2019: Shekarau declares interest in presidency

In what seems to be a repeat of what happened in the 2011 presidential election, former Kano State governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, is set to contest the presidential election in 2019.

Shekarau had, as governor of Kano, which is considered to be the second political home of then presidential candidate of defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Muhammadu Buhari, contested against Buhari, thereby limiting his vote tally.

The former governor recently wrote letters to many of his former aides, stating: “Since after the 2015 general elections, there have been various calls by individuals and groups from many quarters, nationwide, urging my humble candidature for the contest of the Presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the next general elections, due in 2019.”

The immediate past minister of education said he strongly believes that the people were doing so based on the modest successes he recorded while he was governor of Kano State from 2003 to 2011, and also as minister (July 2014 -May 2015).

He therefore added: “In response to these calls, and in view of the seeming intricacies and the boundless complexities involved in such a national assignment, I have consulted across all the geo-political zones and different interest groups, who examined and appraised the issue and advised me accordingly.”

Shekarau told his aides that from the consultations: “I am better informed and convinced that participating in the democratic process of serving humanity goes beyond party affiliations/boundaries, and also beyond just winning an election.

“I have therefore decided to accept the clarion calls, and will in due course and in accordance with the guidelines of my party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), offer my humble self for the contest of the presidency during the forth-coming 2019 general elections.”