A coalition of 24 past national chairs of political parties in Nigeria, including 24 former presidential candidates, has vowed to cooperate with Labour Party nominee Peter Obi and his running mate Datti Baba-Ahmed six days before the general election.
The group, which operates under the Coalition for Good Governance’s aegis, declared on Monday that it made the choice after carefully weighing the candidates without resorting to ethnic or religious prejudices, and that it had come to the conclusion that the former governor of Anambra State has what it takes to address the problems plaguing the country.
According to a statement by CCG’s National Coordinator, Okey Chikwendu, Obi and Baba-Ahmed are the most reliable and qualified candidates fighting for the position.
The CCG hailed Obi and Baba-Ahmed as the most qualified and credible candidates among those who are currently running for president across political parties in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Okey Chikwendu.
“The Coalition for Good Governance concluded that Mr. Peter Obi and Datti Baba-Ahmed are the most credible, capable, and qualified candidates among the contestants vying for the post of president come February 25th, 2023,” read the statement. “This evaluation was carried out without any coloration of ethnicity or religious bias.
“In this sense, we reiterate our stance in favor of Nigerians. We are grateful that Nigerians of all ethnic backgrounds have heeded our patriotic appeal to cast their votes for Mr. Peter Obi and Datti Baba-Ahmed as we head to the polls this coming Saturday, February 25, 2023. As a group of political experts, the Coalition for Good Government urges Nigerians to disregard those who use Mr. Peter Obi’s candidacy as leverage for unwarranted blackmail.
“Mr. Peter Obi is a true Nigerian and a nationalist. He has good morals, is modest, trustworthy, capable, knowledgeable, and compassionate. As governor of Anambra State, Mr. Obi turned down properties and billions of naira in compensation from the state government. According to records, Mr. Peter Obi left the state with almost 75 billion naira at the end of his term, a figure that has never been surpassed by a governor in Nigeria.
“We are all aware of competitors with histories of fraud, godfatherism, and drug use that are inappropriate for the new Nigerian we want. Nigerians must fight their impulse to use their illegally gained wealth to contest and test our credulity due to their lack of shame.
“As Nigerians and politicians, which we are, we will not stand by and watch as our resources are once again diverted to benefit individuals and their cronies, as some of the candidates who are now vying for the president have done in the past.
“Dear Nigerians, we are accountable for what we say today because we are not on anyone’s payroll. We implore you to vote for Mr. Peter Obi and Datti Baba-Ahmed of the Labour Party so that together, our country can rise from persistent economic failure to economic surplus and a new nation bound in freedom and surplus is born. Reject thieves and dictators in sheep clothing, drug barons, and those who have no respect for our diversity and secularism.