Ex-Vice-President
Atiku Abubakar, Thursday got the endorsement of former
President Olusegun Obasanjo for the 2019 presidential election.
Obasanjo
gave the endorsement when Atiku, the presidential candidate of the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and some leaders of the Party visited
him at his Abeokuta home.
The
former vice president said he believed Atiku has ‘re-discovered and
re-positioned himself’ and is now good enough to enjoy his support
in the next election.
He
said, “Let me start by congratulating President-to-be, Atiku
Abubakar, for his success at the recent PDP Primary and I took note
of his gracious remarks in his acceptance speech that it all started
here.
“Yes,
when it started, it was meant for Atiku to succeed Obasanjo. In the
presence of these distinguished leaders of goodwill today, let me say
it openly that we have reviewed what went wrong on the side of Atiku.
And in all honesty, my former Vice-President has re-discovered and
re-positioned himself.
“As
I have repeatedly said, it is not so much what you did against me
that was the issue but what you did against the Party, the Government
and the country.
“I
took the stand I had taken based on the character and attributes you
exhibited in the position you found yourself. I strongly believe that
I was right. It was in the overall interest of everyone and
everything to take such a position.
“From
what transpired in the last couple of hours or so, you have shown
remorse; you have asked for forgiveness and you have indicated that
you have learnt some good lessons and you will mend fences and make
amends as necessary and as desirable.
“Whenever
or wherever you might have offended me, as a Christian who asks for
God’s forgiveness of my sins and inadequacies on daily basis, I
forgive and I sincerely advise you to learn from the past and do what
is right and it will be well with you.
“Obviously,
you have mended fences with the Party and fully reconciled with the
Party. That’s why today, you are the Presidential Candidate of the
Party. In addition to appreciating all that the Party has done for
you, may I advise you to work together with all those who contested
for the Party’s flag with you as a team for your campaign.
“There
are still areas, nationally and internationally, where you have to
mend fences and make amends. You will know how to handle what is
already out and what may yet be put out by the opposition. But, I am
convinced that if you continue with the attitude that brought you
here with these distinguished leaders of goodwill, with remorse and
contrite heart, the rest of the coast within and outside the country
can be cleared. And if there is anything I can do and you want me to
do in that respect, I will do.
“I
am sure with the right attitude for change where necessary, and by
putting lessons learned by you to work, you will get the
understanding, cooperation, support and mandate – all at the
national level.
“With
Nigerians voting for you, it will mean that you secure their
forgiveness and regain their confidence. It will be with the hope or
assurance of a Paul on the road to Damascus Conversion. After all,
change and conversion are of man. I believe that with a contrite
heart, change is possible in everybody’s life and situation.
“For
me, relatively and of all the aspirants in the PDP, you have the
widest and greatest exposure, experience, outreach and possibly the
best machinery and preparation for seeing the tough and likely dirty
campaign ahead through.
“From
what I personally know of you, you have capacity to perform better
than the incumbent. You surely understand the economy better; you
have business experience, which can make your administration
business-friendly and boost the economy and provide jobs.
“You
have better outreach nationally and internationally and that can
translate to better management of foreign affairs. You are more
accessible and less inflexible and more open to all parts of the
country in many ways.
“As
Pastor Bakare, one-time running mate of the incumbent President said,
‘You are a wazobia man.’ And that should help you in confronting
the confront able and shunning nepotism.
“As
you know, along the road to where you are today, many leaders and
ordinary people cooperated and overtly and covertly worked hard. On
your behalf, I thank them all. May their coast continue to be
expanded. And when you become Nigerian President which, insha-Allah,
you will be, remember what we did together in government – we ran
an administration by Nigerians for all Nigerians where merit and
performance count more than blood relationship, friendship or kith
and kin.
“Although
some time and ground have been lost, you should endeavour to start
from where we stopped and recover some lost ground, if not time.
“Please
uphold truth, integrity, principles, morality and fight corruption,
crimes and insurgency. The fundamental law of the land, our
constitution must be scrupulously defended.
“I
make one demand and one demand on you today, I need you to say before
God and man that you will always remain irrevocably committed to
upholding ALL the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria and the whole country will remain your single
indivisible constituency.
“Constitutionalism,
popular participation and inclusiveness are pre-conditions for
reversing the deficits of the past three and half years. They will
ensure abiding faith in our indivisibility, oneness and faith in the
survival of all against none.
“The
fundamentals for our development, economic growth and progress are
hard and soft infrastructure. Remember to always give adequate places
in your administration to our youth and women.
“All
the authorities involved with the preparation, all processes and
conduct of the election must ensure that the election is free, fair
and credible.
“Once
again, congratulations and I wish you well. My distinguished brothers
and leaders of goodwill, thank you for making this happen. I will now
count on you to encourage all hands to be on the deck to take Nigeria
to the level God has created it to be – autopilot level.”
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