Ahead of the presidential election slated for February 25, the senatorial candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), in the Federal Capital Territory, Dr. Anthony Ezekwugo, has urged Nigerians to vote for Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, saying he remains the best alternative to redefine the fortunes of Nigeria and ensure needed growth.
Ezekwugo, in a statement yesterday in Abuja stated that Nigeria has strayed so much from a state of sustainability by the current ruling class inadvertently or deliberately.
He said the promises of basic facilities, development, and prosperity have retrogressed way below naught.
Ezekwugo said the hopes of the masses have remained unachieved, worsening and continuously so.
“Nigerians are despondent and helpless. All institutions and families are so badly touched. We are all in a quagmire screaming for deliverance.
“The career politicians in the guise of leaders have perfected the art act of dealing with the people to such an extent that there is continuance of their strong hold on power.
“Mr Competence and APGA Senatorial Candidate FCT stated that tension between the desires of the masses and the grabs of these leaders have always swung in favour of those few in power leading to the perpetuation of the status quo. It is a game that the political class has perfected well. The Nigerian variant at the presidential elections is a model of special complex imputations.”
He said at the centre of this are high-level deceits fuelled by widened corruption and ruthless interests.
“The rest of us Nigerians are both the tools and victims in this treacherous game of inescapable attack. The resultant suffering is of such proportion and without any relief in sight that we all resign to our fate as ordained by our creator.
“The moment Mr Peter Obi extricated himself and declared to aspire to the highest political position independent of these power brokers, the masses saw a viable alternative in the making.
“Some were of the opinion that those ruling class will not allow him to emerge. Some insisted that it is impossible for him to be a force. Some swore it is not yet time for people like him. These so called leaders wrote him off as a paper weight and concluded that his candidacy is dead on arrival. The momentum of the Obi movement that followed came as a shock to them. But they did not really know Mr Obi.”
He said those who know him well urged him on, praying he steps into the ring but he was cautious, consulting and calculating.
He said they know how very good he is and how he has performed in many positions of authority including the eight years he was governor of Anambra state.
He said he knows those high level career politicians and their styles.
“He knows their games. He is aware of the forces in play and the various ways to put out anyone considered a threat to them. It was imperative he doesn’t fall an easy prey. Eventually he pitched.
“From the moment the decision was made and he picked the Presidential ticket under Labour Party last year, it automatically became a journey of no return. Those who know his strength of character, his resilience in the face of challenges, his courage and determination in any pursuit were sure that the ‘die was cast’.
“Obi will go all out, the Presidency a shot within reach. It would not be an ordinary task.
“It is not for the faint hearted. He knew what it will take and he has it.
“He had nothing incriminating in his closet. There was no easy way to nail him out. He is open, prudent, capable and successful. He is not the ideal candidate that both the electorates and the power brokers are used to.
“He was coming with a different narrative. One that resonates well with the masses and addresses the problems in the country.
“Obi went the entire length and breadth of the country preaching his message of a New Nigeria,” he added.
