…As Eno, Oborevwori join guber race.
By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
The battle to secure the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead 2023 general election is gaining momentum as group of friends and associates picked Presidential nomination forms for Anyim Pius Anyim, Gov. Aminu Tambuwal and Gov. Bala Mohammed.
Purchasing the N40m Presidential Expression of Interest and Nomination forms for the former Senate President, Anyim was a coalition of 350 groups led by Comrade Mayor Samuel.
Addressing the press at the PDP heaquarters on Thursday, the group argued that the excruciating harship Nigerians are passing through at the moment would require an individual with experience and competence in the class of the former Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF) to restore.
The group went further to hold that only Anyim understands the peculiarity of the Nigerian system and has the capacity to provide solutions to the problems, asking for Nigerians’ support to enable him to lead the country.
He said: “We are here to obtain the Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms for the PDP presidential primary election for Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim, GCON.
“We did not obtain the forms on behalf of Sen. Anyim, we purchased the forms for Sen. Anyim to demonstrate our unshaken confidence in his capacity and suitability to lead Nigeria at this point in our history”.
Responding to the gesture, an elated Anyim said that he is overwhelmed by the support from the group and vowed that their efforts has propelled him to push further till he gets the party’s ticket.
“I commend the various support group. I feel highly elated and humbled by this action. It is an act of patriotism and I promise I will not fall you. My aspiration is to usher in a better Nigeria based on the principles of equity and fairness”
Furthermore, a group of Concerned Nigerians comprising of legal professionals, Medical doctors, professors, artists and many others coordinated by Olumuyiwa Akinboro SAN procured the Presidential forms for the Sokoto State governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal..
The group lamented that the present administration has turned the economy on the country on a reverse gear.
Speaking to the press shortly after procuring the form, Akinboro the leader of the group said,
“Nobody wants to live in the country again. You train a doctors in this country and the next thing, he takes the flights abroad. We are experiencing very terrible power shortage and this has been of concern to us.
Akinboro pointed out why the group decided to pitch their tent with Tambuwal.
“He is strong, he is agile, he is intelligence he is focused. We have seen him demonstrate good leadership. One of the major things you see in leadership is humility. Somebody that sees himself even lower than the people he leads.
“He is young and vibrant and can take us to the promised land and PDP is the platform that can actually actualize this if we get to do things right.
“Nigerians needs him at this time. We are not lacking in strong leaders, we are lacking in people that understand the politics of Nigeria.
“We want somebody that we can identify with somebody, that can understand the problem. Every young person that you see today want to go abroad. Why can’t Nigeria be a place where people want to come to. All the international companies are leaving in droves. Everything is collapsing. Are we going to continue like this?
“In Nigeria, you build your own road, you dig your own borehole, you provide your own generator, you have your own security. So that is why we are ready to commit ourselves, our time, our energy, our resources to make sure that it is achieved by winning this election.
“It is not going to be determined by money bags by the grace of God, it is going to be determined by all the people of Nigeria and we are coming out in our large numbers, to sensitize ourselves and make sure that change takes place in this country”
Similarly, The Bauchi State Governor’s lodge, Asokoro, Abuja, on Thursday, played host to the Bala Mohammed Vanguard (BMV) which earlier in the day, purchased the N40m Presidential Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms for the governor.
Before the presentation of the forms, Director General of BMV, Mohammed Jibo said, “we have bought the forms for you and we are here to present the gift to you. By the grace of God, you will emerge victorious because you are the President Nigerians need.
“We all agree that Nigeria is sick and needs a doctor. We know that we need a candidate that the youths will stand for, someone who will go ahead and win the election.
Responding, the aspirant who described the gesture as “auspicious” said.
“On my own, I may not have come out but what BMV has done for me today has given me the impetuous to offer myself to serve.
“If given the opportunity, I will not let you down. I am not going to be a President of a zone, I will be the President of Nigeria. Nigeria has the resources and with the right leadership, we can become an important member of the global community.
“The leader we need is one who does not believe in winner takes all but someone who believes in ‘live, let live.” We are ready for business, we are ready to work.
Also on the race to the Akwa Ibom government house is Pastor Umo Eno who is believed to the the anointed candidate of the governor.
Speaking to journalists after obtaining his Governorship Expression of Interest and Nomination forms he said, “When people believe in your vision, believe in your aspiration, they will endorse it. So that only goes to show you the level of support, the level of belief and trust that the people have openly expressed. They have already seen and they’ve believed in what has happened.
“Everyone has the right of expression, that you cannot take away from anybody. So just like I’m being endorsed, other people also have been endorsed by young people, but so it’s a normal thing in a political process”.
The aspirant went further to say that it will be difficult for all aspirants to go for consensus but expressed willingness to abide by the decision of the party.
“I don’t think that any aspirants any of us will have capacity to be a consensus, but if the party says there is a consensus of course party is supreme, so I will work with the party but the party stalwarts, people make things to happen are here”.
