The electoral chances of the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential flag bearer, Atiku Abubakar, received a fillip on Sunday as regional leaders and socio-cultural groups from the six regional zones of the country adopted him as their consensus candidate for the February 16 presidential election.
Speaking under the auspices of the Summit of Nigerian Leaders and Elders, with the theme, ‘Elections: The search for credible, free and fair elections,’ the group said Atiku possessed the capability and knowledge to lead the nation.
The associations that expressed their support for the PDP candidate are the pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere; the Northern Elders Forum; Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Pan-Niger Delta Forum and the Middle Belt Forum.
Leaders of the associations, including Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, Chief Edwin Clark, Tanko Yakassai and Dr. Bitrus Pogu, asked Nigerians to vote for Atiku on February 16.
Speaking for the Igbo nation, the President-General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Nwodo, said Nigeria was facing a momentous election that would determine the growth trajectory of the country in the next four years.
He stated that President Muhammadu Buhari had widened the ethnic cleavages in the country thus jeopardising national security, citing the banditry in parts of Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto and the insurgency in Borno State.
He said, “Though the APC (All Progressives Congress) set up a committee on restructuring chaired by Kaduna State Governor which presented their recommendations, nothing has been heard about it till today.
“There was no bill to the National Assembly to commence the process of restructuring the country. In this order, Atiku, Bukola Saraki, Donald Duke and Kingsley Moghalu presented how they would implement their restructuring agenda. So, Ohanaeze has chosen Atiku Abubakar as its candidate.”
Afenifere leader, Adebanjo, said the summit was only concerned about the unity of the country, arguing that the PDP presidential candidate believed in restructuring the country having written and delivered several papers on it.
“Those of you present here will save Nigeria, so you must do everything in your power to ensure that Atiku wins; a vote for Atiku is a vote for national unity. In Afenifere, we don’t follow people blindly; Atiku believes in restructuring and he has delivered papers on it,” the Yoruba elder noted.
The President of NEF said his association had earlier announced that it would not support any northern politician that failed to perform in office, hence their opposition to Buhari who the body endorsed and worked for in 2015.
Abdullahi said the forum presented a document on governance to the President shortly after he came to power, but the government jettisoned the blueprint.
“Based on our assessment, it is very clear the country requires a new leadership and that is why the Northern Elders Forum agreed that the leader is Atiku Abubakar,” the NEF chairman said.
Ijaw leader, Clark, stated that the Niger Delta, which produced the nation’s wealth, was being neglected, noting that the cost of fuel was higher in the region than in other parts of the country.
“I have watched and seen various political campaigns and I have seen the President Nigeria deserves. I am satisfied by our choice. I join Ohanaeze, Afenifere and the rest of us that Nigeria should have a capable, intelligent President; a President with personality. So, on behalf of the Niger Delta, Atiku is our presidential candidate,” he added.
Pogu, the MBF President, said the Middle Belt people believed the PDP candidate possessed the capacity to lead the nation.
The summit, in a communique, also expressed its goodwill to Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo for surviving a helicopter crash in Kogi on Saturday.
The statement, read by Yinka Odumakin, said the group adopted Atiku as the consensus candidate for the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria “as he has demonstrated the deep understanding of the critical need of the country at this time and has the capacity to proffer clear solutions in that respect.”
I will not disappoint Nigerians —Atiku
In his reaction to his adoption, Atiku said he would not disappoint Nigerians if elected.
The former vice-president, in a telephone interview with one of our correspondents, said the news of his adoption came to him as a surprise, but promised to be a President to all Nigerians if elected.
When told about the adoption, he said, “Is that (adoption) true? Then I’m happy and grateful to the organisations and groups that have done this.
“Nigeria is a great country that we have to work together to get it working again.
“I’m assuring everyone that I will be the President for everyone and I will not disappoint this confidence. I will not let them down. Tell them that I am grateful.”
PUNCH
