Unic Press UK: Given the spate of endorsements from various front-line social/cultural groups, and considering that its barely 13 days before Nigeria Presidential Election 2019, the political climate seems to favour the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
With the support of the Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo (southern Nigeria), Northern Elders Forum (northern Nigeria), Pan-Niger Delta forum (Southern Nigeria), the Middle Belt Forum (northern Nigeria), Afenifere (southern Nigeria), Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (northern Nigeria), the tide illustrates a narrow victory for the PDP’s presidential candidate and former vice president of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar and his running mate and former Anambra State governor Peter Obi.
“Abubakar, 71, is capitalizing on the angst of the elite. He’s portraying himself as the friend of investors and ethnic minorities in his bid to oust the ruling All Progressives Congress,” the Bloomberg wrote in an article ‘Opposition Candidate Gains Momentum In Nigeria’s Presidential Election’ in October 2018.
Corruption is a big problem in Nigeria. The perception, which, probably, is the reality is that the ruling party ‘All Progressives Congress (APC)’ is focusing on suspects who belong to the opposition parties; and the party is willing to end the prosecution of any person who decamps to the APC.
When the issue of corruption came to the fore during a town hall meeting, Atiku said he intends to consider an amnesty for corruption suspects that return loot. “If you are to go and be prosecuting these people, you will still be prosecuting them and will not get the money,” he said.
Atiku Abubakar’s running mate, Peter Obi comes with loads of good will and a priceless track record. Both men are captains of industry/business and have proven to have an unquenchable appetite for human capital development, success, security, education, industry, technology.
The fact that the PDP’s candidate is committed to restructuring to make the center to cede more powers is endearing to the people of southern Nigerian and many parts of northern Nigeria, particularly those that believe there’s a sort of structural imbalance in the subsisting system.
Several analysts have submitted that the current economic indicators – based on the reports of the Debt Management Office (DMO), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) – are the proof that the Nigerian economy has deteriorated and is heading towards a precipice under the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration. However, it remains to be seen what the electorate think and whether the election umpire and the security forces would deliver a credible, free and fair election 2019.
Nigeria General Election 2019 would hold on Saturday, the 16th February 2019, from 08:00 A M (Lagos time).
