Nathaniel Zaccheaus, Abuja
Former governor of Anambra State, Chukwuemeka Ezeife, has asked the Nigerian electorate to reject presidential candidates from the northern part of Nigeria at the polls next week in the interest of peace
He stated this on Monday in Abuja at the Obi/ Datti International Conference, 2023 and Public Presentation of a book, “Business Unusual: Postulating Peter Obi’s Presidency”
Ezeife specifically asked for the rejection of the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) who is a former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.
He also asked the electorate to reject the Presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso and any other candidates from the North.
Ezeife urged the electorate to chose between the the Presidential Candidate of Labour Party, (LP), Peter Obi or that of the All Progressives Congress,( APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who are from the South.
He, however, said that Nigerians should jettison what he described as “Bullion van Politics” which he attributed to the PDP and the APC.
Ezeife said, “We want a system that works. We want Nigeria to work from now henceforth. Bullion Van Politics, Enough is enough. We don’t want Bullion Van Politics which enables politicians to buy votes and do what they like for the next four years.
“I’ve been saying that people should take money from politicians because it’s their money stolen from them.
“Bullion Van Politics being PDP and APC must come to end. Today, any northern politician who says he wants to be president doesn’t want Nigeria to survive. When you embrace injustice and shun inclusiveness, you don’t want Nigeria to survive.
“Atiku Abubakar and Rabiu Kwankwaso are from the North while Peter Obi and Bola Tinubu are from the South.
“The Yoruba has been president and vice president but the Igbo had not had the opportunity.”The truth must be told. Only Southern candidates are qualified by the decision of Nigerians to contest. We have Tinubu and Peter Obi. The choice is between Tinubu and Peter Obi.”
The Afenifere leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, was represented on the occasion by the Director of Research of the Organisation, Dr. Akin Fapohunda.
He said, “The Afenifere has lots of expectations from Peter Obi. The mantra of Afenifere is that Nigeria must be restructured. We are not breaking up Nigeria.
“We will have common passport, common currency, common defence. Each region would live the way they want. Afenifere has the blueprint.”
The Chairman of the Occasion, who is also the Chief Launcher, High Chief Duru Mike Ejiogu, said “all patriotic Nigerians, irrespective of creed, background, and ethnicity gather to voice their choice of a man whose candidacy has enjoyed tremendous support nationwide.”
He said, “I feel blessed to be in the midst of such a distinguished gathering and | will remember today for a long time. I see myself as lending support to a good course and participating in charting a new direction for our country by saying to the whole world that a New Nigeria is possible.
“This means that Mr. Obi needs all the help he can get if he must get the job done. I want to say that the book is timely and a powerful tool to help not just Mr. Peter Obi to achieve his purpose, but also to ensure that the dream of ali Nigerians for a workable country is realised.”
The representative of the Obi/Datti Intemational Conference, Dr. Kletsaint Akor, said the group aims to bring together various stakeholders to examine policy and issues on the flag bearer’s strategy for making Nigena work again.
He said the sessions will review the thrusts of likely new policies of the government and analyze their impending impacts in all the ways they may affect long-established mannerisms cf public governance in Nigeria under the government of the Labour Party.
The Book, he added, is divided into 12 chapters comprising inputs from several authors and it informs and educates every citizen: individual or corporate on the men, Mr. Peter Obi; his exceptional leadership qualities, and above all, demonstrates his courage and daunting reputation as a dare-to-do reformer in leadership.
He said Peter Obi breathes new life into the quest to change the face and character of the Presidency of Nigeria which every institution has been relentlessly debased in recent times.
“This book is also a collection of verifiable evidence of the collective perspectives of the newly evolved political revolution christend the Obi-dient Movement.
“The Book is also a documentation of insightful conversations with Peter Obi on his political party and what has been termed his ‘shadow cabinet ‘”
