By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
The media office of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the November 6, 2021 Anambra Governorship election, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, on Monday debunked the rumours that he was planning to pair with the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, in running for the 2023 presidential election.
Posters of Soludo and Atiku flooded Abuja over the weekend.
Atiku, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 elections had earlier dismissed the rumour.
A statement by Joe Anatune, on behalf of the Soludo Media Office, said the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had nothing to do with the story, dismissing it as the handiwork of known desperate politicians.
Titled, “Purported Atiku-Soludo ticket is a ruse,” the statement reads:
“Our attention has been drawn to the above report by the Punch Newspapers of 6 June, 2021. Ordinarily we would not be caught replying such rancid report emanating from political desperados who are already afraid of Prof. C. C. Soludo’s towering goodwill in the build up to the November 6, 2021 Anambra Governorship election.
“However, for clarity and the sensibility of our teeming supporters in the State and across the country, it is pertinent that we set the records straight.
“Soludo does not know about this and has not discussed politics with Atiku for several years. Even the Atiku camp is surprised by this.
“What is surprising is that Vanguard, Punch and Daily Independent can offer their platform for such hired job. Why didn’t they verify the story with Soludo’s media office before publication? The answer to this will reveal a lot about the intention of the sponsors of this blackmail.
“Soludo joined APGA in 2013, and was disqualified then but did what is unprecedented in Nigeria’s history. He stayed in APGA despite all the lobbying by other parties to join them. He stayed and continued to work hard for the growth of the party even as a BOT member.
“This is the handiwork of known desperate politicians. Why now? Of course we know them.
“Soludo is not interested in contesting the 2023 presidential election, his focus is on securing the support of his party – APGA – for the November 6, 2021 Anambra Governorship election. And he is working hard at it already.
“Soludo has been a card carrying member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the last eight years. Despite pressures from other political parties to run on their platform, Soludo is drawn to the ideals of APGA and has settled to live out his political convictions within the precincts of APGA’s ideology.
“We, therefore, advise that political actors should stop expending their monies on frivolities, and focus on the issues around the 2021 contest.
“It’s on record that Soludo has not hidden the fact that he has graciously served a grateful country that has appreciated his modest efforts with the third highest Honours of the Land – Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR). His current and future preoccupation is to provide for the Anambra people a Prosperous Homeland.
“We, therefore, urge our supporters and the reading public to disregard any poster, report or information that is not about November 6, 2021 election . Again, we reiterate, that the November 6, 2021 elections will be won strictly on issues and superior ideas, not propaganda.
“Meanwhile, Soludo has continued his local government tours, meeting thousands of jubilant APGA faithful. He was in Aguata last Friday, June 4 and Ihiala yesterday, June 7.”