A coalition of former militants and agitators in the Niger Delta region have declared support for the candidacy of Mr. Peter Obi, Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the forthcoming election.
In a statement jointly signed by leaders of the coalition – Dede Udofia, Ibanga Ekang, Ekpo Ekpo and Ukpe Sampson – the ex-Militants described the former Anambra governor as “the symbol of a new Nigeria.”
The statement reads: “At the general assembly meeting of the Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators which held on 23rd January 2023 at Port Harcourt to reassess the current political waves, the challenges facing the nation, the antecedents of all the candidates as well as their ideological techniques to tackle the hydra-headed challenges facing the Nigerian state, the all night meeting takes into consideration the current failed security system in all geopolitical zones of the Nigerian state, the near-collapse economy, the infrastructural decay, the complete decay of the healthcare system as well as the massive fraud experienced in public offices across the country.
“The Coalition unanimously resolved as follows: 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.
“Similarly the North has produced two Presidents, Alhaji Musa YarAdua, two (2) years and Gen. 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 therefore not 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 giving him the presidential will be of great benefit to Nigerians as Nigeria will be returned to the path of infrastructural development, growth and prosperity.
“The present security challenges in the country will be holistically addressed by Mr. Peter Obi, particularly Boko Haram and Bandits in the North; IPOB, ESN and unknown gunmen in the South East as well as Herdsmen in the Middle Belt, South West, South East and South South zones to ensure that Nigerian citizens enjoy safe and serene environment at all times.”
