Sokoto Governor says he's under pressure to run against sick Buhari

Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal, has disclosed that hes under pressure to run against President Muhammadu Buhari, who he said suffers serious health challenges, in the 2019 presidential election.

The governor disclosed this while addressing a crowd of youths at his office, revealing that he will make his decision public soon.

He said, "I have been under intense pressure from various quarters in Nigeria including leaders of the country and friends of Nigeria outside the country to contest the presidency.

"But leadership is a collective decision and I have never asked to be made a leader at any time in my life. So, my aspiration will be determined by my people and after that, I will make my political decision known in a matter of days."

The governor also told the crowd that President Buhari is being held hostage by a cabal that's running his administration for him while he deals with health challenges.

"We supported Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 to become President unconditionally and we admit that Buhari has integrity but that's not the only requirement for leadership.

"We are aware that the President is affected by serious challenges of health and is being held captive by a cabal that runs Nigeria for their personal interests," he said.

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The president has been plagued by health issues and spent a combined 154 days in London on two separate medical visits in 2017 to treat an undisclosed illness, prompting concerns about how fit he is for duty.

Since the 75-year-old president declared to run for a second term in the 2019 presidential election, his health status is expected to be a major vulnerability for the opposition to exploit.

Tambuwal's presidential ambition

Governor Tambuwal was one of the three state governors that dumped the ruling All Progressives' Congress (APC) for the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in July 2018, citing neglect and Buhari's failed leadership.

Before his defection, the governor has long been rumoured to be nursing a presidential ambition which would be difficult to realise with the APC.

If he's to win the PDP's ticket, he'll have to beat former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, who's been tipped as the party's favourite and possibly Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who also revealed this week that he's considering contesting in next year's presidential election.