By Gbenga Sodeinde, Ado Ekiti
A group based in the United States of America, Nigeria Coalition for Change, has urged Nigerians to vote for the reelection of President
Muhamadu Buhari in the 2019 presidential election.
The group advised the federal government to tame the rampant and horrendous killings in the Northern part of the country, under the guise of communal clashes in Kaduna , insurgency in the North East and alleged marauding herdsmen in Benue, describing the scenarios as
constituting a huge threat to national security.
The group based in Washington DC stated that with the emergence of Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the candidate of the major opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), that it became obvious that
the country has no reliable and credible alternative to President
Buhari in the coming election.
In a statement made available to journalists in Ado Ekiti on Thursday and signed by its Coordinator, Mr. Samuel Ayodele, said it would be a great mistake for Nigerians to elect Atiku as the president on the premise that he played pivotal role in the running of the economy during the eight years reign of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Ayodele hinted that Atiku was at the forefront of the government that ruled the country between 1999 and 2007 and was given unfettered access to lead Nigeria as the leader of Obasanjo’s Economic team
He stated that it would be an herculean task for Atiku to make any tremendous and remarkable impacts within four years he promised to
superintend over Nigeria if elected President, if he could fail to accomplish the arduous task of turning Nigeria around when he had the opportunity.
The group added that Nigerians would not have forgotten the odious multi million dollars corruption that allegedly characterized the Bureau of Private Enterprises(BPE) and Petroleum Development Trust Fund(PTDF) where Atiku presided as Chairman under Obasanjo, saying Nigeria won’t want a slide into such an era when pilfering of public funds was the order of the day.
Ayodele said : “Though, we quite agree with the fact that Nigeria has not reached that enviable height we envisaged under President Buhari, but those of us living abroad understood the enormity of his fight against corruption.
“We are feeling and enjoying the dignity and respect the anti-graft war of this administration has brought to the image of our nation. In
the past, we were being treated with contempt all over the world, today the rhythm has changed.
“Again, since President Buhari came on board, there had never been allegation of corruption against him in the fashion of acquisition of sprawling landed properties all over the globe like other past President. He has been modest and this is gradually permeating every sphere of our country.
“We don’t need a descent to the abyss of mis-governance anymore. We have had enough in the past and Nigeria must move ahead by embracing fresh ideas that will catapult the fortunes of our dear nation to an enviable stature.
“Under Obasanjo/Atiku era, Nigerians were adjudged to have been badly governed via economic deprivation , looting of public funds,
electoral rigging, abuse of human rights and several other social vices that held the country down and deprived it of its dignity in the
comity of nations.
“Now that the PDP that could have been al alternative platform had decided to allow someone who contributed to the ills of the past to emerge, available facts substantiated the fact that the present was better than the past and we advise Nigerians to back President Buhari than allowing any slide into the dark years of the past”, he advised.
Ayodele urged the APC-led government to equip all security apparatuses of government and make them effective in fostering national security, to guarantee security of lives and property as well as boost investments in Nigeria.