By Joseph Erunke, ABUJA

AHEAD of the 2023 presidential election,some North East elders have endorsed the candidacy of Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party, describing his choice as the best for modern Nigeria. The elders denounced the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s Muslim Muslim presidential ticket, saying the action of the party would not enjoy their blessings as açcording to them,it did not promote equity and fairness in a diverse Nigeria.

In a statement on Saturday, the elders who described APC’s action as highest level of madness and an evil agenda in Nigeria, reminded the promoters of the same faith ticket to go memory lane to see if their action was in line with what founders of Nigeria’s democracy preached and practiced. Noting that Nigeria was a secular country that no religion should be elevated against others,the elders tasked APC to reflect on its action given that Nigeria of today had shifted from 1993 where such was promoted without any opposition.

The North East elders, operating under the aegis of Coalition of North East Elders for Peace and Development (CNEEPD), told APC not to be comfortable with their action, saying the rigging which it was relying upon as party in government will fail them woefully as açcording to them,Nigerians would vote and safeguard their votes without fear or intimidations from APC’s hired agents.

In the statement by its National Coordinator,Engr. Zana Goni, the group insisted that contrary to APC’s expectation,it would lose the presidential poll before 12 noon, adding that “indications across the country were not in favour of the party that had put Nigeria in its present bad situation.”

The North East elders,also flayed the attacks being carried out on the facilities of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the South East, attributing the developments to some sponsored terrorists outside the zone with the aim to deplete the South East voting strength.

The statement read in part: ”As the 2023 general elections draws near,we the Coalition of North East Elders for Peace and Development have noted with concerns some actions and statements by some political parties and actors in our democratic process. The latest being the impunity orchestrated by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in settling for a same faith ticket in a multi-religious,multi-ethnic and above all,multi-cultural country like Nigeria and the party’s defence of the absurd action in the face of widespread opposition to the abnormalities.

"As leaders who have not only monitored but also actively contributed to political developments in Nigeria for decades,we wish to categorically denounce the APC’s action which we view as inimical to the progress and growth of Nigeria.

Without mincing words, we describe the party’s decision in fielding Muslim Muslim ticket in the 2023 presidential election as the highest level of madness, insensitivity, and an evil agenda against our dear country which we have laboured for years to build. This decision which threatens the unity of the country does not have our blessings and must be resisted by all Nigerians of good conscience. Anything contrary will threaten the fragile unity and peace of Nigeria.”

The elders added: "We wonder why a sane man and sane political party will contemplate and even go ahead to pick a Muslim as running mate to a Muslim candidate in a presidential election in secular country as Nigeria at this modern age.”

Açcording to the group, "To make the matter worse, they picked Alhajji Kashim Shetima, a man whose alleged link with terrorism is still a subject of debate in public domain.”

Noting that, "This is a costly mistake that must be resisted at poll by all Nigerians, irrespective of religion,tribe or ethnic backgrounds in the interest of peace”, the group said: "If this madness is allowed to see the light of the day, the unity and peace of Nigeria will be threatened forever.”

How can someone tries this in Nigeria? As it stands together Christians and Muslims have started supporting candidates based on religious lines, in mosques and churches across the country. This is not what we need now.

“The peace in Nigeria is too fragile to contemplate this kind of madness as exhibited by the ruling APC. The party has actually made more Nigerians to believe that they have an Islamization agenda as widely speculated", it said.

The group alleged that attacks on INEC facilitaties in the South East are orchestrated by some political interest groups to reduce the voting strength of the region.

Given the carefully coordinated attacks launched in recent times on both INEC personnel and facilitaties, we will not be wrong to believe that the actions are carefully calculated, planned, and executed by suspected Boko Haram terrorists with aim to disenfranchised the people of South East and also put them in the bad light.

“Security agencies must clamp down on these evil people and bring them to book immediately" it said.

“We also urge all the South East communities to constitute a special task force to protect INEC facilities and officials across the zone", it tasked the region.

“We call on all Nigeria’s to resist this evil and selfish agenda of Muslim Muslim ticket with every legal means. The current level of hunger and terrorism in the North today does not respect the Muslim or any religion hence Muslims must look beyond the lies APC is selling to us. We must vote credible leaders with capacity and programme for our dear country", the elder advised.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/07/2023-north-east-elders-endorse-peter-obi-of-labour-party/

citygarden:
This ipodians doesn't know the difference between labour challenge and labour party. And if you gi to Twitter to see any trending #tag. Even BATIFIED, the first ten post will always be peter Obi army. And no one is criticizing them for that.

