JUST IN: Crisis set to hit APC, as Buhari finally positions Tinubu for 2019

President Muhammadu Buhari seems to have settled for the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, as his running mate come 2019, the Publisher of Ovation Magazine, Dele Momodu has confirmed.

Momodu, made the shocking revelation on Saturday, August 20, in his article titled: ‘’PDP And Tinubu, the Road to 2019” published in Thisday Newspaper.

Recall, that Momodu had prior to the 2015 General Election, had in a similar article, predicted that Buhari would roundly defeat the then President Goodluck Jonathan.

While revealing the 2019 permutation going on among the rank and files of the APC, Momodu, revealed that Buhari needs Tinubu to succeed in the forthcoming 2019 poll.

He said: ‘’If the President Buhari remains stoically stubborn and refuses to play ball with politicians, he would have to fight dirty to win his ticket.

‘’It seems to me that he would have to do everything to retain the loyalty of one man by all means, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

‘’It is almost impossible for any candidate to become President of Nigeria without the overwhelming support of the Yoruba and their current generalissimo, Tinubu, in particular,’’ Momodu said.

    While quoting impeccable sources, Momodu added: “Buhari may therefore be forced to risk and pick Tinubu as his running-mate if push comes to shove. Tinubu’s protégé, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, is the current Vice President, who comes with intimidating credentials but may not have enough political muscle to deliver enough votes to the kitty.

‘’The dilemma for Buhari is whether he should buck the trend set by his predecessors, starting from Shehu Shagari, and jettison his Vice President, especially when a cordial and mutually respectful relationship exists between them. In addition, Osinbajo has been doing exceedingly well and he is seen as one of the few shining lights of this Administration.

‘’There is also the fact that Prof Osinbajo is a highly regarded and esteemed senior Christian figure and the President has needed him to silence those detractors that consider him an Islamic fundamentalist.

‘’However, I believe that the controversy that could ensue from a potentially volatile Muslim/Muslim ticket may have been fixed substantially. There is a precedent set by Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola the acclaimed winner of the 1993 elections who picked a fellow Muslim, Alhaji Baba Gana Kingibe, as his running-mate and still won in Nigeria’s freest and fairest election to date.

‘’Though Tinubu is a devout Muslim, his beloved wife is a hard-core Christian and a top-notch member of the same Redeemed Christian Church of God as the Vice President.

‘’There is the fact that Tinubu supported a Christian, Akinwunmi Ambode, as his anointed candidate for Governor of Lagos State, a deft move calculated to pacify those who may wish to foment religious crisis and conflagration then and in the future.

‘’Tinubu is believed by many to have served Nigeria meritoriously and selflessly by suppressing his own personal ambition for that of others and it is believed that the kingmaker deserves a chunky reward the next time around if he so desires.

‘’If the hawks succeed in getting Buhari to snub Tinubu because of his perceived threat to the President himself, the APC may split like PDP did before the collapse of the Jonathan Presidency’’.