By Gami Tadanyigbe
#TrackNigeria: The deputy leader of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Jerry Obasi has explained that the imperatives of sustaining allegiance to the party’s original progressive ideology compelled his group to endorse Alhaji Atiku Abubakar for Saturday’s presidential election.
Obasi, said this in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, saying that the issue of selecting General John Gbor (rtd) and adopting President Muhammadu Buhari, as preferred presidential candidate helped to refuel the leadership crisis in APGA.
“After much consultations and meetings with relevant stakeholders, we came to the inevitable conclusion that the presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar best approximates with the progressive ideology.
“It is because the propagation of President Muhammadu Buhari election by Governor Willie Obiano was not a collective decision of APGA NEC that most party chieftains, including the state chairmen from Zamfara, Borno, Kebbi, Zamfara, Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River and others resolved to chart a new cause for APGA.
While stressing on the party’s foundational principles, he commended the leadership of Ohanaeze, Nd’Igbo, Middle Belt Forum and PANDEF for endorsing Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
It would be recalled that APGA officials from 36 states of the federation, led by Obasi, last Tuesday in Enugu adopted the PDP presidential flag bearer for Saturday’s election and announced their intention of mobilizing grassroots support for the success of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar/Peter Obi in their various domains.
“We are in a political season, In a few days after today there will be the presidential election.
“In our meeting today, We adopted Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as APGA presidential candidate in line with the earlier decision of Ohanaeze Ndigbo,Afenifere, the Middle Belt Forum and PANDEFF’.
“We are encouraging our state chairmen when they go back to their various states to mobilize our members to vote for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the presidential election.
“We are supporting the views of our elders because Atiku/Obi joint ticket will develop a policy for restructuring Nigeria’.
Mr Dubem Onyia, former Foreign Affairs Minister, who received the letter of adoption on behalf of Atiku/Obi campaign organization, said the party took a wise decision.
“Your choice today is a choice for redemption of the country, a choice for economic rejuvenation, a choice to make Nigeria work again under the leadership of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi,” he said.
