Oladele Ogunsola, Ibadan.
The presidential candidature of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday received a boost in Ibadan as a campaign support group, ‘Atikulated Greater Nigeria’ promised to deliver massive votes to him in the South-West geo-political zone of the country.
Making this promise was the Director-General of the group, Dr. Samuel Olufemi Adeyemi at the inauguration of the states executive committees comprising Oyo, Ogun, Lagos, Ondo, Osun and Ekiti.
Dr. Adeyemi, who said the group would work hard to ensure that the zone go along with the former Vice-President and his running mate, Mr. Peter Obi ,noted that the decision became imperative in view of the hardship the current All Progressives Congress (APC) under Gen. Muhammadu Buhari rtd has subjected Nigerians.
Adeyemi maintained that the group would vigorously campaign for the emergence of the PDP candidate in the February 16th election, not minding that the South-West zone currently produces the Vice-President in person of Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.
Counseling that the Yorubas should not allow the ‘son of the soil’ sentiment to deny them of making noticeable impact in the eventual emergence of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the President of the country, the ‘Atikulated Greater Nigeria’ boss said the larger interest of the country should be the guiding principle when people are casting their votes on the 16th of February this year.
“We have all been part of the almost past four years of President Muhammadu Buhari with the attendant suffering in a near hopeless situation which is why our group is insisting that we must effect a change come February. This is not a hidden matter, the purpose of any government is to make life better for its citizens.
“But, we are all witnesses to the fact that rather than the outgoing administration making life better for the citizens, the reverse has been the case. Some of us have been out of this country and have knowledge and idea of how they do their things and get it right. We believe that Alhaji Abubakar, with his exposure and pedigree has what it takes to manifest our vision and dream”, Adeyemi explained.
On the inauguration, the DG said, “the importance of the inauguration of the states’ executives is to ensure that the group generate massive votes for Atiku Abubakar in the election”, adding, “with necessary support in terms of resources and logistics, we are not just a support group, we are going to use our influence to garner votes for our principal in the election”.
Recalling the voting strength of the zone as the second largest voting bloc in the country, he said, “we need to work hard for the election with the hope that our principal will support us. We believe in the cause even with little time”.
Acknowledging that President Buhari as a person has no issue when it comes to integrity as his apologists always flaunt, Dr. Adeyemi said the problem with the President has been nepotism, surrounding himself only with his kith and kin, who do whatever they like in office while nobody checks them.
He charged the newly inaugurated states’ executives to monitor the election and ensure that their votes count, adding, “we must act fast and we have started now. We need to commence house-to-house campaign to ensure victory for our principal”.
