A coalition of former militants and agitators of Niger Delta resource control have endorsed and declared support to the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Mr. Peter Obi in the forthcoming general elections.
The group in a statement jointly signed by their leaders: Dede Udofia, Ibanga Ekang, Ekpo Ekpo and Ukpe Sampson, made available to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, described Obi as the symbol of a new Nigeria.
The statement further described Peter Obi as the most qualified amongst the presidential candidates judging from his good record, character, competence and age.
According to the group, Obi would tackle insecurity in the north, Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, Eastern Security Network, ESN, in the East, and headers/farmers clashes in the north central as well as ensuring that Nigerian citizens enjoyed safe and serene environment at all times.
They added that it was also fair and just to vote someone from the south eastern part of the country, stressing that the Northern, western and southern regions of the country have had their share of the presidency, leaving the South East behind.
The Coalition unanimously resolved that since Nigeria returned to democracy in 1999, the South West has produced a President for eight, 8 years in the person of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and currently the zone has produced Vice President in the person of Prof. Yemi Osinbajo for eight, 8 years.
The group said, “The North has produced two Presidents, Alhaji Musa YarAdua, two 2 years and president Muhammadu Buhari, eight 8 years respectively.
The South South geopolitical zone has also produced a President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, for six 6 years.
“It will therefore be a grave injustice, marginalization ,oppression and wickedness to deny the South East the opportunity to produce the next President of Nigeria.
It is not also logical for zones that have produced Nigerian Presidents to still seek such mandate again even when such candidates lack strength and ability to discharge such functions.
“That all the candidates presented by political parties for the forthcoming presidential elections are eminently qualified, but the only person with good records, character, capacity, young, energetic with deep knowledge of the challenges facing the citizens is Mr. Peter Obi.
“He is a symbol of a new Nigeria and we believe that voting him into power will be of great benefit to Nigerians as Nigeria will be returned to the path of infrastructural development, growth and prosperity”.
The group further stated
that It is not in the interest of the nation and future generation to vote a Nigeria’s President based on ethnic or religious sentiment as doing so would lead to disunity for the country considering the present economic problem facing the citizens.
“We call on all the Niger Delta citizens especially the ex-agitators, present agitators and all the Niger Delta citizens to vote massively for Peter Obi as we trust that he shall ensure the full implementation of Niger Delta master-plan, job creation through industrialization, proper funding of the NDDC and Presidential Amnesty Office.
“We want to state that the Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators is already working and willing to mobilize all the Niger Delta agitators, ex-agitators, youths and women in all the coastal, riverine and hinterland communities across the Niger Delta states to vote massively for Peter Obi and ensure his victory at the polls to better Niger Delta and delivered to the Nigeria citizens”.