Atiku's political associate warns that Obasanjo plans to make El-Rufai or Kwankwaso president in 2019

FORMER vice president Atiku Abubakar's close political associate Alhaji Abdullahi Sugar has warned that ex-president Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has finalised plans to install Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai as the next president come 2019.

In a move certain to be seen as the commencement of political jostling ahead of the 2019 presidential elections, Alhaji Sugar has warned northerners against the alleged moves by Chief Obasanjo to force one of his boys on the north. He added that the former president was working hard to force either Governor Nasir el-Rufai or Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso on the region.

Alhaji Sugar said: “We, northerners, must be wary of these antics. It has happened before and we should not allow it to happen again, Obasanjo, should allow the people’s will to prevail.

“Why is he plotting for Kwankwaso and El-Rufai when more, better politicians are on ground? He should allow the people’s will to prevail and not his, so we should tell him that Nigerians are now more enlightened politically than in 2007."

He added that Atiku would contest in 2019, stating that Nigerians from all parts of the country were in support of his ambition. Over recent months, it has been rumoured that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar will decamp to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party if he cannot clinch the presidential ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress.

“Obasanjo had on many occasions said Atiku will not in his lifetime become president, so we are praying for him to live long so that he can witness the emergence of Atiku as president. Atiku is not looking for presidency from Obasanjo, but from Allah, who gives power to anybody He wishes, without the endorsement of people like Obasanjo,” Alhaji Sugar said.