Jonathan’s supporters canvassing for Tinubu to prevent Northern hegemony
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Goodluck Jonathan’s loyalists are mobilising South East and South South grassroots for All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Bola Tinubu, even though the former President is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
It poses another setback for PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar who already lost the support of five PDP Governors, four in the South, one in the North Central.
Citizens Network for Peace and Development in Nigeria (CNPDN) endorsed Tinubu in November and its National Secretary Francis Wainwei said the group is now canvassing for him to prevent a Northerner from succeeding Muhammadu Buhari.
CNPDN was among the few coalitions that openly pushed for Jonathan to contest for the presidential ticket of the APC in June.
Wainwei disclosed CNPDN has donated N1 million to the Tinubu Campaign in the two zones and vowed to do everything to ensure the next President is a Southerner to ensure national unity, equity, fairness, and justice.
“Our position that the next president of this country should come from the South is driven by same vision and principles. We believe strongly that such will strengthen the unity and peace of the nation.
“It will give a better sense of belonging to the people of southern Nigeria and foster a more viable peaceful co-existence among Nigerians,” Wainwei explained in a statement.
“We were surprised by the betrayal of the same cause by some of the southern governors, especially the South South governors, except Nyesom Wike, who had earlier declared for a southern President, to abandon same and started pursuing their personal interests instead of the collective interest of the region.
________________________________________________________________
Related articles:
Stop distractions, disclose Tinubu’s health status, Secondus tells APC
Tinubu’s man Onanuga blames his close brush with death on Atiku’s man
Alake, Onanuga bent on bullying press – ThisDay/Arise editors
__________________________________________________________________
CNPDN asks South South Governors to resign for betraying zone
“We therefore call on the South South governors who have betrayed their people by supporting another northern candidate to take over from Buhari after eight years of a president from the North, to resign immediately,” Wainwei added, per The PUNCH.
“This is because the people of the South South zone can no longer trust them with their common heritage as they have placed their personal interests above the collective interest of their people.
“Our call on them to resign is also premised on the fact that they recently received huge sums of money via the 13 per cent derivation fund and squandered same in pursuit of their personal interests at the expense of their people.
“We are also calling on the South South states’ Houses of Assembly to impeach the said governors if they fail to resign as requested. We shall mobilise our members across the South South states to force the said governors to resign or get impeached.
“We can’t allow such selfish governors to continue to govern us anymore. We must all place the collective interest of our people above our personal interests for our region to experience holistic and accelerated development.
“Tinubu is the easiest means to electing a President from southern extraction in 2023. He has nationwide acceptance and has the requisite political experience to navigate Nigeria to greatness as president of Nigeria.”