Former Umar Ardo has claimed that the idea behind the formation of the All Progressives Congress was his, dismissing suggestions by former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, that he was responsible for the emergence of late President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television, Ardo insisted that no single individual could claim responsibility for making someone president, although he maintained that the APC formation idea originated from him.
“The idea of forming the APC for Buhari’s contest in 2015 was mine not Amaechi’s,” Ardo said.
“No single person can claim to have made somebody president; it would need a large number of people and groups, but every idea starts with a single person, and the idea to form the APC was mine.”
Ardo explained that after Buhari lost the 2011 presidential election, he personally encouraged the former president to contest again despite his earlier decision not to return to the race.
“Before the 2011 general elections, Buhari made a statement that he would not contest again if he lost and he actually lost.
“I personally went to him and asked him to contest again. I told him the reason he had not won elections is that he had never gone outside the North to campaign. You need one zone in the South to win election.”
According to him, Buhari needed support from the South West to secure victory, adding that current President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was considered key to that strategy.
“You can get the Southwest only if you get current President Bola Tinubu as Vice Presidential candidate. In 2011, Tinubu wanted to be Vice President but they went and brought Pastor Tunde Bakare.
“With that, Tinubu went ahead and had some consultation with former Goodluck Jonathan and supported him.”
Ardo further stated that he advised Buhari to challenge the 2011 election outcome in court in order to maintain his political relevance ahead of future contests.
