Danjuma, Christian elders back Obi, say Nigeria needs new leaders

 

By Nurat Uthman

The National Christian Elders Forum, led by former Defence Minister, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (retd.), and other elder statesmen, on Tuesday, endorsed Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, ahead of Saturday’s poll.

The NCEF said this year’s presidential poll must produce a leader that will ensure national reconciliation and unity, which will in turn lead to socioeconomic prosperity for Nigeria.

Urging Nigerians not to vote based on tribal or religious considerations, the group said what Nigeria needed at this time were a new crop of leaders with capacity, integrity and good health because “a sick country requires hearty leaders.”

The Christian Elders  forum disclosed this in a statement titled, “Resolutions towards 2023 elections: Think new,” signed by its chairman and former Deputy Governor of Taraba State, Dr Danjuma Gani, and Secretary, Pastor Bosun Emmanuel, on Tuesday.

They said, “In view of the need to ensure that democracy survives in Nigeria and the culture of corruption, incompetency, lawlessness, and impunity that has assailed the country in the past 24 years is eradicated, the NCEF encourages Nigerians to think new. Nigeria requires new leaders, new methods, new policies, and new political parties.

"The National Christian Elders Forum is endorsing Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party as the presidential candidate to be voted for. The  NCEF encourages all Nigerians of voting age to exercise their civic duty and ensure that they vote for capacity, competency, integrity, and good health. Nigerians, Think New!”

Meanwhile, the Labour Party chairman in Kaduna State, Auwal Tafoki, believes that the party’s ‘organic’ popularity will earn Obi, and governorship candidate in the state, Jonathan Asake, massive votes in the upcoming elections.

Tafoki, who spoke during the Asake/Bashir Fund-Raising Dinner organised by the party’s support groups in Kaduna, described LP as a rave of the moment that would coast to victory.

He said, “We are going to win by the grace of God. We have toured Kaduna State, and we are still touring, and I have seen the support that we are getting. The support is so unprecedented.

 “We have what the national secretary called the ‘organic crowd’ to win elections. We don’t pay anybody to attend Labour party rallies, but you see them coming en masse.”

In Sokoto State, the Assistant National Coordinator, Up North Ambassadors, Lado Bilyaminu, a support group working for the LP presidential candidate, expressed the assurance that Obi would win Saturday’s poll.

According to him, the LP presidential candidate enjoys massive support among northerners at the grass-roots level.

“It is customary for the Up North Ambassador, to always go from community to community and identify the needs of the community and facilitate the ones that fall within our capacity.

“This system has been endearing people to the Obi/Datti movement across northern Nigeria,” he said.