By Victoria Abu.
In a new political development, Bashir Ahmed, a former new media aide to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, has publicly expressed his willingness to campaign for Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the current Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), should she decide to run for Nigeria’s presidency.
This is even as he extended his endorsement to several other Nigerians, including former ministers and governors, whom he described as highly respected and nationally accepted leaders.
Ahmed made his stance known in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday, where he praised the credentials and leadership qualities of the individuals he named.
“If Madam Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala ever decides to run, I will wholeheartedly support her. She possesses the global experience, leadership acumen, and credibility to lead Nigeria effectively,” he wrote.
He went on to list other potential candidates he would back, including Chris Ngige, Dave Umahi, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Geoffrey Onyeama, and Sharon Ikeazor, describing them as “true nationalists” with broad appeal across the country.
This endorsement comes just days after Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, the immediate past governor of Kaduna State and another close associate of Buhari, revealed that he did not support President Bola Tinubu prior to the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary election in 2023. El-Rufai also disclosed that Buhari had advised Kaduna State delegates to vote according to their conscience during the primaries.
The recent comments from people within Buhari’s inner circle have reignited discussions about the former president’s neutrality during the APC primaries. Buhari’s refusal to publicly endorse any candidate at the time had fueled speculation and conspiracy theories, which these latest revelations have further unsettled.
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