Then tell your Tinubu and his urchins including you to leave tweeter for "ipodians" since elections are not worn on tweeter

Lalasticlala good morning

engineerboat I hope you're Obidient

Abdul05:
batified Nigerians won't allow such news to intimidate them.


We know such news start from owerri straight to onitsha down to Lagos.


Fake not original is their second name..

Una go cry next year

IgweOfNnewi:
IPOB miscreants and cannibals on rampage, Baba is just giving them heart attack left and right

Check the names and you will see all Nigerians well represented. The fact remains that Nigerians don't want Thiefnunu. Only few Yoruba Muslims are supporting him

Omo Nigerians get bad mouth...someone said he will labour till death

Tinubu urchins must be in severe pain right now

Thank you Sowore for that priceless publicity


Tinubu urchins must be in severe pain by now

SledgeHammerer:
Clown

Agbado eater I sight you

BigSarah:
hold am O before e enter express

Counter the claim with your facts and stop acting like kid

Pls add Ondo to the list. It's over sure for us here

Forget all those so called hungry activists that will tell you they don't have a candidate. They're either supporting Atiku or Tinubu just that they are afraid of public opinion if they come out open so they have to do that codedly by running down their opponents. And when they're critised back by Obi supporters they come back and say Obi supporters are toxic, extremist and all what may. You talk down on their candidate and you except them to fold their hands or rather clap of you? Common!

drlateef:




Sorry I lost interest in Buhari. I am talking about Tinubu

But you supported Buhari? Same way you will tell us "sorry I lost interest in Tinubu" in some years to come. We can't continue like that

Forget tribalism or religious sentiment and vote for the right candidate

Lalasticlala is this not front page worthy? Or has Tinubu and Atiku settled you?

drlateef:
Peter Obi is not a realist, not a doer but a talker. What did he do in Anambra as Governor? Tinubu is time tested, brilliant and courageous. Peter Obi should go and sell ice cream and pop corn. We don’t want motivational speaker, we want an action man. That man is Tinubu. Obi cannot confront the thieves in military and security challenge. He will end up like Jonathan. Have you asked why southeast delegates refused to support him in PDP?

Are you saying your dear Buhari can not confront those thieves in the miliary?

One thing about this election is that both Tinubu and Atiku's supporters are never bold supporting them...they are definitely doing that either for personal gains or on tribal ground. But you see Peter Obi's supporters, they are more than bold because of course they sell a good product which ordinarily does not need to be advertised

Pls when is January salary going to be paid

sthecy:
It’s of no use....he hasn’t been spending

How did you know that he has not been spending? Have u asked him for urgent 2k before

Alert well received this morning! Due date today 11th

All na scam

Delay tactic

Yoruba1stson:
Nyamiris are slaves

Almajiri like u

Minimum wage arrears, no news


Earned allowance, no news


Some people are yet to be paid December salary!


If you voted for this govt in 2019, may God run your life the way this country is currently been runned

For your information, Bara don't run any investment online. Visit any of their office for your investment

kay0195:
New minimum wage arrears to start dropping tomorrow..... From a reliable source.... FINALLY......

Guy how far

uniquelyspecial:

Man... If any language annoys you, just ignore and keep walking. Nobody owes you any form of expression.
Since you don mature, I expect you to know that.
No be our fault say na only plain English u fit read and understand.

Once again, here no be your office.

My boy, good night!


Let's hope minimum wage arrears come tomorrow

Cheato64:
what is undeducated? ity Boribo

You should be able to detect a typo-graphical error when you see one

uniquelyspecial:


Maybe you should stop trying to sound intelligent. Intelligent people don't force it. Oga Prof., just be real.
Go to your formal work environment and try please anyone that cares with your knowledge of English language.

Your kain person no they sabi anything self.

Boy I'm not talking about gramatical expression, I'm simply saying you should express yourself in a clear language not some annoying text message language

uniquelyspecial:
.
I feel you reply like a kid than he does

You belong to the same family with him

Write in a clear and concise language like someone who works in a formal environment. Stop using "uneducated Nigerian girls" language. Write clearly!

How can you be writing yesterday as "ydy".

omotolanibaby:
you don't have to be rude when correcting he or she

Anybody that writes in a foul/silly language deserves no mercy.

Cheato64:
you're an idiot for not knowing ydy stands for yesterday, use your brain pls(fyi pls stands for please ewu)

Don't be unfortunate man. Kids everywhere

Memunah:

Yass.. Was paid ydy and today

What's ydy Stop writing like a nuisance. You're supposed to be working in an academic environment

Learning

internationalman:
One did call to wish me happy new year though..

But at the end of the call she requested for urgent #500 airtime to call her family to wish them happy new year...

She used the last #10 credit to call u to make the request,not to wish u happy new year