Five leading socio-cultural organisations, yesterday, endorsed the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
They are: the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF), Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Afenifere and Middle Belt Forum (MBF).
A faction of Afenifere, led by Ayo Fasanmi, endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari last week while the General Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Uche Okwukwu, has been suspended by the body for backing the president, who is flying the flag of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The organisations said Atiku has shown that he will restructure the country if given the mandate, accusing Buhari of not showing interest despite setting up a restructuring committee headed by the governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai.
The groups accused Buhari of succeeding in emphasising ethnicity and religion in his administration, lamenting the high level of insecurity and constitutional crisis.
The elders said the administration had been dealing with perceived enemies under the guise of fighting corruption,, adding that all they had seen in the last three years is blame game.
Convener of Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF), Ango Abdullahi, said Nigeria is at a cross roads, attributing the endorsement of Atiku to principles reached a year ago.
“The reality is that we have to fish for a president among the two major parties, the ruling and the main opposition,” he said.
“It is clear that the country requires a new leadership and this is why the Northern elders Forum which I lead is in agreement that a new leader should emerge and that leader is Atiku Abubakar.”
Responding to government’s attacks following criticism of the administration, Abdullahi said it, “It is unfair to accuse us of vested interested on issues that ought to be of concern to every Nigerian irrespective of tribe and religion. Nothing is farther from the truth that some of us are being frustrated because we have been denied of contracts or appointments.
Leader of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Edwin Clark, said, “We have served in governments, so nobody should make the mistake of saying we are looking for jobs. We don’t belong to a political party but we met as elders and leaders of the three regions of the country because the country is at a crossroad.
“We want a leader not sick, but focused and has the respect of foreign leaders. We have been passing through crisis and the outside world is laughing at us. One man cannot change the constitution of Nigeria, the moment you can remove the chief justice of Nigeria (CJN) by fiat and gets the power to remove the senate president, you become a dictator.“
Ayo Adebanjo of Afenifere, said: “I didn’t know that this government will become so tyrannical when we started this initiative. We are asking Nigerians to confirm the election of Abubakar. You’re not voting for him but you’re working for the interest of Nigeria. You must work doubly hard if you want the country’s unity. The evil tormenting us is devising new method to remain in power.
“We are not so cheap to follow people. If you think all we have been telling you is propaganda, the recent exposure of the candidate will convince you of the type of president we need. Be vigilant until the election is declared and confirmed. You are the ones to save Nigeria.”
President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, John Nwodo, said he is saddened by the current situation in the country.
… I’m moved to tears, says Atiku after widespread endorsement
Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, yesterday, said he is moved to tears following his widespread endorsement by leaders of five top socio-cultural organisations in the country.
The organisations, the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF), Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Afenifere and Middle Belt Forum (MBF), said Atiku has shown that he will restructure the country if given the mandate.
Reacting shortly after, Atiku said the endorsement is “a loud statement that there is hope for our country”.
“I am moved to tears that in the midst of deep divisions and deliberate use of instrumentalities of state to set our people against themselves in the last three and a half years, responsible and respected leaders across Nigeria have agreed to come together for the purpose of endorsing my candidature for the February 16th,2019 Presidential elections,” he said in a statement.
“Today we put aside all our prejudices to elect a President with religion and ethnicity playing no role in our elections.”
The former vice-president added that he is buoyed to lead a pan-Nigerian team if elected, and that he has been chosen to unite our people “and exactly that I will.”
“I will run a properly federated Nigeria through constitutional reforms to bring out the best from all sections of Nigeria to make Nigeria work again like in the past when the Saudi Royal family came to Nigeria to access Medicare,” he said.
“We will promote an inclusive Nigeria based on productivity that every section of Nigeria will bring out the best under their soil, and in their brain to make Nigeria assume its position in Africa and the global community.
“It would be 100 per cent for every section of Nigeria as I would not understand any arithmetic outside that.”
Atiku is seen as President Muhammadu Buhari’s main challenger in the election.
