Why Buhari might not interfere in 2023 presidential contest

In the contest for 2023 presidential race, it is clear that everyone is on his own in the APC. Nigerian politics is a contestation between the regional power blocks, not yet a game of social classes anchored on ideology.

President Muhammadu Buhari belongs to a fraction of the Northern power block, but he doesn’t lead it; he is just its symbol. It will be pretty difficult for him to determine what happens. The other fraction is in PDP. Hence, whoever looks up to the North must be careful regarding the correct reading of the political pulse and how far anointing can work without doing the weightlifting of building cross-regional power block alliances and other forms of coalitions.

Buhari is for everybody and not for anybody. He will receive all the aspirants and take selfies with them. (Including opposition’s candidates). Later, he will raise the hand of whosoever emerges in his party. After the election, he will congratulate whoever is returned elected irrespective of party.

That’s the difference between him and Obasanjo. Anybody banking on PMB’s support may just be on a long thing. Such a person should ask Oshiomhole, Ize-iyamo, and Andy Uba. They will tell how much of a party man Buhari is. Buhari is a student of history and likes to avoid history repeating itself. Buhari communicates his heart out when he speaks and for those who know how to listen to him, it would be foolhardy of him not to be concerned about who succeeded him this time around.