Ahmad Rufai Sani A previous governor of Zamfara state, Ahmad Rufai Sani likewise known as Yarima has actually stated his intentions to run for Presidency in 2023.

The previous Zamfara West senator who spoke during a BBC Hausa Service program “Gane Mani Hanya” in Gusau, the state capital said, since President Buhari is ending his 2nd term, he would continue to pursue his presidential aspiration.

“If God spares my life, by 2023 I would enter into the contest for the post of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria ” Yarima said.

“In 2007 I made similar attempts but the Arewa Consultative Forum and other highly regarded seniors of the North pleaded with me and other contenders to step down for Muhammadu Buhari and I agreed”

“I made a vow that as soon as Muhammadu Buhari was striving for the position of the President, I will not contest with him. In 2019 election, people asked me to contest I stated unless Muhammadu Buhari would not be contesting for the 2nd term I will contest”

“Now that he has actually been chosen as President two times and his tenure is winding up in 2023, I chose to make a public pronouncement that I am objecting to for the post of the President come 2023”

Responding to why he is interested in becoming the president of Nigeria Yarima said, “I worked as Governor of Zamfara for eight years, I was in the Senate for twelve years so with the experiences I have gathered, I understand that Nigeria is struggling with 2 main problems, poverty and illiteracy.

“If federal government can come up with policies to enhance agriculture and livestock production, support small– scale entrepreneurship and everyone is empowered to do one business or the other, the issue of insecurity and other socio-economic problems crises impacting Nigerians will be attended to”.

On why, he selected to aspire for the position of president when he knows Buhari originated from the North and from same geo -political zone with him, Yarima stated “both the constitution of the APC and that of Nigeria does not provide room for zoning”

“If there is room for zoning and the post of the presidency is not zoned to somebody’s geographical zone, it would be an act of madness for the same person to aim for the post. The focus on both constitutions is “Nigerian no matter the zone he came from”

“There is no zoning in APC constitution and even in the PDP constitution and if you insist on zoning, are you going to compel someone whose presidency is not zoned to his own geopolitical location to choose somebody he dislikes?” he asked?

ToriNG