feeling he will speak to you tomorrow. The party has consulted with the candidate and we have reached some agreement and he will address you tomorrow.”
As at 7 p.m yesterday when Odigie-Oyegun briefed reporters, members of the NWC were still involved in the long drawn talks at the party headquarters on the choice of the presidential running mate of the party.
  Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, was among those that held consultative meetings over the choice of Buhari’s running mate.
Governors Babatunde Fashola, Adams Oshiomhole, Rotimi Amaechi have been touted as possible running mate to Buhari who vied previously for the presidency on the platform of the defunct All Peoples Party (APP) and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in 2003, 2007 and 2011 respectively.
  However, the name of former Lagos Justice Commissioner and Attorney General, Prof. Yemi Osibajo had been most prominent as possible running mate to Buhari due to the fact that he is  a Christian, from the South-West geo political zone and the preferred choice of Leader of the party, Bola Tinubu, who had relocated to Abuja apparently to achieve the goal.
Chieftains of the party, including Buhari, had from Monday been holding series of meetings at the new Rivers State Governors’ Lodge, Asokoro on Monday till the early hours of yesterday.
   In attendance at the Monday parley were members of the party’s national caucus comprising 0yegun, the national secretary, Mai Malabu‎ni, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Nasir El-Rufai, Governors Rauf Aregbesola (0sun), Adams 0shiomole (Edo), ‎and Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara).
   Others are: Babatunde Fashiola ‎(Lagos), Rochas 0korocha (Imo) Magatakarda Wamako (Sokoto), Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe), Kashim Shettima (Borno) as well as Senators Bukar Abba Ibrahim, Atiku Bagudu, Chris Ngige and Ahmed Sani.
  Also in attendance were: the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, and a former presidential aspirant, Sam Nda- Isaiah.
 sources: the guardian.