Thirteen days to the Presidential elections, scheduled for February 16, 2019, Nigeria’s major social-cultural and ethnic groups have moved against the re-election bid of incumbent president, Muhammadu Buhari, who is contesting under the Advanced Peoples’ Congress (APC), for a second term.
They have put their weight behind the election of Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, the presidential candidate of the People Democratic Party (PDP).
They met on Sunday, February 3, 2019 at the Ladi Kwali Hall, Sheraton Hotel, in Abuja, where they agreed that it would not serve the well-being of the country and its people for President Buhari, whose government one of them described as evil, to have another four-year term, as president. The meeting was tagged: ‘Summit of Nigerian Leaders and Elders’.
The groups are the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), the South-East Ohaneze Ndigbo, The Yoruba Afeniferi, the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) and the Middle Belt Forum.
Their leaders, Prof. Ango Abdullahi of NEF, Ayo Adebajo of Afenefire, John Nwodo of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Edwin Clark of PANDEF, Pogu Bitrus of Middle Belt Group and Buna Galadinma took turn to speak after the meeting they held to deliberate on the state of the nation and the coming Presidential elections.
Among other reasons for turning their back on Buhari was their accusation that the president has loss control of government and his actions were dividing the country.
Nwodo speaking on behalf of Ohaneze Ndigbo said the presidency of Mohammadu Buhari, has more than ever before reminded Nigerians of their ethnic and religious differences.
According to Bitrus, Atiku is the collective candidate of the Middle Belt people. Clark who expressed anger of the treatment of the Chief Justice of the federation, Walter Onnoghen, said.
Adebanjo who want all Nigerians to rally around Atiku said at the meeting, “Those of you present here would save Nigeria, so you must do everything in your power to ensure Atiku wins; A vote for Atiku is a vote for national unity. Those of you who know us in Afenifere knew that we don’t follow people blindly; Atiku believes in restructuring and he has delivered papers on it,” the Yoruba elder noted.
Responding to his endorsement by the groups, Atiku said he was moved with tears, while the APC reacted to the news by saying the endorsement would not have any impact as many of them are factionalised.
