Former governor of Jigawa state Sule Lamido has declared his intention to run for the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2019.
Lamido, a Northerner, made his intention known in a letter to all members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) across the country, thereby becoming the first politician from the North to do so.
The PDP had earlier said it had zoned its presidential ticket for 2019 general election to the region.
But that did not discourage Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state, a Southerner, from earlier declaring his intent to run for the office.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Umar Kyari, Lamido lamented that the nation has departed from the dreams of its founding fathers.
The letter read: “The PDP will and must lead the nation back into a bright, progressive, and innovative future.
“To the world, Nigeria must demonstrate our confidence, tenacity in our ability and capability to address our domestic regional and global challenges that confront us.
“It is against this background that I offer myself to vie for the office of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2019 if my party finds me worthy to fly its flag.
“I am no means claiming to be the only capable material, any PDP member, given the trust and support can fly our flag, and I expect many more aspirants will express the desire to run.
“My hope and prayer is that at the end of all the process which I hope will be open, fair transparent and credible is to give Nigeria in 2019 candidate who will lead the party and Nigeria. This is because there is no alternative to PDP in 2019, it will be a defining moment in the Nigerian political evolution.”
