19th June, 2022
By Deji Abdulwahab/Abuja
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Integrity Group has called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC Presidential Candidate, Bola Tinubu, to consider Dr Ibrahim Dauda, a technocrat, as the party’s Vice Presidential candidate.
The group made the call in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, which was jointly signed by its Coordinator, Malam Dawu Mohammed and Secretary, Chinsom Nwakanma.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Tinubu had named Kabiru Masari as his running mate for the 2023 elections.
“Ibrahim Kabiru Masari is our vice presidential nominee. He was the Welfare Secretary of the APC under Oshiomhole, a former National Chairman of the party.
“He is a well-known politician and his name has been submitted,” a Chieftain of the party, Kabiru Faskari, has said.
But the group insisted that APC needed a technocrat for the position of Vice President to run with Tinubu.
According to it, the 2023 election would be keenly contested and the ruling party would do itself good in presenting candidates that would appeal to the people.
“We, therefore, call on the party chieftains to consider a technocrat like Dr Ibrahim Dauda, a technocrat and party man who has not held political position, except strategising for the party as a running mate for the presidential candidate.”
The group said that the APC presidential candidate and his running mate must be equipped with the knowledge of global economy to be able to catch the fancy of the Nigeria electorate, especially youths.
“Dauda, an Accountant, is experienced in business consulting, financial management, project management and public and corporate administration.
“Beyond professionalism, Dauda is a young person between the age bracket of 50 and 55; a member of one of the legacy parties, Congress of Progressive Change (CPC) and a confidant of President Buhari.
“Among all the aspiring running mates, only Dauda has the calmness that would benefit the APC in the campaign and for the office of the vice president.
“When one listens to the Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi, he has a message that appeal to the youths and other Nigerians.
“To square up with such a candidate, the APC must consider a running mate, whose focus of governance must be desired by Nigerians,” it said.
The group said that the election of 2023 would be totally different from 2015 and 2019.
It said: “This would be an election in which issue of how to revamp the economy would be on the front burner.
“We, the APC Integrity Group, believe that a party man like Dauda can rise to such responsibilities.
“Those aspiring for the APC vice presidential position are former Governor of Borno State, Sen. Kashim Shettima; his successor, Prof. Babgana Zulum and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha.
“Other are Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau, former Speaker of House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogora and former Secretary to the Government of Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal.”