A non-governmental organisation and advocate of unity, peace, and progress of Nigeria, the One Nigeria Group (ONG) has endorsed the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar for president of Nigeria ahead of Saturday’s presidential election, urging separatist movements and agitators to sheathe their swords and allow peace to reign as Nigerians go out to elect their leaders.

Declaring support for the PDP candidate at a World Press Conference in Abuja, the National President of the group, Alhaji Muhammad Saleh Hassan, said it took the decision knowing that “the election is very crucial to the future of this nation and our interests.”

Underscoring the roles of the citizens in ensuring the emergence of the PDP candidate on Saturday, the ONG said “We all have important roles to play to achieve this onerous task together, regardless of our differences, as in the words of erstwhile America president, Bill Clinton: “We all do better when we work together. Our differences do matter, but our common humanity matters more.”

The group said that it has deemed it fit to put together a programme to sensitise Nigerians “on the need to tread the path of peace in the spirit of unity that we can not afford to compromise for any reason as the country embarks on this very important exercise”, saying “It is apparent that elections in Nigeria are usually fraught with violence and different kinds of misconducts that threaten the credibility of the exercise.”

Emphasising on the need for Nigerians “to conduct themselves in civic manners marked by loyalty and respect for the rule of law to be able to achieve the purpose of electing the right leaders, the ONG assured that the election umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), “is ready to conduct the elections with credibility.”

The group then urged the security agencies and personnel, particularly the Police, Army, Civil Defence, DSS, among others, “to, as usual, conduct themselves in ways capable of guaranteeing peace and security before, during and after the elections.”

“We also call on separatist movements and agitators, particularly the Yoruba Nation and IPOB, to sheathe their swords and allow peace to reign as we go out to elect our leaders again.

“The Nigerian youths have to compose themselves in the right manners and take their destinies in their hands to achieve a better tomorrow that is about to be entrenched by he whom the cap fits.

“We urge both local and international observers to demonstrate adequate professionalism in the discharge of their duties in this exercise.

“The media must also be professional (and objective) in their reporting as they are also very crucial to this democratic achievement.

“At this juncture, I like to declare unequivocally that One Nigeria Group’s choice is the
candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. While we need to get ready to cast our votes for him in an overwhelming magnitude, we also urge everybody here today and all Nigerians to tread this path of hope for good governance that we have all been aspiring for.

“The justifications for our endorsement of Atiku are multitudinous, out of which I would like to mention a few.

“He has never been accused of sectionalism nor being a member of any secessionist group or movement. Neither has he been accused of being a sponsor of any militia group such as banditry, Boko Haram, ISWAP etc.

“He has never been accused of being a proponent of ethnic rivalry, tribalism nor nepotism. This spirit of patriotism portrays him as a nationalist, statesman and unifier.

“It is a testament that the blood of peace, unity and progress of this nation flows in his veins. It is against this background that we unreservedly declare our support for him to become the next president of this country.

“Importantly too, his five-point agenda that borders on unity, security, economy, education as well as devolving more resources to the federating units speaks volume as they are geared towards nation- building as well as the wellbeing and fulfilment of the populace.

“Alhaji Atiku himself has reiterated that his enduring persistence is borne out of his passion to rekindle the Nigerian dream for emancipation from hardship that the APC administration has thrown the country into since eight years ago.

“His outing again, which is the sixth time, is a sincere demonstration of doggedness, determination and commitment to serving the nation for good, but not for any pecuniary motive.

“It is worthy of note that a vote for Atiku is a vote for peace, unity, progress, prosperity and comfort that the populace have been dreaming of, which he is capable of actualising.

“The Atiku/Okowa synergy is the best option for Nigeria’s unification and emancipation in the times that we have found ourselves. They are the only presidential pivots that have the capacity to unify and deliver the country from the current quagmire that the country has been experiencing with pains. But it is Nigeria’s time to recover if only Atiku becomes our next president”, the ONG said.

Present at the briefing were Comrade Sunday Attah, the FCT Coordinator of the ONG, Comrade Oche Jimmy of the Concerned Citizens For Change, Comrade Johnson kolawole Micheal of the Coalition For Truth And Justice, Comrade Augustine Tony of the Rebirth Nigeria Action Congress, and Comrade Adamu Kabir Matazu, the President of Arewa Youth Federation (AYF), among many other members of One Nigeria Group.

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