2019 poll: Atiku reacts to his endorsement by major ethnic groups
By Steve Oko
Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2019 election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has formally reacted to his historic endorsement by major ethnic socio-cultural and geopolitical groups in the country.
He said the endorsement was a challenge to do more for the advancement of the Nigerian state .
Wawa News Global reports that key ethic and regional blocs on Sunday, unanimously adopted Atiku as their consensus candidate for the presidential poll.
The groups include : Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Northern Elders Forum ( NEF), Afenifere, Middle Belt Forum, and Pan Niger Delta Forum.
Atiku in a statement issued shortly after the endorsement said a new chapter for Nigeria’s greatness had commenced.
The former Vice President thanked the groups for believing in him and his running mate, Mr. Peter Obi and promised not to dash their hopes.
He said he was specifically humbled that despite the unprecedented deep divisions in the country caused by the present condition, Nigerias could still come together to stand behind him.
The statement read in part :“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.
“The endorsement by the leading lights of our nationalities – Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Northern Elders Forum, Pan-Niger Delta Forum and Middle Belt Forum is a loud statement that there is hope for our country as we go to the polls in a few days.
“Today we put aside all our prejudices to elect a President with religion and ethnicity playing no role in our elections,” he wrote.
Atiku promised to provide an exemplary leadership if elected into power.
“I profusely thank our leaders across the country that has created this wonderful moment for us to come to the table of brotherhood. Once again, and in the words of our old National Anthem, we can proudly sing: Though tribes and tongues may differ, in brotherhood we stand.
“This has buoyed me to lead a pan-Nigerian team that will give practical interpretation to what has been done by the time I take leadership of our country, by the grace of Allah, on May 29, 2019.
“Many countries of the world have been led into disintegration by strongmen (one in each country) and we have seen how individuals who understand the management of diversities have rallied their people for unity.
“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.”
Atiku promised to run an all inclusive government that would help unite Nigeria again , and not to promote nepotism as currently witnessed under the present administration.
“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 one hundred per cent for every section of Nigeria as I would not understand any arithmetic outside that.
“I enjoin our people across Nigeria to come out en-mass to vote on February 16 to pull our country from the brink and propel it to greater heights so we can live a better life. Take my words as a covenant with Nigeria ” he added.
End
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